“We’ve Built a Controller That Works With Any Horticultural Lighting"

August 12, 2021

In July 2021, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) announced the five start-ups selected to participate in the initiative’s ninth cohort, with agtech company GrowFlux among the participants. The program is targeting the development of sustainable technologies for controlled environment agriculture. GrowFlux specializes in horticultural lighting control, having developed brand-agnostic wireless controllers that allow growers to control both HPS and LED lights. The controllers work with nearly all LED lights, while most HPS lights with dimming capabilities are compatible with the controller.

GrowFlux’s participation in the IN2 will provide up to $250,000 in non-dliutive funding from Wells Fargo as well as the opportunity to collaborate with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The GrowFlux Dimmer. Picture by GrowFlux.

According to CEO and founder Eric Eisele, GrowFlux will use the opportunity to enhance its Precision PAR® branded software controls, which will offer growers the ability to use PAR sensors to control any light according to grower defined lighting targets. The intelligent controls will also incorporate energy management features that will analyze natural light conditions in real time, compare it with historical data and electricity prices, then define the best time to light the greenhouse accordingly.

Coupling lighting control 
“Utility companies are challenged to meet the demand of the rapidly expanding lighting loads within the CEA industry. By coupling our lighting control technology with real-time sensor and energy pricing data, we can define the best time to light a crop to optimize for energy savings,” Eric explains.

GrowFlux plans to address the largest addressable market possible and is doing so by focusing on small- and medium-sized operations. As Alex Roscoe, chief technology officer, explains, these operations are focused on efficiency, ease of use and the eliminating the need for technicians where possible. However, growers’ reliance on proven technologies has previously made it difficult to implement new technologies in the industry. Through IN2, GrowFlux will be able to continue developing its technology and prove it in a near-production setting.

“Right now, we’re in the development phase and once we reach the field deployment phase, which will happen shortly after the program, we’ll be looking for participants to help us scale our technology and ensure that the technology is accessible to the majority of the market. Different cultivators have different priorities; some are light-centric while others lead with temperature and humidity. We want to work with all of these strategies,” says Alex.

Ensuring accessibility and reliability
GrowFlux controllers are wireless and cloud-based, allowing growers to control their lighting system from any device. GrowFlux has also built redundancies into the platform to continue running the light plan should any Internet issues arise. With most facilities having back-up generators, power outages can quickly be mitigated and the redundancies allow the grower to quickly resume its lighting strategy. Cybersecurity has also become a main focus, alongside reliability, to ensure that growers can easily use the controllers and fully benefit from the peace of mind offered.

“We’ve built a controller that works across the entire industry and with any horticultural lighting. At the end of the day, we want to make energy saving controls as accessible as possible and see our industry grow sustainability,” says Eric.

For more information:
GrowFlux 
info@growflux.com 
www.growflux.com

Lead Photo: The GrowFlux Dimmer. Picture by GrowFlux.

Women in AI: How Does the Future of Horticulture Will Look?

August 11, 2021

Getting the best from your crop and greenhouse will increasingly become a computer responsibility. We need to make better decisions, to get better results and fix the global food problems and expertise shortages. Artificial Intelligence can help us with this. But what skills are needed to work in AI tech? And what does the future of working with AI look like? Britta Meixner, Saheli De and Gosia Piekarska of Blue Radix answer these questions, and suggest how we can encourage more women to aim for tech jobs in AI or IT.

What’s your job at Blue Radix?

Britta: “My name is Britta Meixner, and I’m a Scientific Data Engineer. I advise the Blue Radix management team on technical implementations. I keep track of new technologies enabling us to introduce innovative products to customers. I also design, build and maintain a scalable and future-proof IT environment. Other tasks include implementing proof of concepts for new technologies and setups; I design and realize solutions when we start using these new technologies. One of these is the Azure IoT Hub, which lets us send results from the Data Science Team to greenhouses, steering installations autonomously.”

“A day in a data scientist’s life entails a range of tasks,” explains Saheli De, who works as a Data Scientist at Blue Radix. “Developing new functionalities for our customers involves preparing, cleaning and analyzing the data that comes from the climate computers and other data platforms. In this phase we work closely with our product development team to understand the dynamics and strategies involved in the greenhouse. Then there’s extensive discussion of strategies to solve the business requirement, leading to building models using cutting-edge AI technologies like machine learning. The essence of the job lies in translating the horticulture industry’s business requirements into data science solutions.”

Gosia Piekarska works as a Blue Radix Test Engineer and is responsible for implementing testing procedures, shaping the testing process, and software testing. “My job is to check the quality of the infrastructure and components in both Crop Controller and the energy domain. My work is my hobby; I’m always trying to improve my software testing knowledge in my spare time. I’m particularly interested in Test Automation, Data Analysis and DevOps.”

What do you like about working with new AI tech solutions for horticulture?
Britta: “There’s often no standard way of doing something when creating new AI solutions. Every new project requires new skills and technology knowledge. I can never stop learning in my job. Staying up to speed on new developments and technologies is the key to success. This makes my job demanding, but at the same time it never gets boring.”

Adds Saheli: “The tech industry is growing rapidly, and being the flag-bearer of AI in horticulture lets you design unique and sustainable solutions. Imagine walking into a supermarket picking up a tomato that was produced with the help of your algorithms! That’s powerful!”

“I always love working on the cutting-edge technology solutions, because they introduce the innovations which are so desperately needed in our world,” says Gosia. “I think that sustainable technology in the food-growing industry is critical for people’s well-being.”

What skills are needed to work in the AI tech-field?
“You need a broad spectrum of knowledge to make our solutions work in the greenhouse, from network protocols and operating systems, databases and APIs, to data pipelines. It’s only the combination of these which enables us to steer a greenhouse autonomously,” explains Britta. “Because the IT infrastructure differs in every greenhouse, we must be able to create solutions that quickly adjust to a wide range of situations. So alongside a very broad technical knowledge, you also need to be flexible, and to understand new situations and requirements quickly.”

Saheli adds: “Data Science in particular is a mix of mathematics, statistics, and computer science skills. Horticulture-related skills are a benefit, but not mandatory in my role.”

Gosia: “Constant learning of both broad technologies and tools.. On top of that, don’t forget soft skills.”

How do you think the future of working with AI will look?
Britta: “Data Scientists now focus mainly on a deep understanding of algorithms and data sets to be able to get the most accurate results for steering the greenhouse. This is often done in controlled offline setups. But there’s still a large gap before these algorithms are ready to be integrated into production environments to produce real-world data for the greenhouse. Data science and data engineering have to work together early in the development process to close this gap. That lets us deliver new features and improvements to existing functionalities faster.”

