Student internship at Ecoculture Fields LLP

As part of their industrial training, students of the Biotechnology educational program completed an internship at Ecoculture Fields LLP. The company is engaged in the cultivation and supply of tomatoes, cucumbers, flowers, and flower seed production. The students learned about the principles of operation of two greenhouses manufactured in the Netherlands, which are of the 4th generation (4+) type, equipped with drip irrigation and carbon dioxide supplementation through special tubes. CO2 is produced in the company's own boiler rooms.

One greenhouse is used exclusively for growing roses, while the other is used for tomatoes and cucumbers. As is well known, there are only two companies in Kazakhstan that have greenhouses for growing roses, and this line of business ensures stable profitability for the enterprise, as it is not subject to seasonal demand.

The students mastered the practical skills of managing an automated system for controlling microclimatic parameters, humidity, and ventilation systems to prevent overheating in greenhouses (opening and closing curtains). They also familiarized themselves with the protection systems used – chemical (minimized) and biological, based on using entomophages. Some of the students underwent practical training at the company's own laboratory in Almaty, which is engaged in the cultivation and reproduction of entomophages against pests.

Understanding the principles of the cold chain for storing and transporting vegetables and the fundamentals of agribusiness undoubtedly contributes to improving the quality of education and preparing students for the real conditions of the labor market, contributing to the achievement of SDG 4 – Quality Education.

Prepared by senior lecturers A.A. Meldebekova, G.Doktyrbay.