Founding of Brightlands Future Farming Institute

To contribute to technological innovation in the agri-food sector, Maastricht University (UM) is establishing a new research institute at Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo: the Brightlands Future Farming Institute (BFFI). The institute will combine the triple helix strengths of UM, the Province of Limburg and the region of North Limburg, BASF Vegetable Seeds as a potential private partner, and Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo. The total investment over ten years will be more than 40 million euros.

Plant breeding

Work at the new institute will include functional plant genomics aimed at breeding plants which are healthier for people and the climate, and which can be grown in a more environmentally friendly way in the highly innovative setting of greenhouse and indoor farming engineering. The institute will make the connection between the primary and plant breeding sector on the one hand and nutrition and health expertise on the other. It will thus be a crucial link in the chain of high-quality plant varieties through balanced cultivation and nutritional concepts to promote the healthiest region in the Netherlands.

The institute will be located on Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo, in Brighthouse, which will be completed in mid-2021.

Brightlands.com

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