FAQ

No, they are not. By design, Circular City Greenhouses are large-scale high-tech glass greenhouses for high-volume food production. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the Circular City Greenhouse concept could not be implemented in other forms of Controlled Environment Agriculture

No, it is not necessary to utilize all waste streams within the Circular City. Our model is designed to be versatile, allowing for adaptation based on specific needs and circumstances. While we emphasize the potential of integrating multiple waste streams (Water, Energy, Nutrient, CO2) to create a more comprehensive and efficient system, it is not obligatory to incorporate all of them. Each situation or environment might benefit differently from these streams. Therefore, you have the flexibility to choose and focus on the waste stream(s) most suitable for your context.

The technology for reusing of waste streams (water, CO₂, Energy, nutrients) is already available and has been successfully applied within various greenhouse settings, mitigating associated risks. These methods have been implemented in different ways, showcasing a level of reliability in their functionalities.

The development of a Circular City is a collaborative effort involving a network of partners, experts, and stakeholders. We engage with various entities, tailoring partnerships to suit specific situations, ensuring the right fit for each circumstance.

Yes, it can be suitable for all regions on the condition that waste streams are available. The presence and useability of waste streams are at the core of the Circular City Greenhouses concept. Not all four waste streams – energy, CO₂, water and nutrients – need to be present to make a Circular City Greenhouse a success, but increasing the number of waste streams does affect the level of circularity of the greenhouse and its’ operation.

Although the concept seems very logical by nature, there is not yet enough awareness between the different industries involved of each other’s requirements, possibilities and challenges. Making Circular City Greenhouses a success requires cross-sectoral collaboration and bringing together these industries in an effort to enable food security and self-sufficiency.

Any crop grown in any greenhouse can be grown in a Circular City Greenhouse. Tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, leafy greens, etc., etc. There are many crops suitable for greenhouse growing and the possibilities are only growing due to continuous research by renowned institutes across the globe.
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There are two different perspectives to this matter being everything that happens within the boundaries of the greenhouse itself and the inputs feeding into the greenhouse.

Within the boundaries of the greenhouse, circularity and sustainability have been elevated to a high level over the last decades: energy efficiency, water recirculation and nutrient recovery are just some of the examples of how modern horticulture has achieved highly efficient food production with minimized inputs. Many of these factors are still continuously being improved.

Outside of the boundaries of the greenhouse, the inputs into the greenhouse are not always sustainable and circular; depletable and fossil resources have been the standard for a long time. But we as Van der Hoeven actively want to contribute in the transition towards sustainably sourced inputs and increased circularity of food systems as a whole. By introducing Circular City Greenhouses, we aim to increase awareness of how a greenhouse can be part of a larger, circular system for efficient food production. This we want to achieve by co-operating not only with clients, but also with other industries, governments, municipalities, and so on. The joint impact supersedes that of any of the individual industries and greenhouses being built today will continue to have an impact for at least 30 years.

We as Van der Hoeven want to facilitate and accelerate the change towards more sustainable food production and self-sufficiency in order to face the challenges arising on a global scale.

Yes, we can provide more information. Please get in touch with our team. They are equipped to address your specific inquiries, provide detailed insights, and offer a comprehensive understanding of the innovative features and sustainable practices embedded in our Circular City Greenhouses.