From Poland to Wittenberg: Embracing Predictive Growing at Wittenberg Gemüse Nurturing Precision, Cultivating Success.

To explore the future of predictive and scalable cultivation, we met up with Przemek Staszkiewicz at Wittenberg Gemüse in Germany. Przemek Staszkiewicz moved from Poland to Germany in 2014 with his family, bringing with him a passion for horticulture that has since transformed Wittenberg Gemüse. Starting as a team leader, Przemek quickly advanced through the ranks, ultimately becoming the operations manager. His story highlights the evolution of horticulture, the challenges faced, and the vital role of technological innovations. During our visit we zoomed in on the integration of Priva and Blue Radix. This integration is an example of the developments of Priva One, the ultimate integrated solution for predictive and scalable cultivation.

Przemek : My name is Przemek Staszkiewicz. I am the operations manager at Wittenberg Gemüse. I started here in 2014, initially working in the packaging hall. After a year, I became the team leader of the harvest group and later also managed the leaf group. In 2019, I was promoted to assistant operations manager, and for the past few years, I have been the operations manager, overseeing the entire operation. We grow 39 hectares of tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. Our crops are cultivated in greenhouses, using waste heat and CO2 from a nearby factory. Our produce is sold in Germany and is very popular among the local community.

Przemek: A typical workday for me begins with checking if all employees are present. Then I check the climate and the graphs to see what happened overnight. I analyze the data, compare it with my strategy and I especially look at the ‘Ratio Temperature to Radiation’ (RTR) settings, to see if any changes are needed. Even though I try to plan my day carefully, unexpected things can happen, so I need to stay flexible. Employees often come to me with questions or problems, and I like helping them out. The variety of tasks and staying on top of everything keeps my work dynamic and exciting.

Przemek: For me, it's the mix of cutting-edge technology and the strong sense of community. We use the Priva Connext computer for climate control and irrigation and we use Blue Radix’ Crop Controller which has helped us move from manual setting adjustments to more autonomous growing, making our operations much more efficient and scalable. But beyond technology, it's our people that make it special. It's important to me that everyone feels included and understood.

Przemek: Since 2014, we’ve grown from cultivating 15 hectares of tomatoes to managing a total of 39 hectares, including 8 hectares of peppers and 16 hectares of strawberries. The integration of technology has been crucial. We started using Priva Connext to control the whole facility 24/7, allowing me to focus more on biological control and managing the team. In 2021, we started using Blue Radix, which further simplified and enhanced our operations.

Przemek: Priva’s climate control system has been paramount. From day one, it provides reliable, around-the-clock automation, taking care of among others heating, temperature, ventilation and screening. This automation relieves a lot of manual work, allowing me to focus on other important tasks. Blue Radix has taken this a step further by automating many of the decisions based on real-time data analysis. The integration between Priva and Blue Radix is seamless, and their collaboration has been essential for us. I now only need to make settings five times a year during different growth phases, significantly reducing the manual workload.

Przemek: My love for nature and the joy of innovation drive me. Seeing how technology can enhance efficiency and yield is incredibly satisfying. The automation provided by Priva and Blue Radix gives me more time to focus on my family and my team. Sustainability is also important to us. 

Przemek: Sustainability is a core value for us. We use waste heat and CO2 from nearby factories to minimize our environmental impact. The waste from our plants at the end of the season is used by local farmers as fertilizer. This approach not only helps the environment but also supports the local community. Using advanced technology like Priva and Blue Radix helps us optimize resource use and reduce waste, making our operations more sustainable overall.

Przemek: The future lies in technologies like artificial intelligence. Moving from reactive to predictive cultivation allows us to determine necessary actions in the greenhouse before issues arise, based on algorithms. This approach increases productivity and yield while reducing costs of water, fertilizers, energy, and labor. The integration of Priva and Blue Radix systems is a key part of this future, enabling more efficient and sustainable operations. With autonomous growing, like Crop Controller, I expect that I can grow from 15 to 40 hectares managed just by myself. We can achieve higher yields with fewer resources.

As our conversation with Przemek Staszkiewicz comes to a close, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the success of Wittenberg Gemüse is built on both advanced smart technology and the strength of its people and the community they form. It’s a journey of dedication, learning and integration. And as Wittenberg Gemüse continues to innovate, they inspire others in the horticulture industry to follow suit.