Project description
Growing Belgian endives in stackable containers
Next time you order your braised Belgian endives, know that this chicory is a challenging crop to grow. It actually requires a two-step process, and the second step is carried out in pitch darkness. The EU-funded Endive Container project will advance an organic growing system for endive growers. Specifically, the patented Endive Container system includes an advanced hydroponic system as a drive-in shelf multi-rail gutter trays-based method for automated culture of endives’ roots. The new growing approach of the system to fight against the spread of infections allows the launch of Endive Container as the first organic methodology to grow endives, without pesticides, widely required in the state of the art of endive culture. Also, since more containers mean more production, the system is transportable, scalable and stackable.
Objective
"""Cichorium intybus var foliosum"", is the extraordinary plant that allow to grow endives, also called chicory or witloof (Brussels chicory). Endive is, without a doubt, one of the most complex and fascinating crops in the world to grow, requiring a two-step growing process (the 2nd step in darkness).
CIChorium, founded in 2002 by Dr. Philippe Blanquet, with a broad expertise in the endive world from 1988, performing phytopathological exams on endive roots. Now, CIChorium presents the ""Endive Container project"", which represents the ramp up from worldwide advise+consulting to the market launch of an advanced organic growing system for endive growers. Built in two 50m2 shipping containers, the patented Endive Container system includes both an advance hydroponic system, as a drive-in shelf multi rail gutter trays based method for automated culture of endives' roots. The new growing approach of the system to fight against the spread of infections, allow us to launch Endive Container as the first organic methodology to grow endives, without pesticides, widely required in the state-of-the-art of endive culture.
Increasing 20% yields, water-efficiency (90% less water) and pesticides free are the main Unique Selling Points offered by the low-cost CIChorium technology.
Over decades, endive production has been focused on specific countries due to the complexity to grow endives. Disease control is essential to obtain optimal yields and quality crops. Meanwhile, the dark environment must be controlled and high degree of know-how is required for this crop.
Endive Container delivers a decentralized endive production which perfectly fits with local and organic SMEs growers. Endive Container is a turnkey system, x5 cost-effective vs. traditional forcing rooms at a selling price of €120.000. The system is transportable, scalable and stackable to market size, as more containers, more production. A short payback of 2 years for growers!
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Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology materials engineering fibers
- engineering and technology civil engineering water engineering irrigation
- social sciences sociology industrial relations automation
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture vegetable growing
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture urban horticulture
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
31500 TUDELA
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.