Controlled Environment Agriculture
The way we cultivate in greenhouse horticulture is changing. We face challenges such as climate change, water and energy scarcity, labor shortages, and vulnerable supply chains. This increases the need for controlled environment agriculture, both now and in the future.
Controlled environment agriculture offer possibilities to maintain predictable and efficient production, despite current challenges. Whether you’re active in polytunnels, high-tech greenhouses, or vertical farms, through our professional courses, you will develop the knowledge and practical skills to understand, implement, and further optimize these systems.
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Our courses (11)
Grow better across every level of cultivation
Controlled environment agriculture is evolving rapidly. At the same time, the sector faces significant challenges. New knowledge and practical insights help you tackle these challenges. We bridge the gap between new scientific insights and real-world issues. We draw on examples from greenhouses, vertical farming, and hydroponics. We teach participants not only how technologies work but also how crops, growing environments, data, and business objectives interact.
The courses are taught by experts active in research and innovation within greenhouse horticulture and controlled-environment systems. While current developments are covered, the primary focus is on practical application within your own organization or production systems.
Technology, crops and strategy
Whether you are a grower, supplier, consultant, technology developer, researcher or investor, this programme helps you understand what truly happens inside modern cultivation systems, and how your role can influence and optimise them. You develop both technical and strategic insights, learn to connect technology with crop knowledge, and gain the confidence to make well-founded decisions in a rapidly changing sector.
Topics included
Our courses allow you to delve into various aspects of modern greenhouse horticulture and controlled environment agriculture. Topics include:
- Climate control: light, temperature, and humidity
- Crop physiology and plant responses to the environment
- Water use, irrigation, and nutrient management
- Substrate cultivation and integrated root-zone management
- Vertical farming and indoor cultivation
- Sensors, data analysis, imaging technology, and automation
- Plant phenotyping and crop performance monitoring
- Energy and resource efficiency
- Quality, storage, and post-harvest technology
- Design and optimization of sustainable cultivation systems
Check the course pages for the detailed programme, required knowledge level, learning objectives, and degree and certification details.
For whom
These courses are designed for professionals working on the development, application, or optimization of controlled environment agriculture. The courses are therefore ideally suited to the work of growers, suppliers, consultants, technology developers, and researchers, as well as investors.
Learning outcomes
The courses provide insight into what actually happens within modern cultivation systems and how your role can influence and optimize them. You will develop both technical and strategic insights, learn to integrate technology with crop knowledge, and gain the confidence to make well-founded decisions in a rapidly changing sector.
Education types
This area of expertise includes various types of education. You can choose from options such as on-campus and online courses, summer schools, and masterclasses. Some online courses allow you to study at your own pace, while other programmes are classroom-based and have fixed start dates, group sessions, or assignments. Duration and study load also vary by course, please check the course pages for more information.
Want to learn more about this area of expertise?
Do you have any questions or would you like personal advice? Please contact Programme Manager Janine Quist.
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends on the course or programme. For details on the type of certification, accreditation or degree, please view the description of the course or programme of your interest. Or, if you’re looking to obtain a specific kind of accreditation (i.e. ECTS), you can use the filter to select which kind in the left column on our programmes and courses overview page.
WUR offers a wide range of programmes for Bachelor's and Master's students, as well as for professionals and for anyone with a healthy appetite for knowledge. MOOCs specifically are open courses where anyone is welcome to join, regardless of your educational and professional background.
Please view the course or programme description of your interest to find specific information on the required entrance level and prerequisites.
WUR welcomes people from all over the world; native and non-native speakers. The language of most courses is English. Depending on the programme an advise or requirement is stated. English language requirements for admission to a Master’s programme and Master courses is defined for Dutch nationals, EU nationals and nationals outside EU/EFTA, respectively.
For MOOCs and all other Professional Education programmes CEFR level B2 is advised, not obligatory. A B2 user can communicate easily and spontaneously in a clear and detailed manner. This is not yet an experienced speaker, but a B2 user is able to understand and be understood in most situations.
We offer self-paced courses, that allow you to study at your own time and pace. Also we offer instructor-paced courses, where the pace is set by the instructor and course material becomes available as the course progresses. This allows you to study from anywhere and still interact with peers and enjoy qualified live instruction.
After you enroll, you will receive a confirmation of your registration via email. Be sure to check your spambox. If you still can’t find the confirmation email, don’t hesitate to contact us.
That depends on the programme. For more information, see the description of the programme of your choice.
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