Introducing HortINspire: A New International Network for CEA

By Wageningen University and Research|June 10, 2026

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is launching HortINspire: a new international network for protected cultivation. The network brings together growers, companies, knowledge institutions, and other parties around the world to share knowledge and practical experience.

In controlled environment agriculture (CEA), growing conditions and cultivation processes are actively managed. This includes the efficient use of water, energy, and labor, as well as climate control in the production of food, flowers, and other crops. Knowledge in this field is developing rapidly worldwide, but is not always easy to find or directly applicable. What works well in one region often needs to be adapted elsewhere to the climate, available technology, financing, market, and local knowledge needs.

The Purpose of HortINspire

The network brings together practical questions, scientific knowledge, and new solutions in CEA. “It will be a place where growers, companies, knowledge institutions and other parties can find each other, and where valuable collaborations can emerge,” says Jacqueline van Oosten of WUR Greenhouse Horticulture. “From Wageningen University & Research, we bring in our own knowledge, but the network is explicitly intended to work both ways. We want to share knowledge and learn from experiences and solutions in other regions.”

Members will be able to take part in region-specific thematic sessions, online expert sessions, and networking events. Through the online member portal, they can ask questions, share knowledge, and exchange experiences.

Membership is open to organizations and professionals involved in CEA, with an initial focus on protected cultivation: from growers and technology developers to knowledge institutions, governments, and advisers. This broad approach is deliberate. “Knowledge about controlled environment agriculture only becomes valuable when it is applied in practice,” says Van Oosten. “A grower brings different questions to the table than, for example, a government body or investor. By bringing these parties together, HortINspire strengthens collaboration around controlled environment agriculture.”