ISHS Acta Horticulturae 429: XIII International Symposium on Horticultural Economics
HIGHTECH AGROPRODUCTION |
| Authors: | i. J.C.J. Ammerlaan, ing. J.K. Nienhuis, i. M.N.A. Ruijs |
| Keywords: | Energy, Ecology, Economy, Emotions, Living, Symbiosis |
| Abstract:
A group of people “of different feathers” (Kuiper Compagnons, Kas Oosterhuis architects, A.H. Art Activities, Greenhouse Market Gardening Firm Alblas, Witteveen + Bos, and the Municipality of Dordrecht) took up the challenge to build an ideal city based on four fields of force: Energy, Ecology, Economy, and Economics. A symbiotic concept was born: a combination of housing and greenhouse cultivation, two functions which had been strictly separate before. The symbiosis of housing and cultivation opened up a whole new environment, in which both living, working and recreation and the production and consumption of food were combined in one part of the city. To see how realistic this concept was, it has been worked out in as much detail as possible. The Research Station takes care of horticultural assessment of economic feasibility. The perfect site is found in Dordrecht, a site between city and country. In City Fruitful about 1700 houses have been combined with approximately 24 hectares of greenhouse and 5 hectares of outdoor cultivation. The built surface covers about 56 hectares. The dwellings are located on, under, between, and next to commercial greenhouses, in which vegetables and fruit are grown in a clean and environmentally-friendly manner. The project is based on as many closed water, energy, and waste cycles as possible and on communal transport systems for dwellings and greenhouses. Besides, the City Fruitful inhabitants are involved in the food production processes themselves; it is a true green culture. Over the years Dutch greenhouse cultivation has developed into an “industry” which puts a heavy burden on the environment and must be kept far from the residential area. These past few years, however, many technological innovations have been taking place in market gardening, opening up the way to clean and healthy cultivation methods. Among these innovations: ecological crop protection, bottomless cultivation, storage of drainage water, recycling of nutrients and raw materials, computer-controlled climate management techniques, energy screens and the like. Cultivation may take place in a closed circuit without harmful emissions into bottom, water or air. From the point of view of space and energy, this symbiosis has many advantages. Traditional mono-functional areas of residence and greenhouse cultivation take up about 1.5 times more space, and energy demands are considerably higher there. | |
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