Vincent Kickert - The next growing solutions

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?

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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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