COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University has entered into a new international partnership with Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the Netherlands — a global leader in agricultural and environmental sciences — to advance research, education and innovation in controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
The memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed between The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and Wageningen Plant Research, formalizes a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration between the United States and the Netherlands — two global leaders in greenhouse and horticultural production systems.
The partnership is centered on CFAES’ Ohio Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (OHCEAC) and Wageningen Plant Research Greenhouse Horticulture. Together, the institutions aim to accelerate innovation in greenhouse technologies, crop management and sustainable production systems.
“This partnership brings together complementary expertise from two world-leading programs in controlled environment agriculture,” said Chieri Kubota, CFAES distinguished professor and OHCEAC director. “By combining our strengths in research, education and industry engagement, we will create new opportunities to address global challenges in food production and sustainability.”
Laura Bautista, Regional Lead North America for WUR Greenhouse Horticulture, added, “As greenhouse horticulture expands worldwide, we believe that strengthening our collaboration with leading international knowledge institutions will support the development of the knowledge and innovative solutions needed to address those challenges facing the sector. These challenges are no longer local, but are increasingly global, which makes collaboration relevant.”
Under the agreement, Ohio State and WUR will collaborate on:
- joint research initiatives in CEA
- exchange of faculty and scholars for research and teaching
- organization of joint workshops and symposia
- exploration of student exchange opportunities
The MOU reflects a shared vision to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and facilitate knowledge exchange across institutions. Both parties will work together to develop specific projects and programs, with details to be defined through subsequent agreements.
The agreement is effective for an initial five-year period, with the option for renewal upon mutual consent.
WUR is internationally recognized for its leadership in agricultural innovation, particularly in CEA. This collaboration builds on mutual interest in advancing CEA, particularly in greenhouse horticulture, sustainable food production systems, and training the next generation of scientists and industry professionals.
CFAES leads innovative teaching, research and outreach efforts that address critical issues in food systems, agriculture, environmental sustainability and community health. With campuses in Columbus, Wooster, and across Ohio through OSU Extension and 4-H, CFAES serves more than one million people annually by uniting 400 faculty, 1,300 staff, 3,000 students, and 47,000 living alumni in one purpose: We Sustain Life.