The cold storage rooms have been built by a consortium with the company Van Amerongen as the main contractor and are located on the grounds of Proeftuin Randwijk, the partnership of the practical researchers for fruit cultivation and tree nursery of WUR, the Dutch Fruit Growers Organisation (NFO) and the two public information organizations Fruitconsult and CAF.
The new cold stores are owned by WUR and specifically intended for use by WUR. "Our old cold storage rooms were really outdated after 22 years", says the manager of research group Nursery stock & Fruits, Marianne Groot. According to her, what makes the cold storage rooms unique is that they are suitable for various research purposes. "They are equipped with the latest storage technology, making them suitable for post-harvest research into optimum storage conditions, but also into the effects of new cultivation methods on storage. The cold storage rooms are also used for research into plant health, sensors, and new varieties. In addition, some of the cells can be used as climate cells, which makes them perfectly suitable for trials with (fruit) trees."
Thematic event on preservation technology
The new cold stores were officially opened today by Petra Caessens - director of operations of the Plant Sciences Group - at the conclusion of a themed afternoon for companies in the fruit sector concerning developments in storage technology.
Caessens: "Within WUR, we develop high-quality knowledge, but we also help to apply this knowledge all over the world together with our partners. These new high-tech cold stores will ensure that we can continue to do this in the field of fruit cultivation and tree nursery."
For more information:
Wageningen University & Research
www.wur.nl