CURRENT STATE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INTRODUCTION TO INNOVATION IN GREENHOUSE HORTICULTURE

The fossil energy resources are limited in the world.
The combustion of fossil fuels increases the warming up effect of the atmosphere by CO₂-emission.
Thus the rational use of energy is a requirement with increasing importance.
National programs require a reduction of CO₂-emission of 25 to 30% within the next 10 to 15 years.
That means also reduction of fossil fuel combustion for greenhouse-heating.

Energy for greenhouse heating is required both in summer and winter for intensive production in the nothern part of Europe.
In many Mediterranean countries greenhouses are not heated even in cold nights during winter.
This can have a considerable effect on quality, yield and cultivation period of the crops.
High quality for export needs heated greenhouses.
For that reason also in southern regions greenhouses are heated more and more and require a rational use of energy.

The rational use of energy means:

• Energy conservation

• The use of renewable energies for greenhouse heating

• The improvement of production techniques with regard to efficient energy use and reduction of pollution, for example production strategies in connection with artificial lighting.

Unfortunately the requirement of energy conservation and the use of renewable energies received less attention in the last years in horticultural practice, because of the cheap energy prices.
This situation has to be changed.

European Seminar New Technologies for the Rational Use of Energy in Greenhouse Horticulture in Northern Europe

Chr. von Zabeltitz

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1992.312.2