< Back to previous page

Organisation

PCG-Vegetable Research Centre

Research Institute

Lifecycle:13 Jan 1977 →  Today
Organisation profile:

PCG is a non-profit organization for applied horticultural research founded in 1977. It is an institution financed by the Flemish government referred to as ‘praktijkcentrum’. The tasks of the institute are to execute application-oriented research, to collect and disperse science-based information, and to perform consulting all with the objective to support the Flemish agro-industry. In 2014, the organization was structured in 4 units: field crops, protected crops (including organic culture), sensory and consumer science, and innovation.

PCG has 38 employees of which 13 researchers (master or PhD level scientists).

PCG houses state-of-the-art infrastructure for crop experiments: 12.5 ha fields (6.5 ha on location or at growers), 8 times 380 m² and 4 times 80 m² greenhouse space and 2*325 m² plastic polytunnels.

PCG has been coordinating several multi-partner research projects (mainly Interreg III, Interreg IV, IWT LA trajects) in collaboration with different universities and other research centres or as a reliable partner.

The core business of PCG is the conducting of field- and greenhouse trials. Because of the over the years acquired excellence and scientific expertise, it was awarded in 2003 the GEP accreditation for performing trials to contribute to the registration of pesticides in Flanders. It is now responsible for performing selectivity and efficiency trials with fungicides, nematicides, insecticides, herbicides, molluscicides and plant growth regulators in vegetable production. Yearly, around 100 trials are performed in collaboration with the major agrochemical industries.

PCG has a strong connection with the growers and the insight into the challenges they face

Keywords:gewasbescherming, IPM, plagen, prei
Disciplines:Other agricultural, veterinary and food sciences