Clean and healthy peppers from CEA thanks to Xsect insect screens

MARCH 2021

Productos Limpios del Campo is a bell pepper producer in Ahualulco de Mercado, Jalisco, Mexico, supplying high-quality peppers both domestically and for export. With more than 10 years of experience, the company is known for meeting strict quality standards in a challenging growing environment.

The region’s semi-dry climate features an average annual temperature of 21.3 °C and can reach up to 40 °C during warm months, creating ideal conditions for rapid reproduction and spread of pests such as thrips and whiteflies. These insects carry viruses that can severely impact crop health, yield and exportability, making pest management a critical part of production planning.

To meet its production goals, the producer aimed to complete a full 47-week production cycle and keep at least 85 % of plants healthy and free of virus transmitted by thrips and whiteflies. Rather than relying on frequent pesticide applications, which raise costs and limit production potential, the team evaluated insect exclusion screens as a climate solution.

Two identical greenhouses were used to compare insect screen performance. One greenhouse was fitted with Svensson’s Xsect Xtreme insect exclusion screen and the other with a foreign 90 mesh screen. Parameters such as temperature, humidity, pest counts and pesticide use were monitored throughout the production cycle.

The greenhouse with the Xsect Xtreme screen showed clear benefits:

• significant reduction in thrips and whitefly pressure

• temperature 1 – 3 °C lower

• 20 % higher profitability in sales

• nine extra weeks of cutting, exceeding production forecasts

• 4 kg/m² more total exportable yield

• 10 – 15 % savings on pesticides
  These results showed stronger pest control and improved crop performance compared with the 90 mesh screen.

The grower found that Xsect Xtreme provided the best balance of insect exclusion and airflow, reducing insect ingress without compromising ventilation. Depending on climate and pest pressure, other Xsect variants such as Xsect Xtra or Xsect X-Air may also be suitable, but in this high-pressure environment, Xsect Xtreme proved decisive.