Happico Oy was founded in 2014 to study and develop disinfection method and equipment based on ozone to prevent vegetable diseases. First objective was to create a scientific and technically proven disinfection method to protect plants from plant diseases in a non-toxic manner. Long term objective is to start business with mission to provide farmers a non-toxic method to prevent plants from diseases and to grow cleaner produce as well as to reduce chemical load to environment though non-toxic cultivation and support climate protection with global effects from harmful effects of pesticides.
See the benefits of the Happicon method for farmers, consumers and nature
First trial tests were conducted at HAMK Lepaa greenhouse to find out if ozone in gas form can be used to prevent growing and spreading of powdery mildew. Tests were done on begonia “Pauliina” and greenhouse cucumber. Some of the results were positive whereas others were negative. Causes affecting different results couldn’t be identified. New set of tests with ozone in gas form started in summer 2014 in LUKE Piikkiö, lead by professor emeritus Risto Tahvonen and special researcher Liisa Särkkä. Results were similar to the previous ones but a lot of experience and valuable biological knowledge regarding different fungus diseases and durability of plants was gained. Final conclusion was that ozone in gas form is too toxic on plants to be used in preventing powdery mildew. However, tests clearly indicated that ozone has some impact on powdery mildew and ozone water had to be test.
Genesis of the method
Studies with ozone water began in 2019. In the first phase ozone water was used in tests in laboratory and greenhouses to see how bacteria and fungi react to it. Based on these results, large-scale experiments and studies on living plants and diseases were conducted. Simultaneously development of operating system and appliances began. The operating system enables effectiveness of disinfection program per plant species as configured in the studies.
When developing technology new observations were also made on the behavior of ozone in air and water. The central unit for ozone disinfection is an ozonator, which makes ozone from air and solutes it into water. The ozonator must be a reliable and safe device developed for industrial use enabling configuring according to the needs of respective culture. It is especially important when disinfecting with ozone water to choose correct program for each cultivation, safety of the equipment and using them in accordance with instructions.
Tests on cucumbers at LUKE
Partners
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Puutarha Timo Juntti Oy
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Puutarha Tahvoset Oy