The 1st turnkey container solution for organic endive growing based on cost-efficient rail gutters.
""Cichorium intybus var foliosum"", is the extraordinary plant that allow to grow endives, also called chicory or witloof (Brussels chicory). Endive is, without a doubt, one of the most complex and fascinating crops in the world to grow, requiring a two-step growing process (the 2nd step in darkness). 
CIChorium, founded in 2002 by Dr. Philippe Blanquet, with a broad expertise in the endive world from 1988, performing phytopathological exams on endive roots. Now, CIChorium presents the ""Endive Container project"", which represents the ramp up from worldwide advise+consulting to the market launch of an advanced organic growing system for endive growers. Built in two 50m2 shipping containers, the patented Endive Container system includes both an advance hydroponic system, as a drive-in shelf multi rail gutter trays based method for automated culture of endives' roots. The new growing approach of the system to fight against the spread of infections, allow us to launch Endive Container as the first organic methodology to grow endives, without pesticides, widely required in the state-of-the-art of endive culture. 
Increasing 20% yields, water-efficiency (90% less water) and pesticides free are the main Unique Selling Points offered by the low-cost CIChorium technology. 
Over decades, endive production has been focused on specific countries due to the complexity to grow endives. Disease control is essential to obtain optimal yields and quality crops. Meanwhile, the dark environment must be controlled and high degree of know-how is required for this crop.
Endive Container delivers a decentralized endive production which perfectly fits with local and organic SMEs growers. Endive Container is a turnkey system, x5 cost-effective vs. traditional forcing rooms at a selling price of €120.000. The system is transportable, scalable and stackable to market size, as more containers, more production. A short payback of 2 years for growers!
