Mulching, or the layer of material applied to the soil’s surface to conserve moisture, improve soil health and control weed growth, is a crucial part of sustainable agriculture However, in Spain mulching paper is traditionally made from plastic – raising concerns about waste. To tackle this issue, SVZ and a valued customers launched an initiative to develop an environmentally friendly alternative.

This project explores the effectiveness of new, 100% biodegradable mulching paper that has been produced specifically for strawberry cultivation. Early reports from the field have revealed that the soil’s biodiversity is being positively impacted by the new mulch, and the farm’s plastic waste has also been drastically reduced.

With global consumers seeking clean-label, sustainably sourced food and drink products, finding an alternative to chemical sprays and pesticides is a priority. Together with one of our valued customers, SVZ launched a joint initiative to explore biocontrol plants as a viable alternative for farmers.

By adding these plants to the fields to encourage the development of aphid predator populations, the population of ‘bad’ insects can be controlled – not only boosting biodiversity in the fields, but also supporting pesticide-free strawberry cultivation for the future. You can find out more about the initiative here.