Sweet potato plants for Europe: the NativaLand story
NativaLand grows and exports sweet potato plants for farmers across Europe. It has had a Magos irrigation system since 2021: «All in line with the specifications», says Fernando Costa, general manager.
NativaLand, set up in 2016, aims to help farmers across Europe and beyond increase the productivity, quality and diversity of their sweet potato crops.
A season with more than 260 people
The company has 16 permanent staff and, during the season (April, May and early June), more than 260 workers. «We always have 20 to 30 people working», says Fernando Costa, general manager of NativaLand.
«Every year we set up a nursery area of 12 ha. Our sweet potato farm is around 40 ha and we do some internal rotation: maize under pivot and ornamentals, bulb flowers. We also have 2 ha of organic production», he adds.
Varieties and planting densities
At NativaLand, the Bellevue, Orleans, Evangeline and Beauregard varieties make up 95% of the plantings. As a rule, the density for processing is 35,000 plants per hectare; for the fresh market it ranges from 45,000 to 55,000 plants per hectare.
85% for export
Of NativaLand's production, 85% of the sweet potato plants are exported, mainly to Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France, but also to Hungary, Greece, Romania and Spain.
The Magos irrigation system
NativaLand has had an irrigation system from Magos Irrigation Systems since 2021. «It went well. All in line with the specifications. Things were done on time and the changes we proposed were well implemented. The work was done professionally and on schedule», says Fernando Costa.
