GLastuinbouw Innovates through Co-creation with Low Carbon Hightech(GLITCH)

Within the border region between Flanders and the Netherlands, in addition to a strong agri-food sector, you will also find a very strong high-tech sector.

Yet much high tech does not meet the needs of horticulturists, the high tech is not yet applicable in market products, not market-driven or competitive, and not good enough for the environment in terms of CO2 reduction.

Greenhouse horticulture companies in the border region do need innovation to maintain their top position in Europe.

Goal

This project focuses on the innovation process itself: how can companies achieve successful, low-carbon innovation through cocreation with relevant stakeholders?

Therefore, within this project we bring together growers, technology companies, research institutions and buyers or customers. This is how we co-create innovations with realistic market potential.

We are focusing on innovations that increase energy efficiency in greenhouse horticulture or that are themselves energy neutral. 

The following concrete innovation projects that are climate efficient or climate neutral are included:

• Energy-efficient lighting techniques in tomato and lettuce
• Energy-efficient cultivation systems in strawberry and cucumber
• Utilization of low-grade heat
• Utilization of CO2 while maintaining air quality
• Plasma technology for energy-efficient nitrogen production
• Energy-balancing day screens
• Energy-balancing night screens
• Development of vapor heat pump for dehumidification

Results

A roadmap will be developed during this process to help greenhouse horticulture companies achieve successful, low-carbon innovation.

We will then actively disseminate that roadmap to the greenhouse horticulture sector and to all companies that want to engage in sustainable and innovative cocreation.

Partners 

• Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt
• Proefcentrum Hoogstraten
• Instituut voor Landbouw en Visserij Onderzoek
• Universiteit Antwerpen
• Universiteit Gent
• Blue Engineering
• Bluehub
• Innoveins
• Maurice Kassenbouw
• EMS
• Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo