Good Practice - Project
Fieldlab Greenhouse of the Future connects growers, researchers and innovators for sustainable horticulture
The open innovation Fieldlab strengthens cooperation, sustainability and future-focused greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands.
General information
Beneficiary type
- Operational group
CAP specific objective
- SO2. Increasing competitiveness: the role of productivity
Intervention type
- Art. 77 – COOP
Summary
Fieldlab Greenhouse of the Future was an EIP Operational Group (OG) launched by Greenport West-Holland to develop a collaborative innovation environment for sustainable greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands. The OG brought together growers, researchers, educators, public authorities and technology companies interested in future greenhouse systems linked to biodiversity, circular production, automation and climate‑smart cultivation.
Project activities focused on building the partnerships, governance structures and strategic cooperation needed for a long‑term Fieldlab. Workshops, co‑creation sessions and challenge‑based learning encouraged collaboration between experienced horticultural businesses and younger innovators working in robotics, digitalisation and sustainability.
Open innovation and multidisciplinary cooperation remained central throughout the design phase, helping to strengthen regional collaboration between partners in Westland and Oostland. The project provides a strong example of how OG funding can support regional innovation ecosystems through networking, coordination and long‑term cooperation.
Results
- The OG created stronger working relationships among greenhouse growers, research organisations, educational institutions, technology companies and regional authorities involved in Dutch horticultural innovation.
- A detailed framework for implementing Fieldlab covered governance structures, operational themes, financing approaches and cooperation models linked to long-term innovation activities. This improved organisational readiness for future investment and operational development.
- Regional cooperation strengthened between Westland and Oostland stakeholders working around greenhouse horticulture, sustainability and public-private partnership opportunities.
- Students, young professionals and early-career entrepreneurs gained stronger involvement within greenhouse innovation activities through workshops, challenge-based learning and co-creation sessions linked to future food production systems.
- Design phases further increased visibility around future greenhouse themes such as biodiversity, circular production, water efficiency, reduced harmful inputs and smart cultivation technologies.
Promoter
Greenport West-Holland
The Project promoter/beneficiary is an EIP-AGRI Operational Group ©
Funding
CSP support: 197 511.25 EUR
Topics
Context
Glasshouse horticulture plays a major role within the Dutch rural economy, particularly in the Westland region, where generations of growers have developed one of Europe’s most advanced greenhouse production clusters. Strong links between growers, technology companies, researchers and educational institutions have helped shape a highly innovative food production environment connected to international markets and climate-smart cultivation systems.
At the same time, greenhouse businesses are exploring new opportunities linked to circular production, water efficiency, biodiversity, automation and lower-emission growing methods. Increasing pressure on energy use, environmental performance and labour availability is encouraging the sector to develop more integrated innovation approaches that combine technical progress with practical farm application.
Young entrepreneurs, engineers and sustainability specialists are showing growing interest in greenhouse horticulture as a place where robotics, AI, food production and environmental innovation intersect. This creates opportunities for stronger cooperation between agriculture and sectors such as software development, advanced engineering and digital technology.
Greenport West-Holland launched the Fieldlab Greenhouse of the Future OG to help connect these different knowledge communities within one shared innovation environment. The OG focused on preparing a collaborative Fieldlab where growers, researchers, students, public authorities and technology providers could jointly explore future greenhouse solutions under real production conditions. Their approach reflects broader CAP priorities related to cooperation on climate-smart agriculture, sustainable competitiveness and generational renewal.
Such context highlights how OGs can strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by helping rural stakeholders organise around shared opportunities, experimentation and long-term cooperation.
Objectives
The OG sought to establish a collaborative Fieldlab supporting future-focused greenhouse horticulture in the western Netherlands. Strengthening cooperation between growers, researchers, educational organisations, technology businesses and public authorities formed a central ambition throughout the design phase.
Plans focused on preparing a long-term innovation environment where technical and social solutions linked to greenhouse production could be developed, tested and shared under practical conditions. Future themes included circular horticulture, water management, biodiversity enhancement, automation, reduced harmful inputs and climate-smart cultivation systems.
The OG aimed to encourage multidisciplinary cooperation between traditional horticultural actors and specialists in robotics, software engineering, sustainability and digital technology.
