GREENRESILIENT – applying agroecology to organic greenhouse production

Summary

Some organic greenhouse production systems are very intensive with potentially negative effects on the public trust on organic products as a whole. In this context, the year-round production of high quality and tasty vegetables in unheated and low-energy greenhouses or polytunnels, using resilient, sustainable and local systems, is a challenge, especially in areas with long winters and low light, low temperature conditions. The CORE Organic Cofund transnational project titled “Organic and biodynamic vegetable production in low-energy GREENhouses NDASH sustainable, RESILIENT and innovative food production systems” (GREENRESILIENT) has taken up the challenge and aims to demonstrate that an agroecological approach to greenhouse production is feasible and allows the establishment of robust agroecosystems in different European areas. The use of agroecological practices in organic greenhouse production systems is an innovative approach and a team of scientists with multidisciplinary competences (agronomy, agroecology, soil chemistry, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, life cycle analysis) from 12 research centres in eight European countries are involved. Research activities are carried out in five experimental sites (two in Mediterranean countries and three in central and northern countries), comparing innovative systems in unheated or frost protected conditions to a standard organic system specific for each experimental site. Results obtained will be used for actors' involvement (farmers, consumers and policy makers) and sustainability assessment.