Nutrient Emissions in Greenhouses: A Model-Based Approach

Finally, it’s time to go back to being a normal student again. Last week I finished my BSc thesis. Here’s a quick but technical article summarising what I did and what I found. The Dutch greenhouse horticultural industry is extremely Continue reading Nutrient Emissions in Greenhouses: A Model-Based Approach

The Greenhouse Challenge Grand Finale

A few days ago, the Grand Finale of Wageningen University’s Greenhouse Challenge took place. It was a great day of discussing urban agriculture, showcasing new ideas, pitching, and celebration. Here’s my experience of that day. The Stand At 10 AM, Continue reading The Greenhouse Challenge Grand Finale

Update on Green Spark and the Greenhouse Challenge

We just pulled an all-nighter. After over half a year of refining our ideas, our team’s final dossier for Wageningen University’s Greenhouse Challenge was finally handed in, a rendering of which you see above. The Greenhouse Challenge is a competition Continue reading Update on Green Spark and the Greenhouse Challenge

AMI’s Farm Lab and the First Vertical Farming Festival

At Aquafarm 2018, Zjef Van Acker had been talking about his latest brainchild, the Virtual Vertical Farming Lab (ViVe Farm Lab), an online platform for sharing data and knowledge. On the way back at the airport, he showed me some Continue reading AMI’s Farm Lab and the First Vertical Farming Festival

Recovering Nutrients: Environmental Technology and Attitudes

Closing the loop is what vertical farms should help us do. More specifically, vertical farms can be organs within their surroundings, turning nutrient-containing waste into high-value produce. One of the ways I am exploring this idea is by participating in Continue reading Recovering Nutrients: Environmental Technology and Attitudes

Energy in Greenhouses

It’s February, and Wageningen University’s Greenhouse Challenge has officially started. For the next few months, teams all over the world will be designing an urban farming system for the Bijlmerbajes, a former prison complex near Amsterdam (what is it with Continue reading Energy in Greenhouses

Energy: The Elephant in the Room

A few weeks ago, I was at Alexander Boedijn‘s MSc thesis presentation. For the past year, Alexander has been looking at energy flows within Amsterdam and how they can be used in urban rooftop horticulture.  After the presentation, a classmate Continue reading Energy: The Elephant in the Room

Indoor Agriculture at the Disruptive Innovation Festival

The Disruptive Innovation Festival (DIF) is an online event that invites people to explore the question “The economy is changing – what do I need to know, experience and do?” through a series of webinars. For 2016, the DIF’s main Continue reading Indoor Agriculture at the Disruptive Innovation Festival