Darwin Colombia optimizes the climate of its greenhouses for successful production of ornamental plant cuttings

MARCH 2024

Since its establishment in 2002, Darwin Colombia has become a leader in Colombia’s agricultural sector. With 8 hectares of productive greenhouses, the company specialises in the export of ornamental plant cuttings and employs around 420 people throughout the year — the highest worker density per area in Colombia’s agricultural industry.

We spoke with Carlos Martínez, R&D Director at Darwin Colombia, who shared how Svensson’s climate screens and insect control nets have become essential tools in supporting the company’s high-quality production.

Darwin is part of Ball Horticultural Company, and its main focus is the propagation of ornamental plant cuttings for international markets. In the past year alone, more than 70 million cuttings were exported to the United States, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom.

The catalogue includes 68 genera and a total of 745 varieties grown in greenhouses, where plant health, good agricultural practices and care for people form the foundation of production. High-quality materials are essential for meeting the needs of both plants and workers.

“For this reason, Svensson is an important ally that provides us with climate screens and insect control nets,” says Carlos Martínez.

Strengthening pest protection with Xsect Xtra

In previous years, one of Darwin’s greenhouses faced high pest pressure due to thrips migration from neighbouring crops — a serious risk because thrips can transmit viruses. Keeping this threat out of the greenhouse was a top priority.

“It was necessary to renovate the greenhouses, and we had the opportunity to do something different. Searching the market, we found Svensson and its nets, which were very attractive to us,” explains Carlos.

Darwin installed Xsect Xtra around the perimeter of the greenhouse. Thanks to its specialised fabric, the net provides up to 85% insect exclusion while maintaining strong ventilation — a key advantage over traditional, more restrictive nets.

Better climate and pest control throughout Darwin’s greenhouses

For Darwin, keeping insects out is not only a sanitary measure; it also directly reduces the need for chemical applications, making the production system more sustainable and cost-efficient.

The combination of insect nets and climate screens has significantly improved pest control, lowering pest incidence and enabling fewer chemical treatments. Improved ventilation and lower temperatures inside the greenhouse also reduce disease pressure and slow disease cycles, giving the team more time for effective and early intervention.

“A great advantage worth mentioning is that the climate inside the greenhouse is now more favourable for people and plants. With the Harmony 5120 O E climate screen we have a better ventilation and temperature ratio, without sacrificing incident PAR radiation. Our workers feel very comfortable inside the greenhouse, even during El Niño months with high temperatures and radiation,” Carlos adds.

A collaborative partnership for long-term success

Carlos highlights that working with Svensson has provided benefits beyond the products themselves:

“Working with Svensson has been quite beneficial and enjoyable. Not only have we benefited from their high-tech, quality products, but they also have exceptional human talent and are always there when you need them. They have a skilled technical staff that gives you a lot of confidence. It has been a pleasant experience of mutual learning and collaboration.”