{
    "title": "KU Leuven university opens high-tech greenhouse complex for innovative plant research",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-22 18:15:49",
    "published_at": "2026-05-22 18:15:00",
    "url": "https://www.belganewsagency.eu/ku-leuven-university-opens-high-tech-greenhouse-complex-for-innovative-plant-research",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/2vHd",
    "culture": "en_BE",
    "language": "EN",
    "slug": "ku-leuven-university-opens-high-tech-greenhouse-complex-for-innovative-plant-research",
    "body": "<p><strong>On Friday, KU Leuven university opened in Heverlee a new high-tech greenhouse complex for plant research and education. The 3,360-square-metre facility is designed to strengthen research into more sustainable crop production and crop protection, and also offers new opportunities for collaboration with industry and research institutions.</strong></p><p>The complex comprises 34 separate compartments, each with its own climate control system for temperature, humidity, irrigation and lighting. This allows researchers to study a wide range of crops, from strawberries and bananas to pears and chicory, under controlled conditions. Four compartments can be completely darkened to manipulate flowering processes, amongst other things.</p><p>In addition, the greenhouse has biosafety level G2, enabling research with genetically modified plants and pathogens such as fungi, bacteria and viruses. Four compartments function as top-level quarantine units (G2Q) for research into harmful quarantine organisms.</p><div id=\"video-f307a8e5-2d7f-43a2-bb2d-d5b8015b77a3\" class=\"release-content-video release-content-video--embed release-content-video--contained\">\n    <div><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2Fc2ac415f-8b84-4f1a-81f2-06ef6f34f596%2Fbelgaimage-174734073_v2%2520(720p).mp4%23_cb1779470126&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen allow=\"encrypted-media *;\"></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n</div><p>According to professor of Bioscience Engineering Barbara De Coninck, such research is becoming increasingly important due to the growing spread of pests and diseases via international trade and climate change. &ldquo;Thanks to these quarantine units, we can study the interaction between plants and new or regulated organisms under strictly controlled and safe conditions,&rdquo; she explained.</p><p>Sustainability was also a key focus during construction. The greenhouse complex operates fossil-free thanks to heat pumps, solar panels and green electricity. The water supply is largely provided by rainwater collected in a 1,700-cubic-metre pond.</p><p>The project was realised with financial support from the Flemish government.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><sup>#FlandersNewsService | Official opening of a state-of-the-art greenhouse complex of KU Leuven university in Heverlee &copy; BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM + &copy; BELGA VIDEO SARAH VAN HECKE</sup></p><hr /><p><strong>Related news</strong></p><div id=\"bookmark-1aedccb5-9f32-4c79-b0ed-0eb7f8373f17\"\n     class=\"release-content-bookmark release-content-bookmark--horizontal\">\n\n            <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__thumbnail\"\n           href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/new-research-greenhouse-to-help-fruit-sector-tackle-climate-challenges\"\n           rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n           target=\"_blank\"           style=\"background-image: url(https://prezly.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.uc.assets.prezly.com%2F38a3505f-0917-4a57-9c0e-14168688cd66%2F-%2Fpreview%2F600x600%2F?ar=1%3A1&amp;fit=crop&amp;s=536f7b58a5de6c7d542bc64c0286ffba)\"\n        ></a>\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__details\">\n\n                    <a class=\"release-content-bookmark__title\"\n               href=\"https://www.belganewsagency.eu/new-research-greenhouse-to-help-fruit-sector-tackle-climate-challenges\"\n               rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n               target=\"_blank\"               data-type=\"bookmark\"\n               data-track=\"Story WebBookmark Click\"\n               data-placement=\"content\"\n               data-id=\"1aedccb5-9f32-4c79-b0ed-0eb7f8373f17\"\n           >\n                New research greenhouse to help fruit sector tackle climate challenges            </a>\n        \n                    <div class=\"release-content-bookmark__description\">\n                Flanders and the province of Limburg have invested 1.7 million euros in the provincial research centre pcfruit in Velm. 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