Instant Insights: Controlled Environment Agriculture

Professor Marcelis is Head of the Horticulture and Product Physiology Group at Wageningen University, The Netherlands. The Group is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading university centres of expertise on greenhouse cultivation and vertical farming. Professor Marcelis is an internationally-recognised authority on the use of light in greenhouse and other protected systems to optimise crop production.Dr Nazim S. Gruda is Professor of Horticulture at the University of Bonn, Germany. Professor Gruda is internationally-renowned for his research and over 250 publications in areas such as soilless culture, controlled environment cultivation and product quality of horticultural crops. He is Chair of an International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Working Group and has edited Acta Horticulturae for the ISHS. In recognition of his research, Professor Gruda was awarded the 2003 “Dr. Heinrich-Baur-Prize” by the Technical University of Munich, Germany, the 2017 “National Scientific Prize” by the Albanian Academy of Science, and the status of “Distinguished Scientist” by the Chinese Academy of Science in 2020.

• Chapter 1 - Research and technology in plant factories with artificial lighting: past, present and future: Ying Liu, Paul Kusuma and Leo F. M. Marcelis, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands; 1 Introduction2 Architecture and automation3 Lighting4 Climate control5 Sensors and algorithms6 Rootzone7 Genetics and plant breeding8 Conclusion9 Where to look for further information10 References Chapter 2 - Life cycle assessment of indoor vertical farms: Michael Martin, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; and Francesco Orsini, University of Bologna, Italy; 1 Introduction2 Life cycle assessment and its application in indoor vertical farms3 Strengths and limits of life cycle assessments for indoor vertical farms4 Insights from life cycle assessments of indoor vertical farms5 Life cycle management and increasing transparency6 Conclusion and future trends in research7 Where to look for further information8 Acknowledgements9 References Chapter 3 - Soilless culture systems and growing media in horticulture: an overview: Nazim S. Gruda, University of Bonn, Germany; 1 Introduction2 Historical overview3 Why soilless culture systems?4 Range of soilless crops, cultivation places and purposes5 State-of-the-art: what does this book offer?6 Conclusions and future trends7 Where to look for further information8 References Chapter 4 - Advances in screenhouse design and practice for protected cultivation: Josef Tanny, Agricultural Research Organization – Volcani Center, Israel; 1 Introduction2 Structures and screen materials3 Microclimate under screens4 Crop evapotranspiration5 Water-use efficiency6 Product quality7 Future trends and conclusion8 References Chapter 5 - Advances in protected cultivation of ornamentals: James E. Faust, Clemson University, USA; 1 Introduction2 Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting systems3 Manipulation of plant growth and development4 Sustainable practices and renewable inputs5 Case study: Propagation of ornamentals in a vertical propagation area6 Conclusion and future trends7 Where to look for further information8 References