Bedding plants resilient fossil-free

Project goal

The project”Fossil-Free, Resilient Bedding Plants” investigated how bedding plants can be grown with very low fossil fuel inputs, without losing quality or increasing losses due to diseases and pests. The study was prompted by the greenhouse horticulture industry’s ambition to achieve climate-neutral production by 2040 and the observation that crop health is a limiting factor, especially in energy-efficient bedding plant cultivation.

Project description

Within the project, several bedding plant crops were grown under highly energy-efficient conditions, with intensive screen use, low growing temperatures, and the use of LED lighting. Specific attention was paid to the role of active dehumidification and air movement in controlling the (micro)climate within the crop. By measuring the microclimate between the plants and incorporating this information into climate control, insight was gained into the relationship between moisture, energy consumption, and crop resilience.

Delphy was responsible for the design and execution of the research, the climate strategy, monitoring and data analysis, and the translation of research results into practical knowledge for growers. The added value of the research lay in combining energy savings with maintaining crop quality and resilience, specifically focusing on a crop group traditionally considered energy-extensive.

Research period: August 2024 – August 2025

This project/research was developed within the framework of the “Greenhouse as Energy Source” program, the innovation and action program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, and Greenhouse Horticulture Netherlands.