High-tech horticulture: an important solution for a more sustainable food system

High-tech greenhouses are a part of the solution for today’s challenges in the global food system. Vegetables, for example, can be grown on substantially less land (75+% less than with other cultivation methods). That is an important finding of a new study by Wageningen University (WUR) commissioned by Grodan about sustainable food production in the greenhouse. The study looks at cultivation systems through the lens of the UN Sustainable Development goals.

Leo Marcelis, professor of Horticulture and Product Physiology at the WUR and leader of the study, is enthusiastic about the results: “The study shows that high-tech greenhouses in the Netherlands – in comparison to other cultivation methods used in Europe – scores the highest on 7 of the 14 indicators for SDG’s relevant to horticulture. This is a result of the cultivation method in the greenhouse, where very low amounts of water and land are used, with barely any emissions from fertilizers. On top of that, biological pest control is the standard with 100 percent of high-tech growers.”

In the high-tech greenhouse, vegetables and fruits are grown ‘above the ground’ on growing media. Cultivation is done in the most sustainable way possible, using climate control, CO₂-enrichment, and sometimes lightning as well. The reusage of water and nutrients is also common practice in the high-tech greenhouse.

Sander van Golberdinge, sustainability manager at Grodan: “The EU is calling to restore our nature and make land use in Europe more sustainable. High-tech greenhouses can make an important contribution to this. After all, they are mini-ecosystems that enable local food production – even on infertile land. They also save land and keep the groundwater clean. This has a positive impact on, for example, the biodiversity around the greenhouse.”

According to the United Nations, food production has to double in the coming years in order to feed the world’s growing population. But this has to be done with less than half of the resources used today in order to not exceed the limits of the planet. Grodan sees a role for innovative greenhouse horticulture. To accomplish this mission, a scientific evaluation of the performance of the high-tech greenhouse was first needed. As a result, the WUR was asked to measure the performance of the high-tech greenhouse horticulture against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

An overview of the most important results:

1. UN SDG: Clean water and sanitation

• In high-tech greenhouses more than half of the water can be saved.
• The waste water from the high-tech greenhouse can be fully recycled and reused; nutrients from this water can also be reused.

2. UN SDG: Use of land

• At least 75% less land is needed with cultivation in the high-tech greenhouse.
• 100% of the high-tech growers use biological crop protection. Therefore, the living environment does not get polluted.

3. UN SDG: Zero hunger

• The high-tech greenhouse can guarantee sustainable food production anywhere in the world, at any time