Train to provide professional hogweed control services in Poland and Europe

Become an entrepreneur! Expand your scope of business activity! Obtain a certificate from the "Palący Problem - Heracleum" Foundation for the control of Sosnowsky’s hogweed and similar species! With the certificate you can apply for funds to the County Labour Offices for setting up a business and community funds for the purchase of innovative solutions for professional and effective control of invasive hogweed species.

We provide you with the opportunity to gain a new skill in the professional control of invasive plant species, particularly Sosnowsky’s hogweed, also in protected sites. (More information about available training in the article Offer re. hogweed control, training). As this plant is present on a massive scale in every European country, work can be found not only in Poland but throughout Europe. We will share with you our professional knowledge (training or a compendium of knowledge - manual) and issue a licence for using the patent-protected PASTWA apparatus.

We have long-term experience and recommendations of communes and research centres. In 2014, at the request of the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, we prepared "Guidelines for the Control of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi) and Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) in Poland ". www.gdos.gov.pl/files/aktualnosci/29914/Wytyczne

Spread of giant hogweed throughout Europe

An employment opportunity for several generations – a huge labour market due to the massive presence of hogweed and gradual detection of new invasion sites. For example, in Germany, 1 hour of hogweed control services costs EUR 30 - 35.

As a Foundation, we have the know-how, experience and equipment to control hogweed, as well as very good results in limiting the population of this dangerous plant. We have the right to sell the equipment together with a license at a very competitive price until the end of 2016, see the article Innovative PASTWA Method and Technique. The hogweed eradication apparatus is simple and safe to use, environmentally-friendly and highly effective. It can be used for mass application on commune and private land.

PASTWA EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE (treatments carried out by a single person)

• product application time: 3 - 6 seconds = eradication of 1 plant
• 1 minute = eradication of 10 plants
• 1 hour = eradication of 600 plants
• 1 day (8 hours) = eradication of 4800 plants
• 1 month (22 work days) = 105,600 mature plants eradicated (ca. 3.5 ha)

Europe spends huge amounts on restricting the expansion of hogweed. In 2008, the cost of controlling invasive alien species and repairing of related damages in the European Union was estimated at EUR 9.6 – 12.7 billion. In Denmark, the annual cost of controlling hogweed per 1 ha ranges from EUR 20k (chemicals) to more than EUR 30k (manual methods). Data for 2012 from the zgapa.pl website. The project, "Free the Environment of Sosnowsky’s Hogweed” implemented since June 2014 in 30 communes in the Małopolskie Province is a good example of allocating considerable community funds for the eradication of hogweed.

 Our ideas on how to control hogweed and make profit:

1) livestock grazing – alpacas from the Camelidae family

The breeding of alpacas seems to be a relatively easy and profitable business. These animals have very limited living needs and are resistant to low temperatures. Approximately 20 alpacas can be bred per hectare. Since alpacas mainly feed on green fodder they can subsequently eat the young invasive plants. The benefits of breeding alpacas include very high quality wool, tasty meat and a natural fertiliser used in horticulture.

2) plantations of valuable and fast-growing tree species (Oxytree), also in ruderal areas