In Bleiswijk, in the Netherlands, the first pile has been driven for a new high-tech research greenhouse of the Greenhouse Horticulture business unit of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The design and construction are handled by Bom Group from Hoek van Holland. The greenhouse will enable the sector to address future challenges such as sustainability, climate-neutral cultivation, and further digitalisation.
© Wageningen URThe first pile is driven at the Greenhouse Horticulture business unit in Bleiswijk
Vitrum: greenhouse for the future
The greenhouse will be named Vitrum, Latin for glass. Researchers will develop knowledge and solutions to help growers and other partners in the greenhouse horticulture sector make their production more sustainable and efficient. "Think of reducing energy consumption, developing circular cultivation systems, and applying robotics and artificial intelligence," says Monique van Wordragen, business unit manager Greenhouse Horticulture. "In this way, the new facility will help the Netherlands maintain and further strengthen its international lead in horticulture."
Facilities of the future
Vitrum will operate entirely without fossil fuels. Solar panels, heat pumps, and an aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) system will together provide heating and cooling. Water and nutrients will be fully reused, preventing the emission of greenhouse gases, nutrients, or chemical substances into the environment. Dynamic LED lighting will allow both light intensity and spectrum to be adjusted to crop needs.
The greenhouse will comprise 24 compartments with a total surface area of approximately 5,500 square metres. Six compartments will be fully conditioned and prepared for the use of large numbers of sensors. All data will be automatically collected, following the FAIR principles and the EU Data Act, and stored in a cloud environment supporting artificial intelligence applications. Mobile measurement systems and gantry robots will allow continuous plant-level monitoring, for example to detect diseases and pests at an early stage.
Robotics and education
Two dedicated sections will be equipped for proof-of-principle tests with robots, both in high-wire cultivation and bench systems. For this research, the greenhouse will feature wider aisles and special sensor and robot infrastructure. A dedicated hall will also provide space for demonstrations and meetings. Education in the region will also benefit: the Greenhouse Horticulture business unit is a recognised training company for secondary vocational education (MBO), allowing students to gain hands-on experience with the latest technologies and production systems.
The construction is being carried out by main contractor Bom Group, in collaboration with other Atrium Agri companies of which Bom Group is a part. Rob de Wit, Commercial Manager at Bom, says: "This is truly a prestige project for us; we are delivering the greenhouse completely turnkey. You won't find this level of technology on such a small footprint anywhere else." The greenhouse is expected to be ready for use in 2027.
Another new research greenhouse in Wageningen
A new research greenhouse is also under construction at Unifarm, the WUR experimental farm on Wageningen Campus. This greenhouse, called Serre Green, will primarily support fundamental research and education, with several compartments for specific crops. Vitrum in Bleiswijk will focus more on applied research and high-tech innovations, in collaboration with the sector. Both facilities are essential to develop knowledge and practical solutions for greenhouse horticulture.
For more information:
Wageningen University & Research
www.wur.nl
