Models for Plant Growth, Environmental Control and Farm Management in Protected Cultivation
Modern, on-demand agricultural production requires a high degree of control of the whole process with respect to timing, quantity and quality of production. Greenhouse horticulture is the sector where such control is made highly possible, in view of the ever more high-tech means for environmental management, the use of innovative sensors and the increasing application of ICT. Full advantage of these tools, however, can be gained only by improving on present knowledge about plant processes (growth and development à production and product quality à post-harvest behavior) and environment. The present socio-political consensus on reducing environmental impact of production imposes the additional constraints of reduction of resource consumption and emissions. In view of the wealth of crops, cultivars, cultivation systems, aims and constraints in greenhouse horticulture, comprehensive models and decision support algorithms are needed to generalize knowledge and to evaluate conflicting priorities that may arise.For more details, programme and registration please visit the website.