Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2026
Abstract
Energy-efficient greenhouse climate control is important in high-latitude regions, where heating demand is high and minimizing environmental impacts is increasingly necessary. In this study, a novel centralized environmental control system (ECS) was implemented in a semi-closed tomato greenhouse under Norwegian conditions. The ECS integrates heating, cooling, dehumidification, and heat recovery through air-to water heat exchangers, a heat pump, and thermal energy storage system to support climate control and energy management. The ECS was monitored across three tomato production experiments conducted during summer and winter seasons, and its operational performance was evaluated based on greenhouse climate, tomato yield, and energy use. The experiments included variations in temperature setpoints and cooling capacity. The ECS maintained greenhouse climate that was suitable for tomato production across all experiments. Changes in temperature setpoints and cooling capacity affected ECS electricity consumption and influenced the balance between recovered heat and boiler heating, while having limited effects on tomato yield. The results indicate the potential of centralized ECS technology to sustain tomato production while reducing reliance on fossil-energy, supporting the transition towards energy-efficient and emission-free smart greenhouse production.
Abstract
Greenhouse tomato production at high latitudes requires substantial inputs of supplemental lighting, heating and climate control. (Semi-) closed greenhouses can improve heat, water and CO₂ retention, but require additional electricity, climate control system capacities and investment. Crop productivity and resource use must therefore be evaluated jointly. This paper presents the EFREE-Green systems framework for integrating local production conditions, greenhouse environmental control, crop physiological responses, resource flows, and economic and environmental performance. The framework is implemented in two experimental greenhouse compartments operating at a semi-commercial scale at NIBIO Særheim, Norway, connected to a centralized environmental control system (ECS). Measurements at leaf, canopy and greenhouse scale link environmental control with crop carbon gain, biomass partitioning, marketable yield and resource use. Illustrative observations demonstrate that crop responses to supplemental lighting depend on interactions among light availability, CO₂ supply and climate management. Experimental measurements, modelling, techno-economic assessment and life-cycle assessment are combined to evaluate crop productivity, energy efficiency, resource recovery, production costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The framework is transferable to other climatic and production settings, but optimal technologies, capacities and control strategies remain location-specific.
Abstract
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Authors
Nicolas CattaneoAbstract
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Marta Vergarechea Ignacio Sevillano Arne Steffenrem A. Ahtikoski H. Holmström C. Antón-Fernández C. Anton-FernandezAbstract
Balancing wood production, biodiversity, and climate regulation is increasingly challenging for forest management, particularly as societal demands intensify. Despite growing interest in genetic improvement to enhance forest productivity, its implications for multiple ecosystem services (FES) remain poorly quantified. To address this gap, we assessed how genetically improved regeneration material, combined with alternative management regimes, influences FES provision in Norway. Using National Forest Inventory data, a climate-sensitive single-tree simulator, and multi-objective optimization, we projected 100-year outcomes under three strategies: no genetic gain, growth-focused improvement, and combined improvement in growth and wood quality. The strongest responses occurred when genetic improvement targeted both growth and wood quality. Under this scenario, harvest net value increased, ecological hotspot areas expanded, and larger set-aside areas were maintained while meeting national harvest demands. Carbon storage in harvested wood products also increased, whereas carbon sequestration in living biomass showed no consistent trend. Genetic gain reinforced positive interactions between bioenergy and climate regulation but left most other FES relationships broadly unchanged. Varying genetic gain levels produced only minor differences across most indicators, suggesting that long-term outcomes depend more on how improved material is integrated within a flexible management portfolio than on the exact magnitude of genetic gain. Positive responses in the structural biodiversity indicators should be interpreted cautiously, as these proxies capture only a limited subset of ecological dimensions and likely underestimate broader biodiversity trade-offs. Overall, genetically improved material represents a complementary tool for enhancing forest multifunctionality when integrated with adaptive, landscape-scale management.
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Jorunn BørveAbstract
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Jorunn BørveAbstract
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Jorunn BørveAbstract
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Jorunn BørveAbstract
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Vibeke LindAbstract
This report reviews the potential use of seaweed as a feed ingredient for ruminants under Northern-Norwegian conditions. Seaweed has a long history in coastal livestock farming, especially where conventional forage was scarce, but its use declined as farms became larger, more specialised and dependent on high-quality feeds. Renewed interest is driven by the need to increase national feed self-sufficiency, reduce reliance on imported protein sources, and explore strategies to lower enteric methane emissions. Seaweed species differ greatly in nutritional value, digestibility, mineral composition and effects on rumen fermentation. Red species such as Porphyra and Palmaria palmata appear most promising as protein sources, whereas several brown species show lower protein digestibility and may contain high iodine levels or potentially harmful elements. Preservation is a major barrier because fresh seaweed decomposes rapidly; ensiling, drying and multi-nutrient blocks require further development to improve dry matter content, palatability, shelf-life and nutrient quality. Seaweed has also been studied as a methane inhibitor. Asparagopsis can strongly reduce methane emissions, but concerns about bromoform content, animal health, productivity and suitability for Norwegian systems limit its relevance. Norwegian studies with locally available seaweeds have not shown consistent in vivo methane mitigation. Overall, seaweed may support more circular and locally based feed systems, but practical use requires species-specific evaluation, safe inclusion levels, improved preservation methods and stronger in vivo documentation.