Ca' Magre Agricultural Cooperative, organic vegetable growers
Ca' Magre Agricultural Cooperative, Isola della Scala (Verona, Italy)
An agricultural cooperative engaged in organic greenhouse and open-field vegetable production for over 20 years, supplying both wholesale and retail markets.
In June 2007, the Ca' Magre Agricultural Cooperative began using BioAksxter® on greenhouse crops, with the aim of further improving yields and enhancing the plants' natural defences against diseases, thereby reducing the need for sulphur and copper treatments. Improvements were observed from the very first applications, particularly in tomato crops, which showed greater vigour, increased fruit set and larger fruit size.
July 2007. Organic cultivation of elongated processing tomatoes after one month of treatment with BioAksxter®.
July 2007. Organic cultivation of cluster tomatoes after one month of treatment with BioAksxter®.
After one year of cultivation with BioAksxter®, basal fertiliser applications were reduced, and the use of micronutrients to improve vegetative growth and the firmness of the produce was no longer necessary.
Crops became much more uniform, and plant losses in tomato, aubergine and pepper crops caused by collar rot and root diseases no longer occurred. Yields increased, and harvests were characterised by greater uniformity.
During the second and third years of cultivation with BioAksxter®, results improved further:
- Enhanced natural plant defences made it possible to reduce sulphur and copper treatments used to control downy mildew, Botrytis and powdery mildew.
- Following the restoration of soil balance, neither nematode-induced root galls nor other root and collar diseases were observed.
September 2009. Tomato root system free from nematode-induced galls, during the third year of cultivation with BioAksxter®.
July 2009. Organic pepper crop with no plant losses caused by collar diseases, during the third year of treatment with BioAksxter®.
- Winter leafy vegetable crops showed improved uniformity, and the number of harvest cuts increased to 5–6, compared with no more than 3 previously. Furthermore, greater frost resistance made it possible to protect the crops without additional coverings.
October 2010. Organic chard crop treated with BioAksxter®, characterised by high uniformity.
March 2009. Organic Gentile lettuce crop during the second year of treatment with BioAksxter®, showing no frost damage.
March 2009. Organically grown lettuce during the second year of treatment with BioAksxter®, produced without protective covers.
- Tomato yields remained consistently high, as did strawberry yields. Even during the hottest periods, strawberries were distinguished by their flavour and firm texture.
June 2008. Highly productive organic Cuore di Bue tomato crop during the second year of treatment with BioAksxter®.
July 2008. Highly productive organic cluster tomato crop during the second year of treatment with BioAksxter®.
May 2010. Organic strawberry crop treated with BioAksxter®.
High-quality strawberries from an organic crop treated with BioAksxter®.
In 2010, the Ca' Magre Cooperative reaffirmed its satisfaction, particularly with the improved plant health of its crops, and decided to further enhance the value of its agricultural produce by joining the initiative “Eat Healthy, Ask for Fruit and Vegetables Grown with BioAksxter®”.
