Oserian scores a first by introducing Geothermal flower farming in the country

March 9, 2011 - PRLog -- Nairobi, January 26, 2011…Leading flower farm Oserian  has introduced flower farming using geothermal heat to boost productivity as well as conform to internationally accepted regulations on carbon emission.

The Naivasha- based flower farm is using geothermal energy from wells leased from Kengen for its farming requirements. Having drilled into the geothermal tectonic plate in the area, Oserian is now using the mixture of steam and carbon dioxide not only to heat the water which heats the greenhouses but also to drive electricity-producing turbines. Already, the company is operating a 50 hectare rose project using geothermal heat.

The heat produced is used to generate electricity used by the flower farm, the clinic and the schools. The carbon dioxide released is not allowed back into the environment but is trapped and piped to the greenhouses to feed the photosynthesis and improve the quality of the flowers.
“Oserian has been guided by the principle that there are almost always environmentally green alternatives to its every day farming techniques and operating processes,’ says Mr. T.G. Tsakiris Oserian’s Director of Administration.

Mr. Tsakiris said this is the first time in the country that geothermal power has been harnessed to grow flowers and to improve overall production, while at the same time conforming to international accepted standards on carbon emission and environmental conservation.

Commenting on the new breakthrough, Mr. Tsakiris said Oserian has been guided by the principle that there are almost always environmentally ‘green’ alternatives to its every day farming techniques and operating processes. These include operating its own geothermal wells, which provide steam to both generate electricity as well as to control humidity levels in its greenhouses.

Located in the middle of the Great Rift Valley Oserian is ideally situated to tap into the Earth's internal heat source via the fault line in the tectonic plates.

Additionally, over 80 percent of Oserian’s crops are grown using a technique known  as ‘ hydroponics’, which replaces soil with another medium, enabling exactly the right quantities of nutrients to be supplied to the plants. This technique improves yields and quality, while reducing the quantities of pesticides and fertilizers used as well as enabling water conservation through more efficient irrigation.

Oserian is also the world’s largest Integrated Pest Management farm. This activity involves the combination of plant nutrition with bio-control agents, which are biological substances designed to prevent and combat a range of diseases that affect flowers. A 2.5-acre greenhouse is devoted to producing more than 3 million Phytoseiulus persimilis parasitic mites that attack spider mites each week. Mr. John Owles the Oserian Carnations Manager said the farm does not use miticides and saves 5 million Euros a year on the chemicals alone.

To control thrips, Oserian produces 32.5 million Amblyseius cucumeris mites a week. To supplement fertilizer programs, Oserian uses big red worms from Japan to produce worm castings through vermiculture. The growers also use Twin N, beneficial bacteria in a powder that turns plants into nitrogen fixer.

The company made the 10 million euro Geothermal Plant investment five years ago.  “We can hold 3.8 million liters of water at 92 degrees Celsius. This has allowed us to produce a consistently high quality rose for the market year round. The days of farming are gone. You have to be a scientist, an economist, a politician and a green finger or two may help.” Mr. Owles said.

Oserian has taken a lead in reducing carbon emission into the environment through the purchase of carbon released by the national geothermal power station adjacent to the farm thus preventing its release into the atmosphere.
Independent assessors from Bristol University have calculated that the carbon footprint of each Oserian rose including air freight is one tenth that of a rose grown in Holland where the greenhouses are artificially illuminated and heated 24 hours a day by electricity and kerosene.

About Oserian
Oserian is the largest and most technically advanced production facility of flowers in Kenya, producing year round consistent quality flower products. In the late 1980s, Oserian was among the first to introduce rose farming in East Africa and is still regionally recognized as a leading force in this field, having maintained a strong track record in sustainable and Fair trade farming. It is certified to a range of social and ethical standards, Oserian also maintains an impressive track record in conservation of the environment and operates to enhance and develop the local business community and economy.

For further details visit
Website: http://www.oserian.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OserianDevelopmentCompanyLtd
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/OserianDevLtd
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/OserianDevLtd

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Oserian is the largest and most technically advanced production facility of flowers in Kenya, producing year round consistent quality flower products. The company has maintained a strong track record in sustainable and Fair trade farming.