European horticulture faces challenges related to sustainability, especially considering the increasing importance of regional food production amidst global disruptions caused by climate change. The prevalent practices, both in high-tech northern Europe and low-tech southern Europe, are marked by unsustainability, resource intensity, and poor circularity.
A major issue in sustainable horticulture is the choice of growth media. Traditional soil, especially peat, is harmful and sourced from fragile ecosystems. Alternatives like rock wool and organic substrates like bark exist, but they have limitations, such as lower water retention. ICL Group's wood-fiber growth media, Fibagro Advance, attempts to address these challenges, but it still relies on forestry wood.
The EU's Horti BlueC project explores circular and sustainable horticultural media using waste sidestreams like shellfish waste, plant fibers, and used growth media. Achieving fully recycled growth media remains a challenge, with a focus on recycling water, nutrients, and fertilizers presenting technical difficulties.
Hydroponic indoor farming is suggested as an alternative, potentially reducing the need for solid matter. Projects like Mosswool aim to replace non-renewable stone wool and peat in hydroponic systems, using sustainable materials like sphagnum moss.
Bio waste from tomatoes is being explored for various purposes. The Greenery uses tomato waste to make cardboard boxes. Biopesticides derived from tomatoes are considered less toxic and biodegradable than synthetic alternatives.
Horticulture can contribute to circular systems by generating nutrient-rich organic matter. Bioflytech, based in Alicante, utilizes organic wastes to feed insect larvae, which then become biofactories converting waste into high-quality organic fertilizers.
Some startups are turning horticultural wastes into new food ingredients. Circular Fiber produces cooking flour from artichoke side streams, claiming lower carbon and water footprints compared to traditional flours. Grassa in the Netherlands extracts functional proteins and fibers from horticultural side streams for animal feed, aiming to reduce the environmental footprint associated with soy feed from South American plantations.
Sustainable horticulture is recognized in Europe's Green Deal strategy, emphasizing the need for a circular sector to decrease net emissions from agriculture. However, challenges include the environmental impact of greenhouse cultivation and the need for regulatory stimuli to encourage sustainable practices among growers.
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