Saheli: “As we say at Blue Radix: ‘Algorithms can feed the world’. We believe that algorithm-based solutions, like our Crop Controller, offer growers worldwide a digital brain for their greenhouse. The dream is to work towards a symbiotic utopia of growers and AI-driven solutions.”

Gosia adds: “The key will be the AI-human interaction and how to deliver AI solutions to customers who don’t necessarily have a deep technical understanding of AI systems. This is important in horticulture, because advanced controlled systems are relatively new in this industry.”

How can we generate enthusiasm among women for tech jobs in AI or IT?
Britta: “Women have different styles of working, thinking and communicating than men. While that might cause confusion here and there, it can really help a team to reach their goals faster, and to find better solutions. If we are to encourage more women to take up AI or IT jobs, it’s important to reach true equality in opportunities and pay in every job out there. We need to remove gender stereotypes in daily work, while also avoiding them in early childhood and at schools.”

Saheli: “I completely agree with Britta,; we need to generate opportunities for both genders to be able to access and experience meaningful interaction with technology from a very young age. I strongly believe that curiosity is the key to science. Stay curious and keep asking questions!”

Gosia: “We can’t shape our world if we’re not involved. Working in IT offers enormous opportunities for women to make their mark. I also believe there are great career prospects if you choose a future working in AI, IT and sustainability. There are so many great challenges, and you can really contribute to a better world. The best would be to provide successful examples and stories of women working in AI, to encourage young girls to join the field.”

NL: Celebrating 15 Years of Horticultural Development At The Horti Science Park

August 9, 2021

Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the Delphy Improvement Centre, and the Municipality of Lansingerland are celebrating fifteen years of scientific development in the field of greenhouse horticulture. Save the date: various activities will be organized during the ’Horti Science Park Event Weeks’, held this year from 20 September to 8 October. From looking back, we are now looking forward to the role that the Horti Science Park will be playing in the future.

The autumn of 2006 saw the launch of a number of cultivation trials at the Delphy Improvement Centre and Wageningen University & Research (Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit) sites, both located at Violierenweg in Bleiswijk (Municipality of Lansingerland). Pioneering research was conducted in support of both the Dutch and international greenhouse horticulture sector at this Horti Science Park in the past decade and a half.

In addition to devising and developing the Next Generation Greenhouse Cultivation project, a great deal of research was carried out on the application of LED lighting with a view to creating sustainable cultivation systems. The development towards digital cultivation in autonomously controlled greenhouses with the application of newly developed plant sensors is in full swing and will result in far-reaching changes regarding the management of greenhouse horticulture. The development of production systems has always been a part of this, just as several greenhouse prototypes are now being tested and scientific knowledge in the area of cultivation is being developed in support of Vertical Farming practices.

The Municipality of Lansingerland is pleased with the presence of these two leading research institutions in greenhouse horticulture and therefore wishes to further develop its position as a knowledge-intensive municipality focusing on greenhouse horticulture. It is currently collaborating with entrepreneurs and residents on a ‘Horti Science Vision’, which should comprise the basis for guiding greenhouse horticulture research and future plans on themes such as education, employment, and space.

The opening of the ‘Vertical Farming Fieldlab’ by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Delphy is scheduled to take place during the ‘Horti Science Park Event Weeks’, which will be held from 20 September to 8 October. In addition to the above, the Municipality of Lansingerland, WUR and Delphy, in conjunction with organizations such as Glastuinbouw Nederland and Greenport West-Holland, will be organizing at least ten other events. Examples are the Knowledge Day for entrepreneurs in horticulture, the WaterEvent and an afternoon symposium on taste research. Meet-ups on the 'Horti Science Vision' will also be planned with young people who are interested in the horticultural sector and residents of the municipality. All events will be looking towards the future based on the knowledge we have today.

For more information:
Wageningen University & Research
www.wur.nl 

NL: Celebrating 15 Years of Horticultural Development At The Horti Science Park

August 9, 2021

Wageningen University & Research (WUR), the Delphy Improvement Centre, and the Municipality of Lansingerland are celebrating fifteen years of scientific development in the field of greenhouse horticulture. Save the date: various activities will be organized during the ’Horti Science Park Event Weeks’, held this year from 20 September to 8 October. From looking back, we are now looking forward to the role that the Horti Science Park will be playing in the future.

The autumn of 2006 saw the launch of a number of cultivation trials at the Delphy Improvement Centre and Wageningen University & Research (Greenhouse Horticulture Business Unit) sites, both located at Violierenweg in Bleiswijk (Municipality of Lansingerland). Pioneering research was conducted in support of both the Dutch and international greenhouse horticulture sector at this Horti Science Park in the past decade and a half.

In addition to devising and developing the Next Generation Greenhouse Cultivation project, a great deal of research was carried out on the application of LED lighting with a view to creating sustainable cultivation systems. The development towards digital cultivation in autonomously controlled greenhouses with the application of newly developed plant sensors is in full swing and will result in far-reaching changes regarding the management of greenhouse horticulture. The development of production systems has always been a part of this, just as several greenhouse prototypes are now being tested and scientific knowledge in the area of cultivation is being developed in support of Vertical Farming practices.

The Municipality of Lansingerland is pleased with the presence of these two leading research institutions in greenhouse horticulture and therefore wishes to further develop its position as a knowledge-intensive municipality focusing on greenhouse horticulture. It is currently collaborating with entrepreneurs and residents on a ‘Horti Science Vision’, which should comprise the basis for guiding greenhouse horticulture research and future plans on themes such as education, employment, and space.

The opening of the ‘Vertical Farming Fieldlab’ by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and Delphy is scheduled to take place during the ‘Horti Science Park Event Weeks’, which will be held from 20 September to 8 October. In addition to the above, the Municipality of Lansingerland, WUR and Delphy, in conjunction with organizations such as Glastuinbouw Nederland and Greenport West-Holland, will be organizing at least ten other events. Examples are the Knowledge Day for entrepreneurs in horticulture, the WaterEvent and an afternoon symposium on taste research. Meet-ups on the 'Horti Science Vision' will also be planned with young people who are interested in the horticultural sector and residents of the municipality. All events will be looking towards the future based on the knowledge we have today.

