Blended

Course Vertical Farming

Are you interested in the cutting-edge technology of vertical farming? Do you want to learn how to grow nutritional crops in a sustainable and safe way? Look no further than the Course Vertical Farming. In this mixed classroom course, Wageningen University & Research’s world’s leading academics in the field bring together business, academia, and students.

Led by the world's leading academics in the field, this course is designed for the ones who want to stay at the forefront of this exciting field. Get the latest insights on the opportunities and challenges of vertical farming (VF). Don’t miss this chance; come share in the latest insights on opportunities and challenges of VF and discover what really works.

Organised by Wageningen Academy
Duration 4 weeks, 60 hours in total

The next edition is expected to run in January 2025. The information on this course page refers to the 2024 edition. You can already show your interest.

Why follow this course?

Vertical farming is a fast-growing globalized industry with investments in new and existing companies. This course on VF aims to illuminate the trees in the forest of big claims and lofty promises. Take a deep dive into the indoor growing of crops:

  • Separate sense from nonsense by analysing sustainability & profitability of vertical farms
  • Deduct the role and key principles of plant physiology in vertical farming
  • Learn about new opportunities in vertical farming through the latest academic insights
  • Collaborate with bright university students while solving specific hurdles and practical challenges VF industry faces
  • Infer the relevance and advances of technology in vertical farming

Is this course for you?

Are you a professional grower, tech developer, or breeder associated with the vertical farming industry? Then this mixed classroom course, designed by Wageningen University, is for you. You will collaborate with university students to research the central challenges of vertical farming and gain scientific insights into applied problems. To get the most out of this course, we recommend having experience or study equivalent to a BSc level.

Implementing the recommended changes to the lighting in our vertical farm, we were able to increase the yield of our basil with around 40%.
Juan Pablo Andres Manzur Poblete, co-founder Farmtastica and participant of the January 2023 edition

Programme & topics

Our mixed classroom approach promotes the cross-pollination of theory and practice in vertical farming. Professionals receive the latest VF knowledge and contribute relevant input to the specific practical challenges they face. Students will deep dive into problem-based case studies, guided by academic experts, and present their solutions back to professionals.

With a strong focus on the plant physiology aspects, you will:

  • Apply concepts from plant physiology, technology, business, and sustainability.
  • Become familiar with innovations such as novel substrates, state of the art LED lighting recipes, precision environmental control, and advanced sensing.
  • Evaluate vertical farming strategies in terms of sustainability, profitability and product quality.

The 4-week programme offers 4 modules. For all professionals:

The first three weeks (modules 1, 2, and 3) are online, they offer 6-10 online live sessions each week that consist of lectures, workshops, discussions, and student presentations. On Monday afternoons 14:00 – 17:00 CET (8, 15 and 22 Jan) and Friday mornings 10:00 – 13:00 CET (12, 19 and 26 Jan) there are mandatory online interaction moments for professionals and students to work together. For all other sessions, you can join online or watch the recordings (available directly afterward).

In week 4 (module 4) an in-person mini-conference on VF at Wageningen Campus on Thursday 1 and Friday 2 February 2024 wraps up the course.

The 60 hours of dedicated study time are spread over the total period.

Modules 1, 2, and 3 offer 6-10 online live sessions each week that consist of lectures, workshops, discussions, and student presentations. Monday afternoons and Friday mornings (CET) are mandatory online interaction moments for professionals and students to work together. For all other sessions, you can join online or watch the recordings (available directly afterward). Module 4 is a 2-day, on-site conference in Wageningen on 1 and 2 February 2024.

Upon request, you can choose to only view the online content of modules 1-3 without interaction with students or teachers.

Download the flyer to view an overview of the topics in all 4 modules.

Practical information

Please note: the practical information refers to the 2024 edition.

Price

€ 1.900 per person* covering tuition, the conference and 1 year
access to the online course content. Travel and accommodation are not
included.

*’view-only’ is € 950 per person with no access to the conference. To register for this option you need to mention ‘view-only’ in the Remarks field of the registration form.

Participants

Between 100 and 150 participants, with a maximum of 50 professionals.

No maximum for viewers.

Accreditation

Based on your (online) attendance a certificate is issued.

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