Event Horti-BlueC Open Event (Interreg 2 Seas)

strawberries in greenhouse

Can strawberries and tomatoes be cultivated without non-renewable feedstock materials such as peat and mineral wool? How can residual materials such as shrimp shells, CO2 from flue gasses, spent growing media, green waste and plant fibers be upcycled and contribute to sustainable soilless horticulture?

The Interreg 2 Seas project Horti-BlueC aims at solving bottlenecks and proposing new solutions for more sustainable growing media in horticulture and for upcycling byproducts from current practices. The ambition is to facilitate the adoption of a new greenhouse concept, with a reduction in fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions, a reduced application of chemical plant protection products and fertilizers and replacement of virgin CO2.

Horti-BlueC Interreg
Horti-BlueC Interreg 2 Seas

During this event, the final results of the Horti-BlueC project will be disseminated.

Project researchers will present their findings on new solutions for sustainable growing media:

  • Biochar and chitin amendments for tomato substrates in commercial production: Evaluation of the potential to enhance growing media sustainability - Ewan Gage
  • Succesfully organic growing media cultivated in a commercial tomato growing system - Julie Moelants
  • Extending the lifetime of coir substrate in strawberry production through coir reuse and amendment with biochar - Xiangming Xu
  • Amending Butterhead Lettuce and Brioso Tomato with Recycled Shellfish Waste to Improve Yield and Antioxidant Activity - Edward Collins

Afterwards, representatives from observer partners VLACO, ECN, WUR and RHP will take part in a panel discussion on the adoption of sustainable growing media by the sector in the project area.

Finally, the Horti-BlueC immersive Virtual Reality experience will also be showcased.

As the Open Event is integrated into the GrowingMedia2021 Symposium, more detailed information on the presented research can be found on the Symposium website. Please note that registration for the Horti-BlueC Open Event is automatically included in the registration for the GrowingMedia2021 Symposium. However, the Horti-BlueC Open Event can also be attended seperately from the Symposium, but free registration is necessary through the link.

Horti-BlueC partners
Horti-BlueC partners

For more information about the Horti-BlueC project: horti-bluec.eu.

The Horti-BlueC Open Event is open and free to all interested parties. Registration is necessary and is now open! Deadline for registration is August 20th.

Download presentations

Schedule

Introduction - Bart Vandecasteele
Biochar and chitin amendments for tomato substrates in commercial production: Evaluation of the potential to enhance growing media sustainability - Ewan Gage
Polls on growing media: how to introduce new blends?
Succesfully organic growing media cultivated in a commercial tomato growing system - Julie Moelants
Extending the lifetime of coir substrate in strawberry production through coir reuse and amendment with biochar - Xiangming Xu
Amending Butterhead Lettuce and Brioso Tomato with Recycled Shellfish Waste to Improve Yield and Antioxidant Activity - Edward Collins
Break
Summary of the Horti-BlueC full scale trials for tomato and strawberry
Panel discussion with observer partners VLACO, ECN, WUR and RHP
Horti-BlueC Immersive Virtual Reality Experience

Speakers

Bart Vandecasteele

Bart Vandecasteele

ILVO

Ewan Gage ADAS

Ewan Gage

ADAS

Julie Moelants PCH

Julie Moelants

Proefcentrum Hoogstraten

Xiangming Xu

Xiangming Xu

NIAB EMR

Edward Collins UoP

Edward Collins

University of Portsmouth