For more information:
Wageningen University & Research
www.wur.nl

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(And some pretty great solutions for your business, too)

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We've significantly expanded our expo floor to bring you even more top names, established best-sellers and promising start-ups. See the latest in lighting, operating, automation and control systems, growth chambers, seed treatments, plant nutrition, greenhouse & hydroponic supplies, substrates, pest control, irrigation, equipment & design resources and so much more from companies like:

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Register before our Early Bird Rates end on August 16, 2021 to save up to $300 on our full access pass. And if your plans change, no worries! Passes are completely refundable prior to September 27, 2021, and include:

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Design Firms Eye Efficiency, Speed To Market And Turnkey Design Solutions

By Andrea Di Pastena

July 13, 2021

Recently, consolidation within the cannabis industry has been seen through several mergers and acquisitions. Many of these transactions have included product and technology firms, but there is one acquisition, in particular, that is going to have quite a significant impact not only on the cannabis industry but on the larger indoor Controlled Environment Agriculture sector.

urban-gro has agreed to acquire the architecture firm MJ12 Design Studio in a move that makes urban-gro a one-stop company supporting growers with full-building turnkey design solutions including architecture, engineering, and cultivation systems integration. “Our role as an Architecture and Engineering firm truly sets us apart from the rest of the industry,” says Sam Andras, AIA, senior principal and partner at MJ12 Design Studio. “This acquisition has created a company that truly integrates turnkey design solutions under one roof.”

MJ12 Started Early in Cannabis Facility Design
The story of MJ12 Design Studio goes back to the very inception of the cannabis industry. “MJ12 Design Studio’s parent company of 2WR,” Andras recounts. “For 20 years, we had offices in the deep south, and we were working on federal projects. Then, we saw a tremendous opportunity with the legalization of cannabis in Colorado. So, we had to come up with a different brand for our cannabis design services. If you dig back in history, President Harry Truman had a group whose mission was to investigate alien activity. This secret group was called The Majestic 12, and the acronym was MJ12. So, since we were going to be a ‘secret’ architectural firm, MJ12 was the perfect name. From that moment on, we have designed over 100 cultivation facilities, with projects across North America and beyond - including Gibraltar, North Macedonia, and New Zealand.”

Read the rest of the article here

For more information:
urban-gro
720-390-3880
marketing@urban-gro.com  
urban-gro.com    

Controlled Environment Agriculture Funding Breeds Optimism For Post-Pandemic Growth

Carrie Meadows

July 9, 2021

Back in 2019, LEDs Magazine published a feature on investment pacing and market prospects for horticultural solid-state lighting (SSL) and products and systems for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) operations. We were really just beginning to see how venture capital funds and research grants were being distributed among CEA growers themselves in a wave hot investment for advanced farming methods. Indeed, as chief editor Maury Wright wrote regarding the early planning days of the former Horticultural Lighting Conference, “We suspected the primary interest would be investment in the companies supplying technology that could be deployed in vertical farms around the globe. Instead, the sector would soon witness huge investment in the farms themselves.”

Although the pace of announcements slowed slightly amid the coronavirus pandemic, we have covered quite a bit of research on plant science, optimization studies for horticultural lighting, and capital investment alike. And I am pleased to see prospects are growing for companies working toward technology integration in this sector.

For example, the Wells Fargo Foundation’s Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), which is co-administered by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), just announced the latest cohort of startups that will benefit from its funding and partnerships with NREL and an independent research institute, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO. All of the companies in this phase are focused on enabling sustainable indoor agriculture.

GrowFlux CEO Eric Eisele was kind enough to point me to the program news, which you can read in the linked release on our site. For background, GrowFlux is a 2021 LEDs Magazine Sapphire Awards finalist for its GrowFlux Dimmer lighting controller. That product is designed with ease of use in mind to allow an end customer to easily deploy intelligent controls without programming experience or a technician to set up.

“With the growing complexity and evolving practices around horticultural lighting control, our user-friendly setup experience and app eliminates a lot of the frustration,” said Eisele. “We've been building out compatibility for all of the major manufacturers of horticultural lighting to make this energy-saving control technology as accessible as possible, especially for the many small and medium-sized businesses in the controlled environment agriculture industry.”

Each participating company in the IN2 cohort will receive $250,000 and will work at NREL and the Danforth center on R&D. When asked what GrowFlux plans to do with its funding, Eisele said that the company will partner with a sensor manufacturer to combine wireless controls and PAR sensors to determine real-time PAR levels in the indoor environment. The idea is to analyze the PAR data and program the lighting control system to evaluate and manage a Daily Light Integral (DLI) target.

The word “automation” came up. GrowFlux is not the first organization to explore the concept of bringing software intelligence, lighting, and systems controls together in a way that delivers both streamlined and adaptable operations to reduce energy consumption in a greenhouse or other CEA setting (refer to the Automatoes challenge and a presentation from AgEye in our past HortiCann Light + Tech insights). However, Eisele explained, the GrowFlux wireless dimmer is compatible with offerings from many well-known horticultural lighting providers (e.g., Fluence, GE Current, BIOS, Heliospectra, and more), and the company intends to maintain out-of-the-box installation and interoperability with the next generation of technology development, rather than pursue customized designs.

Funding placements like this will propel advances for CEA and AgTech, increase technology uptake, and prove out the return on investment for integrated horticultural systems.

Lead Photo: It’s an exciting time to watch engineers, scientists, and horticultural experts in the field receive the support and resources to collaborate and put new knowledge and technologies into action.

It’s All In The Mix – ams-Osram Presents White LED For Highly Efficient Horticulture Lighting

June 24, 2021

Premstaetten, Austria — ams-OSRAM (SIX: AMS), a global leader in optical solutions, is expanding its comprehensive horticulture portfolio with the Osconiq S 5050. There is an ideal light recipe for each plant that includes "ingredients" such as the required wavelengths, intensity, average illumination duration and much more. Operators of greenhouses and so-called indoor farms naturally want to be as energy-efficient as possible in addition to maximizing yields. ams-Osram’s Osconiq S 5050 addresses a key problem of often used white LEDs resulting in lower energy costs and more efficient lighting to luminaire manufacturers and indoor farmers.

In indoor farming, red and blue or alternatively red and white LEDs are the predominate combinations found today. Standard white LEDs used to grow plants also emit light in the red wavelength range, which could be covered by direct emitting red LEDs in the lighting system instead. In addition, classic white LEDs require considerably more energy than a directly red-emitting LED would for a comparable number of red photons. “Our new Osconiq S 5050 now enables a higher system efficacy of red-white spectra by reducing the share of phosphor converted red photons. With this concept, growers are now able to save energy costs significantly,” explains Thomas Grebner, Marketing Manager at ams-Osram. The special phosphor used in the Osconiq S 5050 cuts the red part of the spectrum, so to speak. The red component in the white light of the LED is therefore considerably lower.

