If there’s one plight that’s been on the minds of businesses across the globe, it’s the dependency and the rising costs around gas and electricity.
A report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that electricity prices have jumped up 15.8% in the last year, largely as a result from high priced natural gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, households relying on natural gas can expect to pay about 28% more this winter compared to last winter — or about $200 more in gas bills cumulatively between October 2022 and March 2023. Not only is it impacting households, but this is also having an impact on overhead costs and business strategy, which might cause the desire to move past and become independent from nonrenewable energy resources.
Seed Processing Holland has foreseen this situation and has developed innovative seed drying solutions. They introduced new sustainable heat pump- and water-based seed drying technologies to meet the demand and desire for reduction of energy and carbon emissions.
How can this help the seed sector?
“With Heat Pump Based drying solutions (with natural refrigerants with low GWP) or with the 100% electric and Water Based SPH-DAG (Dry Air Generator) with EC ventilator systems, energy consumption can be drastically reduced by 30-40%,” says Lawin Saleh, one of the sales cccount managers of Seed Processing Holland. “In addition to the cost-saving aspect, the efficient control system will dry the seeds or planting material accurately and in a controlled manner to improve seed quality independently of the environment which also increases drying capacity.”
In the long run, Saleh believes one thing is true: the seed sector needs to look at alternatives to increase sustainability in the sector. Reducing their electricity use, and their natural gas use, can help reduce business costs and to contribute for a more sustainable future.
“The seed sector needs to respond to the changing energy market,” Saleh says. “Our new seed drying technologies not only allow them to save costs but also ensure better seed quality and enable them to achieve their sustainable goals. Our new drying systems certainly live up to the high expectations. We are proud that world leading vegetable and field seed breeding companies have recently decided to invest in these new technologies.”