Controlled Environment Agriculture Plant Science

Inari Opens Advanced CEA Facility in Ghent to Expand R&D Capacity

Inari has inaugurated a state-of-the-art controlled environment facility in Ghent, Belgium, adding over 2,000 square meters of greenhouse space.
Inari team members marked the grand opening of the company’s new state-of-the-art controlled environment facility in Ghent, Belgium. Photo Credit: Inari

Key Takeaways

  • Inari has inaugurated a state-of-the-art controlled environment facility in Ghent, Belgium, adding over 2,000 square meters of greenhouse space.
  • The new site triples Inari’s indoor plant growth capacity in the region and enhances product testing capabilities.
  • The facility supports Inari’s SEEDesign™ platform with AI-driven predictive design and multiplex gene editing.
  • Sustainability features include LED lighting, shading systems, and water recycling.
  • The investment aligns with Inari’s broader strategy to advance seed innovation in Europe amid evolving genomic regulation.

Inari Expands European R&D with New Greenhouse Facility in Ghent

Inari, the SEEDesign™ company, officially opened a new controlled environment facility in Ghent, Belgium, marking a major expansion of its European research capabilities. The greenhouse complex adds more than 2,000 square meters of growing space, tripling the company’s regional capacity for indoor plant development.

“This investment reflects Inari’s commitment to Europe and highlights our confidence in the exceptional talent of our Ghent team,” said Fred Van Ex, Head of Europe, Africa and Middle East at Inari and Managing Director of the Ghent site.


High-Tech Greenhouse Supports Accelerated Product Development

The new facility includes multiple greenhouse compartments and walk-in growth chambers, creating a customizable and tightly controlled environment for evaluating early-stage seed innovations. The space is designed to support rapid iteration and precision testing under varied conditions, key to Inari’s trait development and validation processes.

Notable infrastructure features include:

  • Energy-efficient LED lighting systems
  • Automated shading and climate control
  • Water recycling systems in growth chambers

SEEDesign™ Platform at the Core of Inari’s Innovation Strategy

Inari’s proprietary SEEDesign™ platform integrates AI-powered predictive design with advanced multiplex gene editing, aiming to deliver step-change improvements in seed performance. The Ghent facility will play a critical role in validating these innovations under greenhouse conditions before progressing to field trials.

The platform’s focus areas include:

  • Enhancing yield potential
  • Increasing nutrient-use efficiency
  • Improving resilience to abiotic stress
  • Supporting regional adaptation of seed traits

Positioned for Growth Amid EU Genomic Policy Developments

The Ghent expansion comes at a time when the European Union is advancing its proposal on new genomic techniques, which could open the door for broader adoption of gene-edited crops across member states.

“This greenhouse space further ensures that we are well-positioned to quickly develop crops tailored for the region,” added Van Ex.

By reinforcing its European footprint, Inari aims to stay ahead of regulatory developments and align its product pipeline with the region’s evolving agricultural and environmental needs.

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