Project

Living Labs Circular greenhouse

Closing nutrient loops comes with challenges, notably in quality requirements and food safety risks. In this project, we inventory potential nutrient sources and technologies for the greenhouse horticulture sector. One case will be selected and implemented within a living lab setting, involving stakeholders throughout the intended nutrient supply chain.

Reducing the use of fossil- and scarce resources as well as harmful emissions is a key goal of the circular economy. These challenges also apply to greenhouse horticulture. The 2019-2022 KB34 project on Circular Greenhouse Horticulture was the kick-off for this theme within WUR and resulted in a greater awareness, a better understanding of the current situation (qualitatively and quantitatively), and an interdisciplinary network – both within WUR and with industry. Examples of ‘cross-overs’, where material flows between greenhouse horticulture and other production systems are exchanged, were also quantified and explored conceptually.

This 2023-2024 project aims to build on the previous project by focusing on one material flow: nutrients. This was chosen due to challenges related to quality, availability to plants, and food safety, as well as the high nutrient input per hectare of greenhouses. Circular sources of nutrients will be necessary, whilst minimising diffuse emissions to the environment after which recovery is difficult. Multiple circular sources of nutrients show potential, including cross-overs. Major questions remain: “How can these sources be connected to greenhouses and how does this affect greenhouse horticulture’s role and function in a circular food system?”

In the 2019-2022 project, nutrients were examined generally and as part of cross-overs, but these studies regarding circular nutrient sources were not exhaustive. Furthermore, every cross-over has its own network of stakeholders outside of greenhouse horticulture who need to be involved. This project starts by inventorying and assessing the trade-offs (environmental, economic, social, safety) of different pathways to include greenhouses in a closed nutrient loop. After this inventorisation, a cross-over will be chosen based on its potential and the ability of the project to solve important bottlenecks to its implementation. This cross-over will be validated and improved upon with a ‘living lab’ approach, involving stakeholders throughout the entire (innovative) supply chain.

Publications