Retailer Migros is serious: From 2025 onwards, the greenhouses supplying the Swiss retail chain are only to be heated with renewable energy. "With this pioneering work, Migros and its producers are showing that it is possible to phase out heating oil and fossil gas," said WWF CEO Thomas Vellacott earlier this year. "We need this kind of joint effort to meet the Paris Climate Agreement and curb climate change, which sets an example for Migros - also for other sectors." 

Nowadays, the greenhouses are mostly heated by oil or natural gas. An estimated 100 companies supply the various cooperatives of Migros throughout Switzerland. "In the future, every company should use the optimum mix of renewable energy sources for its location", Migros explained. "Heat pumps, wood heaters, bio-gas, geothermal energy and solar energy are in the foreground."

Heating swiss horticulture
Greenhouses are heated especially at the beginning and end of the Swiss season to extend the domestic season. Since most growers have improved the insulation and energy use of their greenhouses in recent years, they have reduced their emissions. Nevertheless, greenhouse production continues to be one of the most carbon intensive sectors in Switzerland. "With annual savings of up to 75,000 tonnes of CO2 thanks to the use of renewable-heated greenhouses, regional production in cultivation is significantly strengthened", 

The schedule to heat all greenhouses from 2025 fossil-free is ambitious. For this reason, the conversion takes place in close cooperation between Migros and the producers. Migros invests one million francs a year in the project. "With the money producers are financially supported in the conversion. In addition, thanks to clear commitments  regarding the future scope of supply, producers are given planning certainty. Migros welcomes the commitment of all those involved to work together for a climate-friendly future", the retailer explained. 

These energy changes in the glasshouses, however, have their price. There is a rumbling in the vegetable industry. Nobody wants to comment publicly, but behind the scenes, the very short deadline that the largest retailer in the country poses to its producers is being criticized, says SRF.ch.

Climate friendly lettuce
On the other hand, Migros' demand did not catch all producers cold. Patrick Forster, Managing Director and owner of the Forster Group, has already taken all kinds of steps by himself.

When he built a modest new greenhouse a few years ago, he installed a waste heat installation instead of a conventional one. According to Forster, the greenhouse emits around 700 tonnes less CO2 per year. That's as many greenhouse gases as about 700 single households emit annually.

Sustainable Hydro Lettuce
In the Forster's greenhouse, lettuces are lined up next to other lettuces. Forster delivers them to the Migros. This so-called Hydro Lettuce production facility is already very sustainable, because it functions with a minimum use of water, pesticides and fertilizer, says Forster. The climate-friendly heating mode completes this sustainable project.

His greenhouse is situated next to a waste incineration plant in the district of Oftringen in the canton of Aargau. A special pipeline transports warm water to the greenhouse, where it creates the necessary temperatures. This heating system was twice as expensive as a conventional heating system, says Forster. However, the vegetable growers will have earned back the investment costs within five years.

After that, the heating system is quite a bit cheaper: "This way, we have realized an economically and environmentally sensible project," says the vegetable grower and entrepreneur. But not everyone can build a greenhouse like him, next to a waste incineration plant. "For some companies it will be almost impossible to find a solution," Forster thinks.

For more information: 
A. Trachsel AG - Forster Gruppe
Inh. Patrick Forster
Gewerbe Brunnmatt 7
6264 Pfaffnau (CH)
+41 62 746 93 00
www.trachsel.ch  

Publication date: 5/8/2019