Wageningen Economic Research

This interview details Wageningen Economic Research, a social-economic research institute based in the Netherlands. The interview is with Coert Bregman, Horticulture Researcher at Wageningen Economic Research. 

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What are some of the topics of your research currently related to indoor farming? 

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My specific part is an interactive economic web-based model with input parameters and the output in yields, revenues in figures and numbers.

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What research are you most interested in overall? 

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A model used to provide greater clarity to entrepreneurs and investors about the economic status of a project or crop in vf.

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Spatial planning and the food supply chain of vf in cities.

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What are your thoughts in CO2 usage in indoor farms? 

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Co2 is necessary for plant growth so it has to be available in a vf

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Energy is a big topic in indoor farming right now. How can indoor farms have better management of energy? 

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There are many sustainable energy sources and storage options that, in combination with innovations, offer many opportunities for vf through more systematic cultivation independent of daylight.

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Any predictions for the future of the horticulture sector? 

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There is currently little attention paid to combining vf with greenhouse horticulture and especially the starting material. Combining both offers opportunities for higher production and fewer diseases and pests in crops.

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How can people connect with you or learn more about your research at Wageningen?

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They can contact me directly or learn of the progress in the vf project in which I am involved; Fieldlab Vertical Farming | Greenport Horticampus (greenport-horticampus.nl)

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