The Osconiq S 5050 enables compact luminaire designs for manufacturers thanks to its space-saving dimensions of just 5.0 mm x 5.0 mm x 0.7 mm. The mid-power LED also boasts an efficiency of 2.86 µmol/J and an optical output of 630 mW. In addition, the device, which can be operated in a range of 180 to 1050 mA depending on the target application, is protected against overvoltages of up to 8 kV.

Horticulture technologies from ams-Osram not only help to produce food independently of location, in a space-saving manner and without the addition of pesticides, they also make it easy for consumers in urban areas to obtain fresh and healthy food quickly.

Further information about horticulture lighting can be found on our website.

The Osconiq S 5050 expands ams-Osram's comprehensive horticulture lighting portfolio and significantly increases the energy efficiency of lighting solutions thanks to a new type of phosphor. Image: Osram

Combined with red LEDs for horticulture lighting, white LEDs provide the right spectrum for the growth of various plants. 

About ams-OSRAM

The ams-OSRAM Group, including the listed companies ams AG as parent company and OSRAM Licht AG, is a global leader in optical solutions. By adding intelligence to light and passion to innovation, we enrich people’s lives. This is what we mean by Sensing is Life. 

 With over 110 years of combined history, our core is defined by imagination, deep engineering expertise and the ability to provide global industrial capacity in sensor and light technologies. We create exciting innovations that enable our customers in the consumer, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors maintain their competitive edge. We thereby drive innovation that meaningfully improves the quality of life in terms of health, safety and convenience, while reducing impact on the environment. 

Our around 30,000 employees worldwide focus on innovation across sensing, illumination and visualization to make journeys safer, medical diagnosis more accurate and daily moments in communication a richer experience. Our work creates technology for breakthrough applications, which is reflected in over 15,000 patents granted and applied. Headquartered in Premstaetten/Graz (Austria) with a co-headquarter in Munich (Germany), the group achieved well over USD 5 billion combined revenues in 2020 (pro-forma). 

 ams AG is a listed company on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ISIN: AT0000A18XM4). OSRAM Licht AG remains a listed company on the XETRA market in Germany (ISIN: DE000LED4000). 

To find out more about us on https://ams-osram.com

ams is a registered trademark of ams AG. In addition many of our products and services are registered or filed trademarks of ams Group. All other company or product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

Please note: The ams brand is owned by ams AG, the OSRAM brand is owned by OSRAM GmbH. ams group and OSRAM group are in the process of integration. The combination of the ams and OSRAM brand is not representing a new brand. This is a visual symbol of the two companies coming together, representing the aspiration of our future joined group.

New Innovations – Lettuce Wall at Newtown College

NPTC Group of Colleges

23 June 2021

Newtown College (Part of @NPTCGroup of Colleges) is going all green-fingered as it introduces a new Horticulture course. This exciting new addition has brought with it a new collaboration with Cultivate, and a new initiative with the introduction of a lettuce wall to the Newtown College Foyer.

The new Level 1 & 2 Horticulture courses will be available from September. The course will utilize the fantastic facilities of Cultivate to do practical work, including accessing polytunnels, allotments, and projects within their grounds include growing via CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture).

The eye-catching addition of the lettuce tower in the Newtown College foyer is part of the Crop Cycle project, a Farm Urban system to cultivate lettuce and other greens using a soilless system of vertical towers. This project is funded by the Welsh Government to introduce indoor growing CEA of food crops into communities. Whilst we live in a rural environment, new ways of nurturing plants, using what is known as hydroponics, is revolutionary and is growing in popularity.

Cultivate are piloting a number of different controlled environment vertical farming systems to grow hyper-local nutritious crops to offer within the community. Local, sustainably grown food is absolutely key in tackling important issues surrounding our food system, climate change and biodiversity. This will allow Cultivate food business to increase the amount of local foods produced and in turn, consumed, ensuring that growing models become more sustainable and that our population can eat more locally grown, sustainable, healthier produce.

Richard Edwards Cultivate Crop Cycles project manager said:

“They taste great, are highly nutritious and are super fresh, visit our Deli in Newtown to try them for yourself!”

NPTC Group of Colleges Head of Agriculture, Catering, Hospitality and Horticulture, Sue Lloyd-Jones said:

“We are very excited about introducing the Horticulture Courses to Newtown College. These courses are already popular in our Brecon Beacons, Neath College and Black Mountains Colleges. With this fantastic collaboration with Cultivate, it gives us extensive facilities and involvement with initiatives such as the CEA. The lettuce wall provides a point of education for students to learn about potential food sustainability and the subtle shift toward urban or hyper-local cultivation. It demonstrates how to grow plants without soil but in nutrient-rich water with oxygen and light. It also serves as a local edible wall producing greens for our catering department’.

London Food Bank Is Going Greener With Greenhouse

Nick Paparella CTV News London Reporter

@NPaparellaCTV Contact

Inside the London Food Bank's greenhouse in London, Ont. on Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. (Nick Paparella / CTV News)

LONDON, ONT. -- The outdoors may be covered in a blanket of white in January, but at the London Food Bank these days everything seems to be coming up green.

After a year of planning and with donations from the community, the new greenhouse is bearing fruit - or in this case vegetables.

“This is what Londoners a few years ago wanted more than anything else, to donate funds towards fresh fruits, fresh produce and that's what they have done,” says Glen Pearson from the London Food Bank. “So we've just taken it to a different level so we can grow our own as well.”

The man with the green thumb here is horticulturalist Luis Reyes.

“A couple of weeks ago we received the heaters and since then you can see the growth in only a couple of weeks,” says Reyes.

Like many from the food bank, Reyes is passionate about helping those in need.

“I am a grower and that's what I like to do and now to do it directly to people makes me proud,” he says.

The greenhouse is expected to grow about 15,000 plants a year which amounts to about four tons of food.

“You're not going to get anything fresher than this in a supermarket,“ says Reyes. “So probably you're going to harvest today here and the people or clients are going to receive it tomorrow or the same day.”

In the winter months, they are growing cold-weather plants like lettuce, spinach and even kale, but once summer arrives they will switch to tomatoes, cucumbers and fruit-bearing plants.

Adds Pearson, “It just expands the nutrition we're able to give to other people.”

Offering The Complete Package, Thinking From A Plant Perspective

“Nowadays, there’s very little growing space. Many growers have to grow in several places at the same time, moving their products around,” says Floris Berghout, International business development manager at KG Systems. “Therefore, when taking this problem into account, vertical farming is a valuable addition to horticulture. However, I do not think that vertical farming will replace traditional greenhouse growers.”

