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From Boots to Data: Collaboration Is Essential for the Greenhouse Industry of Tomorrow

The farmer of the future doesn’t walk through muddy fields in boots. He sits behind a screen, controls robots, and makes decisions based on data. This technological development not only makes the horticulture sector more innovative but also more complex. According to Dr. Céline Nicole, one thing is crucial in this: collaboration.

Dr. Céline Nicole is a Lecturer in Horticulture Technologies at HAS Green Academy and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Maastricht University (UM). In this dual role, she bridges the gap between applied and fundamental research. At Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, where research, education, and practice come together, she is working on a new way of thinking and working in horticulture.

According to Céline, such collaboration is urgently needed. “The challenges facing agriculture and horticulture are large and multifaceted: from the energy transition and food security to labor shortages. These issues cannot be solved from a single discipline. They require multidisciplinary research and a strong connection between fundamental science and practical application.”

 

Technology and Biology

In her work, Céline moves daily between the lab, lecture hall, and greenhouse. She is trained as a physicist and has over 24 years of experience in high-tech horticulture, sensor technology, data science, and growth lighting, including work at Philips/Signify. She brings this technical background into her current role. “I approach a problem from a technological perspective: how can sensors, data, or automation help plants grow better? A biologist, on the other hand, approaches it from the plant’s perspective. It’s precisely the combination of these different perspectives that produces the best solutions.”

Within Maastricht University’s education and research, this multidisciplinary approach is strongly embedded, according to Céline. Students work at the intersection of plant science, biology, data analysis, robotics, and economics. “This is also the future of horticulture. It has long since ceased to be a sector only for green thumbs. Mathematics, physics, and chemistry play just as important a role.”

Building Bridges

Technology makes it possible to manage cultivation with increasing precision. Using sensors, drones, and smart systems, growers can optimize growth, quality, and efficiency. But technology alone is not enough. “You need to bridge plant science and the exact sciences. That is exactly why the collaboration between HAS Green Academy and UM is so valuable,” Céline explains.

At Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, this collaboration takes concrete form. Within the Brightlands Future Farming Institute (BFFI), Céline works with researchers, students, and companies on innovations for greenhouses and soilless cultivation systems. “UM contributes extensive knowledge in technology, data, sensors, and artificial intelligence (AI). HAS Green Academy’s strength lies in applied research and education. When we connect that with growers, we can make significant progress together.”

But these connections don’t happen automatically. “You have to actively organize the collaboration by setting up projects, arranging funding, and bringing people together. From my experience in the business world, I know how important it is. You need to work together, not alongside each other.”

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Energy Transition

An important theme within this collaboration is the energy transition. “How can we grow plants with lower CO₂ emissions and without fossil energy? This requires smart technology, but also knowledge of plant physiology and genetics. We are also actively seeking collaboration with the other residents of Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo.”

Digitalization and robotics are also major themes for the green sector. “Fewer and fewer people want to work in horticulture. Technology can help, but adoption doesn’t happen automatically. Robots and drones already exist, but they are often still too expensive for individual growers. The challenge is to develop solutions that are scalable and affordable for a wide range of growers.”

 

Different Disciplines

According to Céline, this is precisely where the strength of collaboration between education, research, and practice lies. “As a research group, we don’t aim to sell anything. We want to develop and experiment together with growers. UM can provide technology and measurement equipment, while HAS contributes practical knowledge. By bringing these different disciplines together, we learn from each other.”

Students also play an important role within the Brightlands ecosystem. Céline sees plenty of opportunities for progression and talent development. “For HAS students, a master’s program at UM can be a logical next step. At the same time, we work on projects where students are introduced to entrepreneurship and innovation.”

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Biotech Booster

She has now submitted three projects, all centered on collaboration. One of them involves setting up a Biotech Booster. “Through this booster, we want to help research grow into a startup. Many students have entrepreneurship in their blood. A campus is the ideal place to further develop ideas, with attention not only to technology but also to business development and societal impact.”

According to Céline, one thing is very clear: the horticulture of tomorrow requires a multidisciplinary approach. “The technology exists, the knowledge is there, and the industry is open to innovation. Now it’s a matter of continuing to connect these worlds. The farmer of the future may sit behind a screen instead of standing in the mud with boots on, but real progress still comes from people working together to find solutions.”

 

Source: Brightlands newsletter

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