Blgg

Bedrijfslaboratorium voor grond en gewasonderzoek or in short Blgg is a Dutch laboratory studying agriculture and horticulture. With its sampling, analytical and advisory activities, Blgg plays a supportive part in increasing agricultural and horticultural production. The laboratory supports individual growers and entrepreneurs, enabling them to improve their production and lower their costs. Every year, Blgg analyses some 500,000 samples and combines them with Crop Specific Advice. This relates to soil and substrate, water, plant and fertilizer analysis, for fertilizer recommendations and/or plant disease control measures.

History

The roots of Blgg can be found in 1928 at the state agricultural experimental station in Groningen, The Netherlands. Over the last 75 years the company has grown into the leading laboratory in the agricultural sector.

Story of the development

In the 1920s ir. J. Hudig, manager of one of the departments of the state agricultural experimental station, developed several methods to analyse the potential yield on the soil. Often he obtained spectacular results. Because of this many farmers requested to analyse their fields as well. The wish and need for a special laboratory was born. A laboratory where soil analysis were a routine action.

This idea was supported by the government and the agricultural organisations. All agreed that laboratory analysis was no task for the government but for the farmers themselves. On February 27, 1928 the laboratory was officially opened.

Sampling, analysis, advice

Because of its routine action Blgg was able to quickly carry out the analysis and against low costs. Therefore more and more farmers made use of the services of the laboratory. In the beginning the services were limited to analysing. Sampling and advice was performed by the state agricultural and horticultural information service. The information officials however became pressed of time because of the spectacular rising demand for sampling. That is why in the 1950s the laboratory started its own field organisation to take the samples. In 1960 Crop Specific Advice was also taken up as one of the services. Since that moment on, the total process of sampling up to advice was housed at Blgg.

Expansion of assortment

Blgg started with soil analysis. In 1950 it began analyzing crops for its value for cattle feed as well. At the end of the 1950s it began testing for nematodes, something that had been done by other taken over from several other institutes. In 1985 Blgg merged with the laboratory of the horticultural experimental station. In this way Blgg was able to provide greenhouse growers for several analysis as well. With the introduction of a new legislation concerning mineral administration the need for manure analysis was born. Currently the demand for food safety analysis. Farmers and growers require analysis such as water analysis, pesticides residue testing, micro-biological analysis and mycotoxin testing.

International

Besides expanding the variety of analysis, Blgg is also expanding abroad. Blgg has its own laboratories in Germany and Spain. It is also active in Belgium and Denmark. Blgg receives samples and makes recommendations for growers in over 55 countries. Blgg translates Dutch agricultural knowledge into local recommendations by closely working together with their customers.

External links

* [http://www.blgg.com Blgg]
* [http://www.agriq.nl/sites/agriq/nl/agriqnl.nsf/dx/index.htm Agriq]
* [http://www.cropeye.com/ Cropeye]
* [http://www.nmi-agro.nl/ NMI]
* [http://www.lucel.nl/ Lucel]