When Horticulture becomes resource independent The limit will be our imagination
Horticulture Today •
Moving away from fossil fuels
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Combining solutions from different industries • Multiple Effect Distillation (oil rig water supply) • Hygroscopic dehumidification (gas industry)
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Finding new solutions for our existing / known problems
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Changing Resources •
Renewable options • • • •
Wind based PV Panels Bio-fuels Bio-waste conversion
Takuma – Wood chip power plant (JP)
Obrist SRL – PV integration (IT)
Groen Gas Gelderland – Biomethane (NL) 3
Changing Resources •
or thermal energy; Solar, Geothermal and optimized storage
Enclosed Trough – Glasspoint
Torresol Energy Gemasolar plant - Spain
Cerro Pabellon – Geothermal Plant (CL)
Sundrop Farms – Australia (22.000 m3)
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Today’s Applications
General Electrics – Steam Turbine
Climeworks – CO2 Capture
Hitachi – Steam Absorption Chiller
Alfa Laval – Multi Effect Distillation 5
Tomorrow • World Population • 8,1 Billion 2025 • 9,1 Billion 2040
• Gas Prices • Up or Down?
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Tomorrow’s Greenhouse • Current Greenhouses shift to semi-closed and beyond • Less air exchange • Improved climate delivery • Smaller climate bands => treat the plant not the GH
• Different design focus: • • • •
Yield per cost ratio Consumables vs. investment ratio Larger buffers, cold / hot / CO2 / etc.? No standard components with larger projects
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Tomorrow’s Solutions • Physical Optimizations • Improved deck designs • Advanced cooling systems • Low cost air distribution
No windows, always cleanable and no storm limitations
• Method Optimizations • Data-Driven grow systems • Centralized growers posts • Automated crop recognition
Drones can inventorize all plants on diseases and growth status – Applied Drone Innovations 8
Finances Limiting Tomorrow •
None of these things are inventive… • A 100% Solar powered greenhouse is possible • A different design focus is already being adapted • A shift in investment vs. consumables is present
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Finances dictate today’s design • Should we use today’s prices? • Should we consider today’s market?
Where are we tomorrow?
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The Future • Assuming a peaceful progression…. • We will increase in population • We will need more food • We need to improve efficiency
• Will we push for inventions or wait for innovations? • Improve the physical state of horticulture • Improve the methods used for growing • Integrate…. With offices, factories, power plants, etc.
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Science-Fiction or Potential Innovations?
Do we follow or lead? Sunshine, 2007 Fox Searchlight Pict.
Omega Garden Int. - 2014
NASA is aiming for a literal garden on the moon Will we aim to feed more than just this world? 11
Contact Info Vincent Kickert Research & Development Manager Van der Hoeven Horticultural Projects B.V. Vrij-Harnasch 124, 2635 BZ Den Hoorn, The Netherlands t: +31 88 - 262 66 66 e: info@vanderhoeven.nl
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