Over 15 years ago, KG Systems became involved with vertical farming. In 2006, the company constructed its first vertical farm inside a greenhouse, used for Lilly production, soon after that, a propagation cell followed for orchids. KG Systems has about any solution to vertical farming that can be thought of. This thanks to the experience they gained because of their involvement in many diverse projects over the years. 

(F.l.t.r.) Matthias Haakman and Floris Berghout 

“Many growers are involved with researching the propagation process in vertical farms as this cultivation process delivers stronger plants and better performance in the greenhouse,” Matthias Haakman, Account manager at KG Systems. “We always sit down with the client to analyze what the most appropriate solution would be for them. Here, we’re looking at the plants and what they need. We’re basically building a product around the plant the grower aims to grow. In terms of seeds, the system, etc.”  

Floris says that the great thing about KG Systems’ technique is that they’re able to adjust any system to the plants. The team is working closely with flora, tomato, etc. growers. These systems are one big puzzle, but the company can deliver either one piece of it or more. “We’re working with many customers that are either upgrading their systems or wanting to install a complete new farm inside a warehouse, or elsewhere. In all these cases the same knowledge is implemented,” he says.

“The more projects we have done, the more we have been taught about the market. It has enabled us to see what techniques are available and that’s in our benefit. Therefore we can offer the best tailored solutions to our customers nowadays,” says Matthias.

KG Systems' installation at a tulip grower 

According to Floris, it’s the trick to outline the situation. Meaning, what does the customer have in mind and then reason back to the plant. The client has its eye on a certain market where the product will be sold at a certain price. Therefore we need to know the following things in order to create the best solution for them. Such as, what does the plant need in order to grow, and how do we fit this into a multiple layer system, using what technique? Then we’ll draw up a balance in terms of budget.

KG’s technology is scalable in complexity. In other words, the company can deliver any system at any price, depending on the growers’ end goal. “We are there to help out with their market, potential buyers, you name it. If clients lack of market-, product- or customer knowledge, etc., the company directs them to a consultancy agency,” says Floris. This agency will educate them in every area needed and guide them into the right direction.

For more information:
KG Systems
Matthias Haakman, Account manager
Floris Berghout, International business development manager 
info@kgsystems.nl 
www.kgsystems.nl 

Author: Rebekka Boekhout
© VerticalFarmDaily.com

“Sharing Technology Is The Only Way The Industry Will Grow”

“There is a lack of know-how amongst farmers to apply those techniques in a successful way,” says Joe Swartz, Vice president and Lead horticulturalists at AmHydro. In every situation, according to Joe, from geography to the skill of the grower or climate control, all play into what types of technology should be used. This requires a lot of experience and knowledge. Lack of this might lead to farmers being susceptible to misleading information, using ineffective technologies, which I’ve seen many people suffering from.

Joe adds, “Watching many good growers that have been led down a bad path in the industry, while investing so much into technologies that are not really effective, really breaks my heart. While providers know that they aren’t effective in this particular situation. With many years of industry experience, Joe is well aware of the challenges that the industry faces these days. Within the aquaponics sector there is not one singular technology, just as in conventional farming, rather various unique technologies can be combined for different outcomes.

Lack of know-how
When asked about the kind of growers that Joe educates, he notes that there are two kinds of growers contacting him. “We have two types of growers: either growers facing challenges or new growers wanting equipment and knowledge. Both of those approaches are interesting and it’s great to be able to help them become successful. It is great to see our system helping companies to grow and develop and become a worldwide provider. Growers like that keep coming back to us. They are the ones that move the industry”.  

Joe Swartz, Vice president 

An essential part of being a vertical farmer, in Joe’s opinion, is having experience with working on the ground floor. Only this will teach you what it takes to manage the equipment, crops and technology. “The best growers have started in the greenhouse. Hydro-experts will get nowhere with their college degree alone,” Joe states. For that reason, AmHydro offers grower seminars and even possesses a commercial greenhouse where growers can work in order to gain experience. “Some growers don’t think that they need it as they rely on technology, but my experience is exactly the opposite.”

Fake promises 
Joe observes similar trends as in the 1980s when certain technologies were promoted as ‘the farming of the future’. People talked about automatic farming, in which no farmer would be needed, new techniques and new lightings. All things we hear today were said back then. What happened afterward, according to Joe, was that some techniques turned out disappointing. Millions of dollars invested were lost, leading to the industry losing its credibility.

“As a result, investors only valid projects that already have a positive cash flow, as they have become more cautious. Some growers struggled to get funding, even though they had a viable business model. In a certain way, negative events have closed off some appetite for investments in CEA, which is a shame. It is a good investment in general, but every time we see a less than a reputable company or a technology that fails, it holds the industry back.”

Misconception
Related to that, Joe says that vertical farming still has to overcome a somewhat negative public image. “The traditional consumer, at least in the USA, have an image of farmers working on the land using sustainable methods. Now, being a conventional farmer using hydroponics I know that it is a sustainable and safe way to produce food, but there’s a public perception of automatization, as robotic food. Some people even call it “Frankenfood”. In my opinion, the more we can promote CEA as what it is, sustainable growing techniques, people will be more accepting and investors will invest more easily”.

Joe strongly senses that the vertical farming industry needs more skilled farmers and growers to meet the demand. “A lot of my work is actually training people. We want to help especially young people, new to the industry, by giving them skills, experience and knowledge. I have been blessed to have mentors when I was young and I try my best to pass that knowledge as this will help the industry along. That’s one of the reasons why we now see some consultancy firms who see economic opportunities. Sharing technology is the only way in which the industry will grow,” says Joe.

“Despite the diversity amongst growers that I meet in over 66 countries, all growers face similar problems. Funny tech flitches, pipes that break and spray water all over the greenhouse, or water pumps that break down. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a technologically advanced greenhouse or a small low-tech one. It kind of goes across the board,” says Joe laughing.  

For more information:
AmHydro
Joe Swartz, Vice president and Lead horticulturalist
joe@amhydro.com  
www.amhydro.com 

 
Author: Rebekka Boekhout
© VerticalFarmDaily.com

UK: £5m Funding Award For John Innes Centre To Modernize Horticultural Facilities

A multi-million-pound project to modernize the horticultural facilities at John Innes Centre has been approved.

The £5.1m upgrade is funded by UKRI-BBSRC. Work will begin in Autumn 2020, and the project set to be completed by March 2021. 

The company's Horticultural Services support the world-renowned science of the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory and occupies a large site on the Norwich Research Park.  

