A high-technology climate-managed greenhouse facility designed to reflect commercial production principles while serving as a teaching and applied research platform was officially opened at the University of the Free State (UFS) on Thursday 19 February, marking a significant investment in modern horticultural training and research on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Known as the HortiTech GrowLab, the facility was developed as a teaching and applied research platform rather than a purely commercial production unit. Its primary aim is to expose students, researchers, and industry partners to advanced greenhouse systems, while evaluating how these technologies perform under South African conditions.

Prof Paul Oberholster, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, said the GrowLab represents more than just a new structure on campus. “The GrowLab has developed from a mere facility into a unit that is presenting a vision, resilience, and the future of agricultural science,” he said.

A specialised greenhouse for real-world training

According to Dr Gesine Coetzer, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, student training lies at the heart of the GrowLab. “The purpose of the facility is to expose students to high-tech greenhouse production systems and develop their ability to interpret and manage climate, fertigation, and crop response,” she explained.

“The main goal of the GrowLab is training and applied research, while also contributing to community engagement and education.” 

Unlike other greenhouse facilities on campus that are primarily used for research, the GrowLab is designed to reflect commercial production principles. The greenhouse incorporates integrated climate and fertigation management strategies, enabling real-time monitoring, systems analysis, and responsive crop management based on production data.

Research tailored to South African conditions

The GrowLab operates in a region characterised by high radiation levels, frequent heat stress, variable water quality, and increasing pressure on water- and nutrient-use efficiency. For this reason, the focus extends beyond maximising yield to understanding how crops respond to management decisions and how greenhouse systems behave under semi-arid conditions.

Through integrated monitoring systems, students and researchers are able to track factors such as electrical conductivity (EC), pH levels, nutrient uptake, irrigation volumes, and water-use efficiency under practical production conditions. The facility therefore serves as a platform for experimentation, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration – particularly relevant in semi-arid environments.

Bell peppers chosen for demand and research potential

The first crop being produced in the GrowLab is bell peppers, selected for both their market demand and research value. “There is a high demand for peppers, which creates excellent research opportunities,” Dr Coetzer said. 

Trials are currently underway, with different cultivars grafted onto various rootstocks to evaluate plant performance under controlled greenhouse conditions. These studies aim to generate locally relevant data for producers operating under similar climatic constrains. 

Contributing to food security and local markets

Beyond research and training, the GrowLab also contributes directly to local food systems. “The GrowLab supplies produce to markets such as the municipal fresh produce market, where it is also sold to informal traders,” Dr Coetzer noted.

In this way, the facility generates income while supporting food availability in the broader community. While the facility participates in the market and generates income, its primary objective remains training and applied research rather than full commercial optimisation. 

Prof Bulelwa Nguza-Mduba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People and Operations, emphasised the broader significance of the initiative. “By cultivating sustainable solutions like this one, we are trying to advance the issue of food security and sustainability,” she said, describing the GrowLab as “a beacon of hope for our students and the generations to come”.

A vision realised through leadership and collaboration

The HortiTech GrowLab is the result of institutional commitment, collaboration, and long-term vision.

Dr Coetzer acknowledged the role of Prof Danie Vermeulen, former Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, who officially opened the facility by cutting the ribbon. “Prof Danie Vermeulen had the vision to establish a high-tech greenhouse facility,” she said.

Prof Corli Witthuhn, who supported the project during her time as Vice-Rector: Research and Internationalisation, reflected on how the vision for the GrowLab began with international benchmarking. “Prof Danie Vermeulen and I visited Germany, and he said to me, ‘We have to have a greenhouse, and we have to compare our facilities to European standards,’” she said.

She added that world-class infrastructure is essential for student success: “We want our students to experience a greenhouse like this where they can go out and have a job opportunity based on what they’ve learned here.”

Prof Oberholster said the facility reflects the faculty’s broader mission: “The GrowLab is a symbol of what our faculty stands for: science that is relevant, partnerships that are meaningful, and agriculture that is both academically rigorous and economically responsible.”