Generational renewal became a further priority through the planned involvement of students, young entrepreneurs and early-career innovators interested in greenhouse horticulture and sustainable food production.
Long-term ambitions included strengthening regional competitiveness while supporting environmentally responsible greenhouse development.
Activities
Stakeholder engagement activities brought together greenhouse growers, researchers, educational institutions, public authorities and technology providers connected to the Westland horticulture cluster. Workshops, interviews and collaborative exchanges explored future priorities linked to sustainable greenhouse production.
Co-creation sessions supported the preparation of the overall Fieldlab concept and operational framework. Growers, advisers, students, engineers and sector specialists contributed ideas linked to biodiversity, water management, automation, circular production systems and reduced harmful inputs.
Planning activities included preparation of a detailed design and implementation framework covering governance structures, organisational models, operational themes and future development pathways for the planned Fieldlab environment.
Budgeting and financing work explored long-term funding structures to support future implementation and operation. Cooperation agreements were prepared between participating organisations involved in horticulture, education, research and technology development.
Communication activities continued throughout the design phase through newsletters, workshops, stakeholder meetings and digital outreach linked to the greenhouse horticulture sector. Dissemination work increased awareness around the future Fieldlab concept and encouraged wider participation.
Challenge-based learning sessions and innovation exchanges involved researchers and university-level students together with young entrepreneurs and early-career professionals interested in sustainable horticulture innovation.
Preparatory cooperation activities further supported development of follow-up PPP structures involving Greenport West-Holland, Glastuinbouw Nederland, World Horti Center, Tomatoworld, Vertify, Delphy, Wageningen University & Research, StartLife and Yes!Delft.
Main results
- The OG strengthened cooperation across the Dutch greenhouse horticulture sector by creating new working relationships between growers, researchers, educators, technology companies and regional authorities. Shared planning activities improved strategic coordination around future greenhouse innovation priorities.
- The design phase generated strong foundations for a future operational Fieldlab focused on climate-smart horticulture, circular production systems and multidisciplinary experimentation. Organisational preparation improved readiness for future implementation and long-term cooperation.
- Regional networking increased significantly between Westland and Oostland stakeholders working around PPP opportunities linked to sustainable greenhouse horticulture. Closer alignment accelerated knowledge exchange and strengthened cooperation between participating organisations.
- Students, young professionals and early-career entrepreneurs gained greater visibility within greenhouse innovation processes through workshops, challenge-based learning and co-creation activities linked to future food production systems.
- Environmental value emerged through planned innovation pathways connected to biodiversity, reduced harmful inputs, water efficiency and circular horticulture systems. The project further strengthened regional positioning around sustainable greenhouse leadership and future-oriented agricultural innovation.
Key lessons
- Open innovation environments can strengthen agricultural transition when growers, researchers, educators and technology specialists cooperate through shared long-term structures rather than isolated sectoral activities. Dedicated facilitation proved especially important during the organisational and planning stages.
- Fieldlab approaches create useful flexibility because experimentation, education, entrepreneurship and practical business development can evolve together within a single collaborative environment. Involving specialists from outside traditional agriculture introduced fresh perspectives and strengthened innovation capacity.
- The OG findings created important added value during the early design phase when stakeholder coordination, partnership-building and long-term planning required dedicated support before physical implementation could begin.
- The project highlights how EU funding for cooperation can strengthen regional innovation ecosystems through networking, facilitation and partnership-building activities that larger investment programmes do not always prioritise during early development stages.
The Fieldlab Kas van Toekomst is a unique platform where innovation meets real-world challenges, enabling us to develop sustainable solutions that benefit both growers and the environment.
By working closely with entrepreneurs and government, we can accelerate research into practical innovations that improve resource efficiency and biodiversity in greenhouse horticulture.
This project exemplifies how collaboration across sectors creates new opportunities for sustainable development and regional competitiveness.
Kas voor de Toekomst shouldn’t become an internal greenhouse industry affair. We need fresh perspectives and should challenge ourselves by involving thinkers from other sectors. Just like high-tech company ASML in Brainport Eindhoven thrives through deep collaboration, we too must foster a culture of open innovation. The Fieldlab should become a breeding ground where diverse minds come together to strengthen the entire sector without stepping on each other’s toes.