Bionatur | Pesticides Free Tomatoes and Peppers

Bionatur is a massive hi-tec greenhouse operation producing high-quality tomatoes using hydroponic cultivation and free of pesticides. The greenhouses are in the State of México. In this impressive project, more than 120 million dollars have been invested.

Bionatur is the largest-ever single-build hi-tech greenhouse project in America, completing 83 ha in two construction phases. The high altitude (2600m above sea level), high radiation, and mild temperatures make it a perfect location for growing the most flavourful tomatoes.

General Information

Location: Mexico
Member of the Board
Roles: Engineering | Projects | Building | Cultivation | Postharvest | Quality Control | R&D | Industrial Maintenance | HS&E
Product: Pesticide free hydroponic tomatoes and peppers exporting to USA and Canada
CAPEX >120M USD
Infrastructure: 80ha hi-tec greenhouse, 3ha propagation house, 4x packhouse, 3x 120.000m3 basins, kinder garden for 200 children
Installed power: 3,5MW + 3,3MWe CHP
Company size: > 1.200 employees
Revenues: +65M USD/year

Director of Technical Operations

April 2003 - August 2015 (+12 years)

Track Record

Production of 92kg/m²/year of beef tomato, 85kg/m2 of TOV, 45kg/m² in cocktail tomato and 33kg/m² specialties. 33kg/m² on bell peppers
Rainwater collection in a complex system designed for maximum rainwater harvest and avoiding flooding of downstream village
Drain water recirculation
Co-generation 3MWe
Vermicompost plant using crop residues to avoid waste and producing commercial high-quality

Achievements

Construction and commissioning of the largest-ever single-build hi-tec greenhouse project in America, powered by CHP (combined heat and power), with 3,3MWe, heat recovering, and CO₂ capture system from the exhaust of natural gas engines.
Cultivation of more than 4 million plants at once in this facility, delivering more than 2 thousand tons per week of best quality tomatoes.