A little over £3m of the investment will provide new Controlled Environment Rooms (CERs) for plant and microbial experiments. CER’s offer scientists precise control of environmental factors such as light, temperature, and humidity. The upgrade will also improve the containment measures required for experiments that investigate plant pathogens, or for growing genetically modified plants.  

The new infrastructure offers energy efficiency and sustainability gains due to LED lighting, wastewater treatment, and rainwater harvesting. The reduction in utility costs from installing these technologies is estimated to be £116,000 per year. 

Further savings will be achieved by more efficient use of glasshouse space (£200,000 per year) and reduced reliance on off-site horticultural facilities (£240,000) per year. 

The current glasshouses (which cover an area of 5,775m2) is mostly single-span structures designed and built several decades ago. This investment is the start of a long-term move away from using glasshouses and towards controlled environments which better enable consistency of inputs and experimental results. 

Head of Horticultural Services at the John Innes Centre, John Lord said: “World-class science needs world–class, market-leading technology. This investment is timely because there is a desperate need for our scientists to work on solutions to the challenges that face us. From understanding pathogens that cause plant diseases, to creating climate-resilient, nutritious crops that feed the world. 

“This investment will bring a much-needed upgrade, providing facilities that are relevant and appropriate for the world-leading plant and microbial science that takes place on the Norwich Research Park. It also future proofs the site to fit with longer-term ambitions to redevelop the infrastructure here.” 

Features of the new modernization include 30m2 of large walk-in growth space which offers LED lighting, nutrient enrichment, climate control, and state-of-the-art irrigation systems. The spaces will be configurable, it can be divided into multiple layers or used as a large open space, offering the next step towards bigger trials for crops.  

The new facility will also benefit from a sustainable water supply, as it will harvest rainwater. The rainwater will be monitored and treated onsite to ensure it is free from phytopathogens, and that it has the correct pH. This soft, nutrient-rich harvested rainwater means that scientists will be able to minimize the use of fertilizers, and the consistent, monitored water supply will ensure that scientific experiments are reliable and repeatable.  

“This is the start of a wider, long term project to update horticultural services at the John Innes Centre to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of science of today while being flexible enough to meet the needs of tomorrow as problems and new technologies arise,” said John. 

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For more information:
John Innes Centre
www.jic.ac.uk 

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Publication date: Thu 8 Oct 2020

Signify Expands Philips Horticulture Research Partner Network In China By Adding Yunnan AiBiDa Greenhouse Technology Co., Ltd. To Serve The Chinese Floriculture Business

On Aug. 28, 2020, Signify signed a cooperation agreement with Yunnan AiBiDa Greenhouse Technology Co., LTD, to formally become a research partner using Philips GreenPower LED products as supplementary lighting for its greenhouse floriculture production improving crop growth efficiency and quality in western China.

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"We are pleased to welcome AiBiDa to our horticultural network,” said Udo van Slooten, Business Leader Horticulture at Signify. "Yunnan AiBiDa is committed to integrating advanced European Horticulture technology and facilities to China’s developing floriculture market. AiBiDa’s flowers such as cut rose enjoy a high reputation in the Chinese market. Signify will provide AiBiDa with advanced horticulture LED lighting technology and services to improve the quality and yield of their greenhouse crops.”

The partnership will further promote the use of LED applications in floriculture production in greenhouses. "We need high-quality products for our customers in China. Philips Horticulture LED lighting technology is what we need for our greenhouse crop production," said Li Qin, founder and CEO of Yunnan AiBiDa."

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Signify and Yunnan AiBiDa have already cooperated in the Linxia International (Sino-Dutch) Floriculture Port project located in Gansu province. In May this year, a three-party joint laboratory (Signify, Baiyi Group, and Yunnan AiBiDa) was officially set up at the project location. Meanwhile, Yunnan AiBiDa was awarded as ambassador of Philips Horticulture LED lighting solutions globally and locally in China’s Floriculture market. Signify will continue to expand its partner network in China to better serve the Chinese Horticulture market with innovative Philips grow lights and services.

New Aponix Plant Plug Holder

Aponix has re-invented the single-use plastic netpot and replaced it with a reusable young plant plug holder that includes an optional metal trellis holder.

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The aponix vertical barrel components are meant to be robust horticulture building blocks for commercial production activities and prosumer solutions enabling users to set up hydroponic grow spaces efficiently within 3-dimensional space. Practically it works like a traditional 2D-NFT with guided vertical drip irrigation but in 3D using lego-like elements with many options and variations possible.

The goal of the aponix vertical barrel / 3D-NFT is to provide an alternative to rack systems for hyperlocal edible plant production in urban areas. Mission is to eliminate food miles and waste around food logistics and at the same time delivering more varieties harvested at the ideal ripeness to consumers for higher level nutrition and more fun.

Aponix is extending the system constantly. The latest addition to the toolbox is a new single-use plastic net pot replacement – the aponix reusable trellis plug pot. The pot will be much more solid that its existing counterparts so it can be reused over and over again. The shape is two thirds open with some gentle spikes in the bottom to hold young plants that have been grown in glue plugs or alternative substrates. The plug can be inserted directly into the system.

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To make it even more versatile the plug pot has 2 parallel holes where users can insert a 3mm metal plant trellis with different shapes to support larger plants or fruiting crops. Different trellis shapes and heights will be available. A click system keeps the plug and the fruit tightly attached to the metal plant trellis to support heavy fruit (or flowers).

The idea is also that the trellis plug pot can also be used in any other hydroponic system that provides an exact circular 5cm diameter hole for plants. Of course it will fit best into the grow spaces in aponix vertical barrels.

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For more information:
Aponix
Marco Tidona
hello@aponix.eu
www.aponix.eu

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Publication date: Thu 10 Sep 2020

Agtech Startup Nordetect Wins €10,000 Prize For Portable Nutrient Sensor

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by Jennifer Marston

AUGUST 25, 2020

There are plenty of reasons food producers are considering indoor agriculture these days, including the potential for better crops and yields thanks to tech integrations and the ability to keep farmworkers safer (ie, not laboring in the thick of wildfire smoke). However, to make indoor farming as efficient as possible, and thereby cut down on food waste, more precision around plant nutrients, water, and other elements is needed.

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Denmark-based startup Nordetect is one such company tackling this challenge. The precision-agriculture-focused company just nabbed the top spot (and €10,000) of agtech company Priva’s recent Horti Heroes challenge, which showcased companies innovating in the horticulture space.

Nordetect, which is also a part of the SOSV portfolio, won the challenge for its portable device that measures nutrients in soil, water, and plant tissue so growers can more precisely use fertilizer in crops and get better yields and less waste.

