Acta Horticulturae

Secretariat of the Symposium. From left to
right: Bassou Ratiba; Achbar Fatiha; Hanafi
Adam Houssame.
expansion of growing in many areas due to
scarce water resources. Only a significant reduction
of water or an increased use of low quality
water can change this situation.
Innovative, new technologies of hydroponics
production do improve in an economically
viable manner the water use efficiency. Water
savings of at least 30% can be achieved when
crop cultivation is changed from soil to open
hydroponics, and even up to 50% in closed systems.
Such water savings, in addition to considerable
reductions of pesticides and fertilisers
and a total ban of methyl bromide will result in
a pronounced improvement of vegetable quality
for food. It will also help in solving some of
the environmental problems.
Hydroponics production under protected cultivation
has proven to be a highly water efficient
technology,
❚ which is on one hand capable to produce
superior yield under different water quality
conditions
❚ and on the other hand can replace soil cultivation
in case of soil contamination in horticultural
production systems.
The topic of the symposium attracted over 200
participants from 36 countries worldwide.
There were intensive meetings with 55 oral
and 95 poster contributions, presented in 8 sessions:
Greenhouse production for global markets;
Greenhouse technology and crop engineering;
Propagation and seedling production;
Cropping systems; Management of pests,
diseases and physiological disorders; Water
management; Nutrient management; and
Salinity management. Two evening workshops
concentrated on modelling: Validitation of
greenhouse growth model in the Mediterranean
region; and Greenhouse economics and
modelling.
A round table with very active participation
from the audience discussed “Future scenarios
for Mediterranean protected cultivation, featuring
three topics:
❚ Globalisation: Competitiveness and Market
Opportunities (W.H. Schnitzler)
❚ Environmental and Natural Resources (N.
Castilla)
❚ Qualification: Quality and Certification (Ch.
Leonardi)
This round table discussion produced very interesting
results:
❚ Can small farmers compete with large enterprises?
❚ Which priorities for quality: external or organoleptic,
nutritional or all?
❚ Production improvement for the region.
❚ Know how to enter markets.
❚ Future needs for GAP.
- Protocols for small farmers.
❚ Certification of products: is it suitable for
small growers or only for retailers? Are
government regulations needed? Harmonization
is necessary.
❚ Can GAP replace certification?
❚ Enlarged genetic material for breeding of
new cultivars to improve production and
quality.
Abdelhaq Hanafi and Michael Parella
(Associate Dean of College of Agriculture
at UC Davis) at Grow Group International
Nursery.
❚ Simple hydroponics systems for small growers.
❚ A definition of SME in the various countries
and for different crops in the region.
❚ Natural resources ➛ what is the best design
of greenhouses for the Mediterranean countries
in response to climate and markets?
❚ Diversification of crops, i.e. fruits.
❚ Establishing and improving nurseries for the
best transplants.
❚ Quality standards for greenhouse inputs, i.e.
UV resistant PE.
❚ Export from Mediterranean countries not only
to Europe but globally (USA, Asia).
Abdelhaq Hanafi with Edward McGawley (Nematologist Professor at
Louisiana State University) and Richard Steckler (CEO, Cal Agri.
California) inspecting soilless tomato at Maraissa Company.
Soil tomato at Maraissa Company.
ISHS • 48