Growing with specific plant substances in mind is particularly relevant when the plants are to be used in products, which exploit the effect of their bioactive compounds. If, for example, the compound thymol is the active ingredient in a herb-based product, it would obviously be desirable to use plants with a high level of this compound.
Growing with particular substances in mind is a speciality at Biosynergy. Throughout the years we have participated in a number of research projects, aiming to seek out the factors that have an effect on a plants development of secondary metabolites. Naturally we have used the results from these tests to develop herbs with an optimal level of specific compounds for use in various herb products. These include our own tinctures based on thyme and oregano.

The apple orchard

The greatest and most expensive challenge involved in organic apple growing is keeping the rows free of weeds. That is why Biosynergy has developed a technology that can halve the expenses related to weed management. With this growing system we also deliver a larger and earlier growing crop and give the plants optimal growing conditions to prevent scurvy and other diseases.

The core of the growing system is to use plants with air-cut roots, which can be planted out in a weed cloth. By using plants with air-cut roots we make the root systems more effective so that they have a larger soil volume to take up water and nutrients. This also yields larger fruit. Along with the effect of the weed cloth, which eliminated competitors to the soil’s nutrients we only have to use green manure as fertiliser. This generates a more even uptake of nitrate, which again contributes to making the trees more resistant to scurvy.

Bedding out takes place in August, when the plants have concentrated their growth in the roots. In this way we achieve harmony between root and crown and a better potential for growth, which can yield a crop one year earlier. This is obviously of great importance for the farmer who can get a faster return on his investment. This can be particularly important with apple crops as an apple tree’s resistance to scurvy decreases over time.

In the organic apple orchard, we also seek to create greater bio diversity to enable the system to keep a balance between pests and beneficial insects. That is why we have planted the trees with rows of a certain distance to allow for a row of flowering plants that will attract buzzing fliesto keep aphids at bay. This crop between the rows can also be source of income for the apple farmer within the first year of the establishment of the orchard.