On its website, Nordetect says this nanosensor can be used on anything from leaf samples to soil to manure. The system also integrates with any existing software the farm might be using, and a built in GPS keeps track of where each sample is located in the field or farm. A major differentiator Nordetect offers is its ability to measure nutrients within minutes, as opposed to the traditional process that can take weeks.

Speaking in today’s press release, Nordetect CEO Keenan Pinto said the company’s target market was high-value crop space — that is, areas that grow crops like leafy greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers. “These are crops that have a nutrient requirement change between their vegetative and generative phases… and if you can get the fertilization correct, you can also achieve a significantly higher flower rate and yield,“ he said.

Many indoor farms, whether tech-enabled greenhouses or vertical farms, now grow those crops. At the same time, the number of these indoor farming facilities keeps rising and their locations include everywhere from isolated warehouses to grocery store parking lots to food desserts. 

Priva is something of a heavyweight in the world of indoor farming, which means its awarding of the prize to Nordetect and subsequent partnership with the company will lead to further technological innovation around precision agriculture inside the above farming locations.  

FILED UNDER: AG TECH BUSINESS OF FOOD FEATURED FOODTECH MODERN FARMER VERTICAL FARMING

The Basis, A Homogeneous Climate, Is Already There" Artechno Doing New Cultivation Tests In VF Chamber

"Together with another colleague, I am adding green thumbs to the team that is full of technicians here", Rick van Schie laughs. As the son of a tomato grower and next year's fourth-year horticulture student, he  started cultivation research in the industrial hall of Artechno in De Lier. In a AVF+ Junior climate chamber Rick researches irrigation strategies for four different substrates and the effect that far-red light has on the stretching in lettuce.

Previously, the Artechno industrial hall was mainly the place to build complete water management systems for the greenhouse or harvesting lines and turnkey systems for vertical farms and deep-float systems. “The cultivation space with deep-float facility provided insight into growth and also important key figures for the business case. By testing and growing ourselves, we can now also better serve our customers in the vertical farm industry and provide them with better data and growth recipes.”

Rick started growing in the climate chamber in mid-June. "It is often wise for a grower to first do tests in a small chamber and to collect as much information as possible about lighting, climate and irrigation before scaling up to a larger system. That is why we also offer our chambers for rent to growers."

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Cameras and LED
The AVF + Junior with which Rick is currently doing tests is equipped with Philips GEN3 LED luminaires, whereby both the spectrum and the light intensity are adjustable. The chamber is also equipped with special hyper-spectral cameras (and sensors), making it possible to monitor the crop and climate without having to enter the chamber.

Homogeneous climate
Anyone who would enter the chamber will notice, according to Rick, that the climate is remarkably homogeneous. "Or actually you do not notice that much and that is positive. To demonstrate that there really is air circulation, I have hung up an A4 sheet, but you do not notice it."

Art, general director: "The aim was to realize a delta T difference of less than 1 degree Celsius difference in a 10-layer climate chamber of about 8 meters high, and we succeeded."

All this is possible thanks to the air treatment units that were developed by Artechno itself. "You want to exclude as many variables as possible in your research, so a homogeneous climate is essential."

Study 1: irrigation strategies
The first study examines the effect of different irrigation strategies on four different substrates (stone wool, foam plug, glue plug, and soil mix with 10% wood fiber). This should become the basis for other studies with various types of lettuce, Rick says.

Study 2: far-red light
The second research is conducted into the addition of far-red light. Lighting is applied with 180 micromoles for a total of 18 hours and in the last hour, far-red light is added with 10%. There is also a control group (DRB LB) without the addition of far-red light.

"The purpose of the addition of far-red light is to achieve more stretching in the leaves so that the plant makes better use of the growing surface after transplanting. This could possibly also influence the bringing forward of the growth curve."

Germination
Rick is very satisfied with the results of the sowing tests in comparison to the tests carried out in the previous two years. "96-98% germination on the various substrates is a good result, but maybe this might be surpassed by an upcoming germination chamber."

Low input, high output
The results of the tests are assessed, among other things, by measurements of fresh and dry weight, growth percentage, quality, and kilo/m2. "From these results, certain trend lines are emerging, from which the crop growth rate can be calculated. This trend line also gives us insight into the smarter use of the LED light (grams of fresh weight per mole). The ultimate aim is to be consistent with the lowest possible input to achieve the highest output (kilo/m2/year)."

Rick knows that kg/m2/year is an important factor for customers to determine the profitability of their business case. "The results of our tests are used for this, among other things. The results and experiences with certain products we always provide feedback to our suppliers and customers, so that they remain up-to-date."

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Soft fruit
Meanwhile, Rick and Artechno see that, in addition to demand for research for herbs and leafy crops, there is also an increasing demand for soft fruit. "This includes, for example, growing strawberries indoors and testing with the rooting phase in, for example, the propagation of blueberry plants.

We also want to be proactive in this, so we will certainly carry out tests ourselves. For ourselves, but also for growers or suppliers to whom we rent the chambers. In addition, I can mentor them and, in consultation, help to draw up a good research plan, always with a lot of literature as a foundation, so that you are not wasting time doing research that has already been done."

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For more information: 
Artechno
www.artechno.nl
info@artechno.nl

Rick van Schie
rick@artechno.nl

Publication date: Fri 24 Jul 2020
© HortiDaily.com

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Plants That Can Be Grown In Hydroponic Greenhouse

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Abhijeet Banerjee 

31 August 2020

Most of us will know that Hydroponics is a type of “Soil-less” culture, which is a method of growing plants without soil, by using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. It comes under the Horticulture discipline and has many advantages, one of them being a decrease in water usage. This method is considered as superior methods of cultivation when compared with the traditional soil-based cultivation method. In comparison to farming on the soil, the Hydroponic cultivation method requires about 80-90% lesser quantity of water.

Vegetables grown under Hydroponic set up are in high demand, and the trend for seeking vegetables/fruits grown through this method is rising every year.  This system is beneficial in enabling growers to produce fresh and healthy vegetables on a controlled and consistent basis. When compared with cultivation under the soil, Hydroponics is one of the most water-efficient methods. Since the system can be designed and built according to the space available, it can be inferred that in case of lesser space, it is not a matter of concern generally. If you believe in experimenting with farming, then growing plants with the hydroponics method is most likely to catch your attention.

If new to hydroponics then is advisable to select those vegetables and plants that most growers have produced successfully. Studies and feedback from successful growers convey the possibility of larger yields through Hydroponic greenhouses than a traditional greenhouse. Here it will be important to consider that in order to maximize the chances of successful production the grower must understand which plants to grow under this method.

