Hydroponic cultivation is the cultivation of plants in controlled climate conditions, allowing for economical management of water and space. SVI, a company belonging to the Green Holding Group, is currently the second largest producer of lettuce and herbs grown using this method in the country. – This technology allows for the delivery of the highest quality herbs and lettuce, regardless of the season. We are currently conducting investment projects that will contribute to the dynamic growth of the business in the coming years, and consequently, even greater availability of our products. Thanks to local production, we are close to consumers and can precisely respond to their needs – says Piotr Izdebski, Managing Director of Smart Vegetables Innovations.
Salads and herbs in large retail chains
Every day, more than 20,000 pieces of lettuce or herbs grown by SVI are consumed in Poland, available under the Plant Love brand and private labels of retail chains. Lettuce – in the butterhead, batavian and tricolor varieties – form the largest category. In 2023, SVI sold 4.2 million pieces of these products (which, according to estimates, is about 1/4 of the hydroponic lettuce market). Among the herbs grown by the company are coriander, parsley, mint, oregano, lovage and basil along with varieties.
In Poland, lettuce can be purchased in about 8,000 points of sale, and herbs in about 4,500. SVI products are present on the shelves of the largest retail chains, such as Lidl, Biedronka, Żabka, Carrefour, Stokrotka, Kaufland and Makro. They can also be purchased in Hungary, Lithuania and the Czech Republic.
Innovative crop designs
The company also runs a number of innovative projects implemented as part of NCBR programs. Recently, a project concerning the technology of growing lettuce with reduced amounts of nitrates and nitrites was finalized. Work has also begun on a new project as part of the Nutritech program.
The technology used by SVI consists of growing plants in pots placed in gutters. They are placed on an automatically moving production table, thanks to which the production system "grows" with the development of the plants. They have an optimal amount of space for development, and the use of space is definitely more efficient in relation to traditional field crops.
The cultivation process, including planting, seedling bed, seedling bed, growth, maturation, harvesting and loading of the final product, takes about 35-60 days. SVI does not use pesticides or herbicides in the process.
SVI is part of the Green Holding Group, which is based on an integrated business model "from farm to fork". SVI is the owner of the Plant Love brand, and also produces for retail chains' own brands. Crops are grown in modern greenhouse facilities, located in Zdunowo in Mazovia, among others.
