SCHOOL FOR HYDROPONICS AND SOILLESS TRAINING
Ageon Srl has been dealing with soilless for 28 years and following years of experience in the training of growers and greenhouse technical staff in 2020 it set up the first Italian Hydroponic and Soilless School (SITIF) by AgeonTech.
The courses held by the technical director dott. Vitangelo Di Pierro and his AgeonTech consultant colleagues, are held in the classroom at the Ageon headquarters in Borgo San Dalmazzo (CN), in the form of video lessons and also in situ at the premises and greenhouses of client companies. SITIF aims not so much to provide mere theoretical notions, but to give a solid basis for practically approaching this sector and training figures capable of having mastery and autonomy in the management and conduct of soilless crops in a protected environment.
The lessons are divided into modules (see list in the table) which can be suitably chosen by the students/clients according to their own interests. The courses can be both individual and in groups depending on the turnout and the specific requests of the individual modules. We also organize courses on behalf of individual companies with a personalized training plan.
SITIF issues the student with a certificate of attendance and, at the request of the client company, can provide for an additional final exam with attribution of marks.
In order to provide a small taste of the content of the teaching modules, you can connect to our YouTube channel to view the video “Greenhouse Technology_Macfrut 2020_Vitangelo Di Pierro_The irrigation strategy in soilless crops” in particular from 5:04 onwards.
Ageon offers a package of modules with the aim of training on the management of a soilless greenhouse.
GREENHOUSE MANAGER COURSE:
Mod. 01 – Understanding the plant: AgeonTech Crop Registration (Theory) – Tomato | Measure climate, irrigation, production and plant growth by interpreting the data. Theoretical notions.Mod. 04 – Converting/setting up a soilless greenhouse: minimum and optimal requirements | Planning the transition to a soilless system or the construction of a new settlement.
Mod. 05 – Substrates and hydroponic systems | Technical details of the most popular substrates, the Dry Hydroponics hydroponic system and the Radix module for Vertical Farm.
Mod. 07 – Irrigation management | How to set the irrigation strategy in the different seasons.
Mod. 08 – Climate management | How to choose greenhouses and plants to implement the right climate strategy in the different seasons.
Mod. 09 – Plant nutrition, deficiencies and excesses | Elements of soilless plant nutrition with practical examples of nutritional imbalances.
Mod. 10 – Nutrient analysis, uptake analysis and calculation of Nutrient Solutions | Details of analytical methods and use of Netfeed software
For more information on the greenhouse manager course:
When are the lessons?
Lessons calendar: in case of interest of the individual student in a particular teaching module, it is possible to agree on a date on which to hold the course privately “face to face” (in presence or via video connection); if more than one student is interested in the same teaching module, we will propose a single date in which to hold the course. As long as the Coronavirus emergency persists, group lessons will be held via webinar in video connection. In order to be able to group requests relating to individual teaching modules, please reply to this e-mail commerciale@ageon.it indicating:
Name and surname
Company (optional)
City
Cellphone number
Preferred days of the week to take the course
Educational modules of interest (indicate only the number as per the attached table)
How can I sign up?
Registrations: they are always open both for face-to-face lessons and for video lessons.
Do I have to have any pre-requisites to take the course?
Requirements: the lessons are intended for everyone, there are no particular constraints. Given the agronomic nature of the topics covered in the courses, those who have already studied at agricultural institutes or at the Faculty of Agriculture are logically more advantaged in learning. However, the contents of the courses have a very pragmatic slant, therefore anyone interested in the management of soilless/hydroponic and vertical farm crops can follow the courses, also thanks to the fact that during the exhibition it will be possible to submit questions to the supervisor to which answers will be given during the course itself.
How many modules do I have to take?
Teaching modules: there is no minimum number of modules to follow, everyone can choose the module/s or course/s of interest in the case of “face-to-face” private lessons. In case of organization of courses with pre-established dates and modules, there will be the possibility to choose one or more modules to follow according to the preferences of each one.
Are there practical lessons?
Exercises: during the presentation of some modules, exercises are foreseen which can be held both in presence and in video connection.
Can I have training on other topics not covered in the modules already present?
Extra modules: SITIF’s training offer is constantly updated therefore, beyond the list of modules provided in the attachment, there is the possibility of requesting SITIF to organize thematic courses on subjects not included in the list of standard lessons . SITIF will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis and will provide answers to individual applicants to indicate their feasibility and related costs.
