BIOGREENET · Boosting Innovation in Organic GREENhouses via stronger NETworks

The EU is a major player in greenhouse production, with about 175.000 ha dedicated to this purpose. In 2021, a total of 13.62 k tonnes of vegetables were cultivated in greenhouses in the EU. However, greenhouse production remains a niche sector for organic production (3% of the total organic area in the EU). Furthermore, Organic greenhouse production is highly knowledge-intensive and represents unique challenges such as the maintenance of soil health, biodiversity and pest control with a limited set of inputs. In addition, structures can be costly, require skilled workforce and present high regional variability in their production strategies. Research findings are not sufficiently integrated into agricultural practices tailored to the diverse needs and conditions faced by greenhouse producers in different areas. Moreover, there are insufficient nodes to establish meaningful connections among farmers. BIOGREENET aims to collect, evaluate, adapt, share and foster the uptake of consolidated practices and promote knowledge exchange by increasing collaboration among communities. Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) will be reinforced, and new local, regional and cross-border platforms will emerge and encourage the sharing of knowledge, innovation and digitalisation among producers, advisors, researchers and other relevant stakeholders across and beyond the EU. A transdisciplinary team of organisations has grouped in BIOGREENET to spark innovation and induce a collaborative environment in the community through a bottom-up approach and digital initiatives that will establish the base of synergies with EIP-AGRI projects and strengthen AKIS. Over a four-year project, the engagement of >3,000 producers and specialised advisors through up-to-date knowledge digital platforms and workshops, will promote implementation of the collected best organic practices in greenhouse production.