Aiming for carbon free farming

Work has started at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Park Campus to create a glasshouse which will use geothermal ground source heating technology.

The project to create a new research and development facility will promote new industry collaboration opportunities for the UK’s food and farming sector. And by using heat from renewable energy it will ensure the glasshouse has a much lower environmental impact than traditional facilities of its kind.

Prof. Neal Juster, Vice Chancellor said: “We are very excited at the prospect of our new Glasshouse Facility being constructed at the University’s Riseholme Park Campus, and it will be working with Net Zero technologies that are in line with our ongoing commitment to sustainability and a carbon free future.

“By working together, locally and with the government, we can deliver much more investment, innovation, job creation and food security.”

The Glasshouse Research & Development Facility will further establish Riseholme Park Campus and Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology as specialist centres, whilst forming part of Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s (LEP) proposed Agricultural Growth Zone.

Ruth Carver, Chief Executive of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “As the UK’s Food Valley, the agri-food sector in Greater Lincolnshire is nationally significant and growing rapidly. 

“The Local Enterprise Partnership is supporting the Glasshouse research facility to ensure that state-of-the-art facilities are available to our businesses to help them grow and innovate and to allow our people to learn new skills.”

The total cost of the project will be £2.2 million with the majority of the capital being provided by a local growth fund from the Greater Lincolnshire LEP. 

Prof. Simon Pearson, Founding Director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT) at the University of Lincoln, added: “The Glasshouse R&D Facility will present a great amount of new opportunities for not only those studying at LIAT, but for eligible businesses that will benefit from the research carried out at the facility.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment and investment of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and we are very grateful for their ongoing support.”

Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by Summer 2025.