In a world where sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity, a quiet revolution is taking root in our fields and greenhouses, promising to transform how we grow our food.
Imagine a future where nothing is wasted—where the leftover stalks from your tomatoes become the nutrients for your lettuce, and the water that nourishes your plants is used again and again. This is not a distant utopia but the emerging reality of circular horticulture, a transformative approach that is reshaping agriculture from a linear, wasteful system into a regenerative, sustainable loop 1 . As we face the pressing challenges of resource depletion and environmental degradation, this new model of growing offers a path forward that could sustainably feed our growing planet.
Our conventional food system operates largely on a take-make-dispose model that is fundamentally unsustainable 1 . Startling statistics reveal the extent of the problem:
This linear model has brought us to a critical juncture where fundamental change is not just desirable but essential for long-term food security and environmental health.
Circular horticulture represents a paradigm shift from the traditional linear economy to a regenerative system that mimics natural cycles 1 3 . Rather than the take-make-dispose pattern, circular horticulture focuses on:
The transition to circular horticulture follows established principles known as the "R-hierarchy" 9 , which prioritizes:
avoiding unnecessary inputs altogether
minimizing resource use
extending the life of products
finding new uses for "waste"
processing materials into new forms
capturing energy from remaining waste
| Research Hotspot | Primary Focus | Potential Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Bioeconomy | Biological resources and processes | Bioenergy, bioplastics, biofertilizers |
| Urban Agriculture | Local food production | Rooftop gardens, vertical farms |
| Recycled Nutrients | Waste-to-resource conversion | Biofertilizers from food waste |
| Biochar | Carbon-rich soil amendment | Soil improvement, carbon sequestration |
| Fertigation | Precision nutrient delivery | Water and fertilizer efficiency |
| Desalination | Alternative water sources | Irrigation in arid regions |
The research also shows that studies have primarily focused on vegetables and fruits, with tomatoes and lettuce being particularly well-represented in the literature 1 .
While agriculture uses only about 3% of global plastic production, the impact is significant because plastic products often come into direct contact with organic materials and growing media, making reuse and recycling particularly challenging 2 .
The contamination risk has led to widespread concern in the horticulture sector, especially regarding whether plant viruses can survive standard recycling processes 2 .
The research project took an innovative interdisciplinary approach combining materials science with cultivation expertise 2 6 . The team:
Researchers at Wageningen's Food & Biobased Research developed new material formulations, processing them into prototypes and analyzing key properties like stiffness, tensile strength, and water vapor permeability 6 .
The prototypes were transferred to Wageningen Greenhouse Horticulture, where they were tested in live tomato production and flower cultivation, monitoring crop performance, rooting behavior, and compatibility with existing systems 6 .
After the cultivation cycle, materials were returned to the materials lab for composting trials, biodegradation testing, and recyclability analysis 6 .
Separate investigations examined whether plant viruses could survive standard recycling temperatures, testing a widely held concern in the sector 2 .
The project yielded significant breakthroughs:
| Product Type | Conventional Material | Circular Alternative | Performance Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grow Bags | Polyethylene | Biodegradable polymer | Tomato crops performed equally well in biodegradable bags |
| Floriculture Netting | Polypropylene/Polyethylene | Biodegradable netting | Provided adequate support during growth, then degraded quickly after use |
| Turf Netting | Conventional plastics | Biodegradable alternative | Remained functional in soil for required duration, then biodegraded |
The research confirmed that viruses can indeed survive at standard recycling temperatures in some cases, validating growers' concerns and highlighting the need for alternative approaches like biodegradable solutions 2 .
The biodegradable alternatives developed during the project successfully met international composting standards (EN 13432), proving that they could completely break down without leaving harmful residues 6 .
Implementing circular horticulture requires a suite of innovative tools and approaches. Researchers have identified several key solutions that are driving the transition toward more circular growing systems.
| Tool/Solution | Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Biodegradable Plastics | Replace conventional plastics with compostable alternatives | Grow bags, plant support netting, mulch films |
| Material Flow Analysis | Track resource inputs and outputs | Identifying "leaks" in horticultural systems |
| Life Cycle Assessment | Evaluate environmental impacts of products | Comparing sustainability of different growing media |
| Direct Air Capture | Source CO2 from atmosphere instead of fossil fuels | Carbon supplementation for greenhouse crops |
| Hydroponic/Soilless Systems | Enable water and nutrient recirculation | Closed-loop greenhouse production |
| Biochar | Improve soil and sequester carbon | Soil amendment from agricultural waste |
A critical dimension of circular horticulture involves the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnected health of humans, animals, and ecosystems 1 3 . This perspective is particularly relevant when reusing organic materials, as pathways exist for potential transmission of pathogens, antibiotics, or other contaminants 1 .
Unfortunately, research indicates that the One Health approach remains scarcely explored in current circular horticulture research 1 3 . The absence of assessment methodologies that comprehensively address ecosystem, animal, and human health represents a significant limitation in the field 1 .
Future research needs to better integrate this holistic perspective, particularly as circular practices involving animal-derived waste streams increase 1 .
The integrated health of humans, animals, and ecosystems
Higher production capacity per hectare compared to open-field agriculture 7
Water and agrochemical use per production unit 1
For recycling both water and nutrients 1
Modern greenhouse operations are increasingly integrating technologies such as:
Despite promising advances, significant challenges remain in the widespread adoption of circular horticulture:
Circular horticulture represents more than just a set of techniques—it embodies a fundamental rethinking of our relationship with how we grow food. By transforming waste into resources, closing water and nutrient loops, and designing systems that regenerate rather than deplete, we can create a horticultural sector that nourishes both people and the planet.
The research proves that viable circular solutions exist—from biodegradable plastics that perform as well as conventional materials to innovative approaches for recovering and reusing valuable resources 2 6 . What remains is the work of integration, scaling, and creating the supportive policies and economic models that will enable these solutions to flourish.
As individuals, we can contribute to this transition by supporting growers who adopt circular practices, implementing circular principles in our own gardens 8 , and advocating for policies that encourage rather than hinder sustainable innovation. The circular revolution in horticulture is already underway—and each of us has a role to play in helping it grow.