Netherlands expands insect netting in tomato greenhouses; Spain develops traditional varieties

Dutch tomato growers are increasingly installing insect netting filter systems, while Spain is focusing on drought- and heat-tolerant traditional tomato varieties.

Dutch tomato producers, particularly in the Westland region, are increasingly adopting insect netting filter systems in greenhouses. At Wim Peters Kwekerijen, which converted its entire 30-hectare tomato area, the installation of a 0.77 x 0.77 mm mesh system resulted in a minimal temperature increase of only 0.3°C during summer, supporting stable production conditions. This technology is being implemented more frequently to balance climate control and pest management, which may support consistent export volumes to European markets, including Poland.

Spanish research institutions in Murcia are leading projects to recover and enhance traditional tomato varieties, focusing on improving tolerance to drought and high temperatures. These varieties, such as Murciano Rojo and Muchamiel Aperado, are being evaluated for their performance under real field conditions affected by climate change. The aim is to maintain yield and fruit quality despite increasingly common heatwaves and water scarcity in the Mediterranean region, which could influence the availability of Spanish tomatoes for export.

Innovative projects in Spain are also targeting food waste reduction by processing tomatoes that do not meet commercial size or appearance standards. These initiatives are developing new gourmet and premium preserved products using traditional varieties, potentially diversifying the export product range and opening new market niches in Europe.

In eastern China, a semi-closed greenhouse project in Zhejiang is using advanced climate control and soilless cultivation for cherry tomato production. While primarily serving the Chinese domestic market, the technology demonstrates potential for future adoption in European high-tech greenhouse operations.

In the Netherlands, technological advances in greenhouse climate control and pest management continue to shape production efficiency. The proliferation of insect netting systems is expected to support reliable Dutch tomato exports during the summer season, impacting supply and competition in key European markets, including Poland.

Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker