Climate Control Using a Genetic Algorithm (Part 2)

Over 6 months ago I started my MSc thesis – and now the project’s finished. This is a cursory but technical article where I share some of the results with you. A quick recap: There are many ways of controlling Continue reading Climate Control Using a Genetic Algorithm (Part 2)

Biobased Materials: Where Should They Come From, Where Should They Go?

Indoor agriculture is touted as sustainable, but it requires a lot of materials – plastics, rockwool, and packaging, for example. How can these be made more circular? Continue reading Biobased Materials: Where Should They Come From, Where Should They Go?

Circularity, Livestock, and Nutrients

What should the broad vision be to achieve circularity? Circularity is a big theme on this blog. I usually talk about indoor agriculture, but the same concepts apply to our whole food system. At the NVTL’s conference, Martin van Ittersum gave a presentation on a compelling vision to achieve this. Continue reading Circularity, Livestock, and Nutrients

LetsGrow Using Data in Greenhouses

Back in 1947, computer science pioneer Alan Turing foresaw machines that could learn from experience. 73 years later, everyone seems to be yapping on about ‘big data’ and ‘machine learning’, as I have on this blog as well. Where conventional programming starts Continue reading LetsGrow Using Data in Greenhouses

The Untapped Energy in Water Vapour

Last week, Heeren XVII, the biosystems engineers’ society at Wageningen University, organised an evening featuring three companies in the greenhouse horticulture industry. The first of these was Ammerlaan Construction (known as Maurice Kassenbouw in The Netherlands and Belgium), presented by Continue reading The Untapped Energy in Water Vapour

Circular Horticulture, Part 2: Pitches

Last week I attended Wageningen Research’s Greenhouse Horticulture business unit’s event on research into circular horticulture for 2025. After the main presentation on the group’s vision and ideas (which you can read about here), there were six short presentations. Three Continue reading Circular Horticulture, Part 2: Pitches

Circular Horticulture 2025, Part 1: Visions and Goals for Research

Last Thursday I attended Circular Horticulture 2025, an event organised by Wageningen Research’s Greenhouse Horticulture business unit. The topic was their vision and goals for future research within circular horticulture. Continue reading Circular Horticulture 2025, Part 1: Visions and Goals for Research

TechnoHouse at Rijk Zwaan

Two Saturdays ago I went to TechnoHouse, an event organised at Rijk Zwaan’s headquarters in Westland, for sharing knowledge, networking, and showcasing the latest in breeding vegetable crops and greenhouse horticulture. Continue reading TechnoHouse at Rijk Zwaan

Rule-Based Climate Control Using a Genetic Algorithm

Greenhouse climate control consists of lots of if-then statements, basically decision trees. Can a genetic algorithm optimise these trees? I am about to find out in my MSc thesis. Continue reading Rule-Based Climate Control Using a Genetic Algorithm