Creating optimal condition for industrial plant and the surroundings and thus developing a highly efficient glasshouse using green push - that is the bequest of Cecilia Stanghellini and her colleagues . After 40 year of greenhouse research , Stanghellini is retire as a enquiry comrade . She hear slew of opportunities for further sustainability improvement in greenhouse cultivation .
' I never cerebrate I would pass 40 years doing research at WUR , ' say horticultural expert Cecilia Stanghellini at her leaving event . She grow up in Italy , study physic and decide to learn more about the proficient side of nursery horticulture . After her PhD graduation , she was capable to quell on at Wageningen Plant Research . Stanghellini settle permanently in the Netherlands , from where she regularly travelled to other parts of the world , teaching and working as a visiting researcher .
During all these days , Cecilia Stanghellini border on her work like a Formula 1 mechanic , the person tax with maximize the execution of a auto to ensure that the number one wood beget the best solution too . Stanghellini does something exchangeable for greenhouse horticulture . She is trance by sympathise the proficient system in a greenhouse and improving it based on her knowledge of physics . ' A greenhouse is not just about the flora , but also the technology . That ’s the strength of greenhouse gardening . '
The expert system in a greenhouse largely determines the conditions in which crops arise . Light , temperature , wet and CO2 levels are closely come to and influence the yield . ' It ’s about controlling all those circumstance . ' Which is why she has contribute to the development of digital tools for researchers and growers .
Greenhouses much more effective nowWhen Stanghellini started in the eighties , vitality was expensive and greenhouses used much more vim than they do today . That has steady changed : ' Greenhouse gardening has become much more efficient but not most effective enough . ' Energy savings eventually stagnated due to the ecumenical lack of financial incentive for horticulturalists . ' gasolene was too bum . ' Now Stanghellini is increasingly hearing calls for sustainable greenhouses . ' We require to move away from using gas and at last become mood electroneutral . '
The desire to attain sustainability lead to the intention of the most sustainable greenhouse in the Netherlands : KAS2030 . This demo glasshouse with strawberry and flowers is at the WUR website in Bleiswijk and is powered by green electricity rather of gas . For dehumidification , the greenhouse has a high temperature pump . This recovers and stock heat up for use at night and in the wintertime . An additional advantage is that the glasshouse remain more closed in summertime and spring . Every drop-off of used water goes back into the system and craw protection is accomplish using natural foe wherever potential . Stanghellini : ' The first termination are hopeful . Sustainable nursery horticulture is decidedly potential . '
' Cleaner means - unfairly - more expensive’However , Stanghellini is keen to emphasise : variety is dim . ' Only a few growers work in a way that even comes close to KAS2030 , ' she says . ' It is possible to exercise more sustainably , but understandably this is not yet the case . That ’s because of the low prices of our food . Growers just ca n’t afford it . '
' Cleaner might seem to intend more expensive , but that ’s not the case because the environmental impact is not yet factored into food prices . ' According to other research worker , we would then require to spend an extra 86 cents for every euro . ' We do n’t give those costs now , although we do need to compensate the higher product monetary value for sustainable crops . The entire food for thought scheme require to adjust and consumers must also be willing to pay more . '
To work for change from within , Stanghellini spent a band of time instruction . In the lecture hall and greenhouse , she was not only connect by students , but also by growers and suppliers . In each case , she explained to them how a greenhouse work and the natural philosophy behind it . In 2019 , she and two colleagues pile up all their knowledge about physics , phytology and engineering into a textbook for greenhouse horticulture . Not telling you how to do it , but explain how it works , is her catchword . allot to Stanghellini , this avail people make more sustainable choices . ' Growers need to sympathise how it works and then resolve what is honorable in their billet , ' she concludes .
Source : wur.nl
