Biostimulant specialist Orion Future Technologies has grown its team of agronomists, hiring BASIS and FACTS qualified Gerry Strydom.

Mr Strydom brings extensive nursery and glasshouse experience to the agronomy team and will specialise in ornamentals, fruit and glasshouse grown vegetables. He is also a past winner of the UK Grower Awards, specialist ornamental grower of the year.

“With over a decade of experience in the ornamental and glasshouse industry, followed by time spent as a soft fruit breeding farm manager for a producer in Kent, I wanted to move into more of an advisory role, helping growers with their IPM strategy,” he says.

Orion Future Technologies has developed a range of largely silicon-based biostimulants, including Sirius, which has grown in popularity as a way to strengthen a variety of crops from cereals to vines.

“Research shows that silicon helps strengthen plants and can be used in conjunction with other products as part of a responsible IPM strategy. I am looking forward to working with customers to help them make the most of Orion’s product range by unlocking the benefits silicon biostimulants offer,” he concludes.