This month, a consortium of Light4Food, Maurice Kassenbouw, Signify and Ridder signed the contract for the realization of a new research facility at the location of the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture & Bulbs of Wageningen University & Research in Bleiswijk (Netherlands).
Vertical Farming in greenhouse horticulture
Four airtight cells will be installed in a new hall at the Violierenweg 1 with cultivation systems for high growing crops and multi-layer cultivation of low-growing crops (pot plants, starting material, leafy vegetables, etc.). In order to be able to follow the crop reactions under extreme conditions, very high light levels between 1000 and 1500 µmol PAR have been chosen. A part of the cells is fitted with dynamically adjustable LED lighting to investigate both the effects of the light level and the light spectrum.
Through an extensive measuring and control system, photosynthesis, water and nutrient uptake of the entire crop can be made measurable, whereby different nutrient solutions can be offered independently of each other. The complete energy balance of the cells can also be followed by intensive energy and climate monitoring.
The completion of this facility is planned for the first quarter of 2020.
Source: Wageningen University & Research