Jul 1, 2024

FFAR and NWO launch sustainable greenhouse initiative

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO) have announced the Greenhouses in Transition program, aimed at promoting sustainable controlled environment agriculture (CEA). This initiative aligns with the U.N. sustainable development goals and seeks to enhance resource efficiency in food production.

John Reich, Ph.D., FFAR’s scientific program director, emphasized the importance of integrating resource allocation across food, energy, and water sectors. “We have to consider the social complexity of how systems are interconnected and the competition of resources within and across systems,” he said.

The program will fund a transdisciplinary research team to develop and execute strategies for a more sustainable CEA sector. An estimated $5.87 million is available for research in the U.S. and Netherlands. Researchers from both countries are encouraged to submit proposals focusing on technological innovations and the ecological, societal, and economic aspects of CEA.

Sub-proposals are due by Oct. 29, 2024, and full proposals by June 5, 2025. Details are available on the Greenhouses in Transition webpage. An informational webinar will be held on July 9, 2024, and advance registration is required.