The housing crisis demands innovative solutions. At AMS Institute, we're exploring how bio-based materials, such as hemp and straw, can transform the construction industry—tackling housing shortages while addressing climate change, the nitrogen crisis, and biodiversity loss.
In this video from Universiteiten van Nederland, researcher Peter Mooij demonstrates to Member of Parliament Ilana Rooderkerk how these materials offer a sustainable alternative to concrete, brick, and steel. Bio-based building materials have significantly lower CO2 emissions and actually absorb and store carbon as they grow. They also create new economic opportunities for farmers, shifting from livestock to fiber crops.
Our research at AMS Institute—a collaboration between the City of Amsterdam, TU Delft, Wageningen University and Research, and MIT—connects urban challenges with academic expertise to deliver real-world solutions.
Scale solutions and meet the Netherlands' challenges
From timber construction to bio-based facade panels utilizing organic residual streams, such as roadside grass, innovation is paving the way for sustainable housing. But innovation requires investment. Continued support for fundamental and applied research is essential to scale these solutions and meet the Netherlands' challenges.
This video is part of the "Ontmoet Vooruitgang" series, where policymakers engage with scientists about innovations driving the Netherlands forward.