Research Centre Hoogstraten is specialized in horticultural applied scientific research and consulting. The research centre is located in Belgium, in the north of the province of Antwerp in the middle of an important horticultural area. Since its founding in 1955, the center plays an active role in the development and growth of horticulture in the region. The close contact with the growers, who are also abundantly represented in all governing bodies of the Research Centre, is one of the strengths for applied research. Nowadays, Research Centre Hoogstraten is specialized in cultivation in greenhouses (strawberry, tomato, pepper) and the strawberry cultivation in open air (in soil and on tabletops). Practical and demonstrative research in these crops makes the translation of fundamental research into horticultural practice, and thus provides information and answers to questions risen from professional growers and other companies in the horticultural sector. The main research topics are variety trials, growing techniques, new cultivation systems and technologies, disease and pest management, fertilization, sustainable water use, energy, fruit quality, plant quality,… In collaboration with other national and international research institutions research projects are initiated to solve more fundamental problems in the above crops. The transfer of research results to farmers and knowledge exchange with other scientists is an important role of the Research Centre. The GEP (Good Experimental Practices) accreditation of Research Centre Hoogstraten is important for the completion of the investigation, indicating the reliability of the research.
