Agrotopia Living Lab

CRFS Lab description

Agrotopia’s interest and expectation from Cities2030 collaboration is knowledge exchange on technological living labs and experience on greenhouse horticulture as part of the food production system and professional urban farming. The initial idea and focus of the pilot is to co-create and innovate the Agrotopia living lab. Living labs are user-centered, open innovation ecosystems based on systematic user co-creation approach, integrating research and innovation processes in real life communities and settings (as defined by ENOLL, the European Network of Living Labs). the greenhouse infrastructure allows real life testing and co-creative validation. This can speed up the innovation process and target new products to its end users and the market.

Agrotopia Living Lab

Belgium

The location of the rooftop greenhouse of Agrotopia, next to the agricultural auction market, where vegetable growers and buyers meet on a daily basis, offers a unique opportunity towards interactions. It will allow researchers, growers, technology providers and knowledge institutions to meet and collaborate. The 9000 m2 rooftop greenhouse will constitute an inspiring research environment, resulting in innovative solutions for high technological greenhouse horticulture and urban farming

Inagro is the knowledge partner of agricultural and horticultural businesses in the areas of innovation and sustainability. It is located in Roeselare municipality, which comprises an area of approximately 59 square kilometers and has a total population of 62.000 people, the intensive and innovation-driven agricultural and horticultural heart of the province of West Flanders in Belgium. Within its own optimized professional research infrastructure, Inagro’s scientific and technical teams devise farming and cultivation techniques ready for practical use. The main partners in these endeavours are universities, university colleges and businesses. Inagro’s advisers take the new know-how to the agricultural and horticultural businesses and guide the businesses in how to implement these insights, all of which is supported with professional communication tools.

Inagro is finalizing Agrotopia, an inspiring research rooftop greenhouse of approximately 9000 m2 where co-creation and demonstration will stimulate innovations to address the challenges the greenhouse horticulture and high technological urban farming sector is facing. The rooftop greenhouse integrates 3 functions: research, demonstration and communication towards the growers and the general public and, a living lab. Approximately 6000 m2 will be dedicated to soilless cultivation of leafy and fruit vegetables, allowing to develop best practices for hydroponic systems.

Cities2030 partner organization participating in the Agrotopia Living Lab is represented by the Provinciaal Extern Verzelfstandigd agentschap in Provaatrechtelijke Vorm Vzw (INAGRO, P06)