Program Overview

Online Course Greenhouse Horticulture

Wageningen University & Research is the "knowledge heart" of the Dutch Greenhouse Horticulture, which is the most advanced and productive in the world. This course provides an in-depth overview of Greenhouse Horticulture and all aspects that create the greenhouse production system. Participants will learn the basis and apply them directly in their own country and situation.

Target Audience

This online course is designed for professionals working in the field of Greenhouse Horticulture, (junior) scientists, post-docs, and PhD students from all over the world. The program is developed to relate to and be interesting for protected cultivation with less technology than is usual in the Netherlands.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Understand the most relevant processes in protected cultivation ranging from plant physiology to economics.
• Understand how technology affects climate management, crop production, and resource use efficiency.
• Apply this knowledge to quantitatively address decisions about climate management, crop cultivation, and nutrition.

Programme

This course provides an in-depth view of the following topics:

• Introduction to protected horticulture
• Basic principles of crop physiology
• Passive greenhouse (light and functions of the cover)
• Water quality, growing systems, and nutrient solutions
• Plant nutrition and its management
• Potential crop yield
• Lighting in protected cultivation
• Crop protection and integrated pest management
• Climate management
• Overview of protected horticulture and wrap-up

The course is offered in two formats:

• Fully interactive course: This online course offers a mix of self-paced pre-recorded lectures from international renowned experts, quizzes to test knowledge, discussion forums to ask questions and interact with peers, and 10 live online Q&A sessions. The course fee for the full interactive course is €1,495.
• Self-paced course (start anytime): Participants can take this online course as a self-paced course, with access to pre-recorded lectures and quizzes. The course fee for the self-paced course is €1,095, with an optional extension for Q&A sessions for €500.

Certification

After completing the program, participants will be awarded a certificate.

Coordinated by

• ir. JJ (Janine) Quist, Programme manager Sustainable Environment
• prof.dr.ir. LFM (Leo) Marcelis, Professor/Chairholder Horticulture and Product Physiology Group
• dr. S (Silke) Hemming, Head scientific research team Greenhouse Technology

Related Courses

• Summer School Greenhouse Horticulture
• Fresh Food Quality: Hands-on Experiments with Postharvest Technology
• Vertical Farming
• Masterclass Soilless Culture

Programme Details

• Date: Thu 1 January 2026 until Thu 31 December 2026
• Duration: 60 hours (over 6 months) + optional 10 Q&A sessions in March - May 2026
• Number of students: 20 - 40
• Price: EUR 1,495.00 (full interactive course), EUR 1,095.00 (self-paced course)