Fieldlab Vertical Farming started
The Vertical Farming field lab was recently launched. Due to the corona outbreak, the start was somewhat delayed. Nevertheless, progress has been made in the various work packages
Marketing and Demand Articulation
In the Market Processing and Demand Articulation theme – which focuses on developing revenue models based on insight into consumer perception of vertical farming – the objectives have been defined in more detail and a start has been made with the details of the research. Vegetables and herbs are being looked at, especially in the Netherlands. The research capacity in this project will be spent in the first year on consumer research in order to have a starting point for the following years. The research will start in July, now that it is gradually possible to carry out fieldwork again.
International consumer research is also important. Because this is not really possible within the current field lab, an additional application is being prepared for this.
Research and Demonstration
The research design has been defined and formulated in the Research and Demonstration theme – within which climate cells are being built at WUR Bleiswijk (in progress) and Delphy/Improvement Center (in preparation). We look at further substantiating the benefits of vertical farming, the influence of light (spectrum, intensity and duration) and the nutritional value of crops as a function of different cultivation systems / cultivation recipes.
The construction of the cells at WUR Bleiswijk is underway. Improvement Center has decided to wait a little longer with the implementation until the impact of Corona could be better estimated. This is not expected to cause a major delay to the trials in this work package. The first experiments in the cells at WUR Bleiswijk can start at the end of Q3 or early Q4 2020.
Education
In the Education theme, the partners work together on education-related developments within Vertical Farming. The work package has four project components:
- Development of teaching materials, which laid the foundation for the content of WP3. Educational material is inventoried, brought together and further developed for roll-out to various target groups (regular education, courses for entrepreneurs, etc.)
- Learning arrangements for entrepreneurs, in which training and knowledge transfer are developed. Examples include masterclasses by experienced entrepreneurs, clinics in which experts share their knowledge, interactive work sessions, work visits and symposia.
- Regular education, aimed at embedding Vertical Farming in MBO and HBO
- Student projects, in conjunction with the themes of Market Approach and Research and Demonstration, in the form of internships, (graduation) research, projects, etc., for students from a wide range of study programmes.
Sustainable platform for the Vertical Farming sector
The last theme is the realization of a sustainable platform for the Vertical Farming sector in the Netherlands, which can also support the sector after the current project has ended. This brings together the insights and knowledge gathered in the other themes. This is in collaboration with other initiatives that also relate to Vertical Farming, and is in a preparatory phase.
ERDF Project Field Lab Vertical Farming South Holland
Within the Fieldlab Vertical Farming South Holland, companies and knowledge institutes work together on the sustainable strengthening of the Dutch competitive position in the field of vertical horticulture, from the South Holland region. Knowledge and expertise are converted into concrete innovations in the field of market, techniques for vertical farming, training programs and sustainable network in collaboration with its partners.
The Field Lab Vertical Farming South Holland is an initiative of Innovation Quarter and Greenport West Holland. Project partners are the Greenport Horti Campus Foundation, Delphy, Future Crops, Logiqs, InHolland University of Applied Sciences, Improvement Centre, Proeftuin Zwaagdijk, Signify, Vitro Plus, and Wageningen University & Research. The project, which runs from 2019 to 2023, is made possible in part by contributions from ERDF and the Province of South Holland.