One should be aware of some facts that few plants may spread out too much to grow properly in a hydroponic greenhouse, and few others may be suited to cooler weather, hence may not survive under high temperatures. Also, one should also have knowledge about plants that need special attention, when growing in a Hydroponic greenhouse. There is the easy availability of the raw materials and supplies for hydroponic systems in the online and offline markets. Hydroponics not only helps a grower in designing its own system, but it also offers the opportunity to produce fresh and healthy vegetables for the entire year. Now let us know which plants can be grown in a Hydroponic Greenhouse:

Related Links

• Is Hydroponics a Better Cultivation Method than Aeroponics?

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Strawberries

This type of cultivation environment is suitable for strawberries. The usual layout of the hydroponic greenhouses comfortably accommodates the fruit. Depending upon the size of the berry and desired sweetness level, there are lots of varieties to choose from.

Potatoes

Hydroponic systems can support the growth of potatoes and other root crops as well.  But they should be provided sufficient depth to grow adequately. This is because there is a lot of growth in the root area, in addition to growth in stems and foliage. So if these plants are grown in lesser space, overall growth will be restricted. One can prefer smaller varieties of the root crops, in order to provide sufficient depth.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes grow well under this method.  In the case of tomatoes, it is necessary to provide them a support system, similar to when cultivated in a traditional greenhouse or home garden set up.

Mint

Mint needs wet weather to grow therefore in Hydroponic greenhouses one has a greater option to choose lot many varieties. Mints should be given enough space as they spread quite a bit. With this method you can easily grow any type of mint – be it peppermint, spearmint, ginger mint etc.

Basil

Basil is a herb and can be grown in the hydroponic setup. The moist conditions provided to the herb through this system are beneficial in enhancing the herb’s flavor. Like other plants, the yield is most likely to increase using hydroponic methods of cultivation.

Lettuce

There are various types of lettuce providing different flavors. Normally the iceberg is commonly produced variety but when it comes to growing hydroponically, once can think of growing romaine, sweet butter and many more varieties, to be used in your salad menu.

Cabbage

Cabbage needs cooler temperature for proper growth, hence suitable for growing hydroponically. One may be required to adjust growing conditions for the cool weather vegetables. This would imply that it will be necessary to grow the plants according to their natural seasons. One can change the temperature settings in your greenhouse as per the crops decided for cultivation.

Green Beans

Normally the Bush-style green beans adjust quite well with the typical conditions set up in a hydroponic system, although pole beans can be grown as well. Also, the size of bush-style beans is convenient to manage versus pole beans.

Plants that require Additional Care in Hydroponic Greenhouse  

Watermelon, other melons, squash, and corn are some of these vegetables which occupy greater space to grow, making it difficult to thrive well in Hydroponic greenhouses. Therefore these plants need growers addition care like pruning on a regular basis. Few varieties of pumpkin varieties allowed for the space they need. This is done by planting them outside where they can spread and increase in size accordingly.  

Many plants have both male and female flowers on them therefore need the bees to pollinate them. Hydroponic setups do not have bees inside the structure, so cultivating these plants are a bit labor-intensive. Nevertheless, if the task of pollinating these plants is done by the grower himself, then chances of proper growth will be higher.

Horticulture Lighting Based on LEDs To Be Installed In Commercial Buildings, Breaking The Limitation of Plant Growth

A new deal announced by Heliospectra, a Sweden based horticulture lighting technology provider, unveiled a new approach for achieving urban farming with LED grow lights.

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(Image: Heliospectra)

Heliospectra reported that it has received an order from BBL Construction, who operates as a general contractor in the fields of commercial and institutional construction. According to Heliospectra, the two business partners are going to apply their expertise for several projects.

The partnership might indicate that LED grow light and vertical farming facilities are now considered a function to be integrated into commercial and institutional buildings, highlighting the trend of urban and indoor farming.

Increasing urban farming and indoor cultivation facilities are considered one of the prioritized projects for countries and area who used to rely heavily on imported food, as the food security issue was emphasized with the COVID-19 pandemic. Adding LED grow lights and smart cultivation system into commercial construction offer a solution for urban farming to enhance local food production.

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Valoya And Citizen Electronics Enter A Licensing Agreement

Citizen Electronics Co. Ltd., leading developer of electronic devices and applied products, and Valoya, the research-driven LED grow light manufacturer have entered a licensing agreement whereby Citizen Electronics will take Valoya’s LED spectrum portfolio into use.

Citizen Electronics will apply Valoya's spectrum technology know-how in order to strengthen its COB (chip on board) LED products intended for the horticulture industry.

Valoya has launched its patent licensing program in June this year. After more than a decade of persistent focus on R&D, the company has amassed one of the largest patent portfolios of the horticulture lighting industry. 

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‘The spectrum makes all the difference. High-quality light creates high-quality plants. We are excited and proud to have a company like Citizen recognize the value of our expertise and to choose to include it in their product portfolio. We look forward to seeing their COB LED products with Valoya spectrum reach the market and the growers who will greatly benefit from Valoya’s spectra which have been developed through meticulous plant R&D efforts spanning over a decade’ comments Mr. Lars Aikala, the CEO and Co-Founder of Valoya.

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Access to the Valoya license program not only gives us a solid IP base, but also extends Valoya's experience, research, and know-how to our COB products and our customers.

Our higher power [300 Watt] COBs provide a wide spectrum light, in a very small package. It is a superior solution for greenhouses and other horticultural applications where high power light is needed", comments Mr. Kanetaka Sekiguchi, CEO of Citizen Electronics. 

The patent portfolio accounts Valoya’s inventions in the field of light spectra for plant cultivation and lighting applications.

Valoya and Citizen Electronics are happy with this partnership and are both looking to further contribute to support the development of the global horticulture industry.

To inquire further about Citizen’s COB LED products, please click here.

To learn more about Valoya's patent licensing program, please click here.

 About Valoyarop

Valoya is a provider of high end, energy-efficient LED grow lights for use in crop science, vertical farming, and medicinal plants cultivation. Valoya LED grow lights have been developed using Valoya's proprietary LED technology and extensive plant photobiology research. Valoya's customer base includes numerous vertical farms, greenhouses, and research institutions all over the world (including 8 out of 10 world’s largest agricultural companies).

 Additional information:

Valoya Ltd, Finland

Tel: +358 10 2350300

Email: sales@valoya.com

Web: www.valoya.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valoyafi/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/valoya