We Want To Grow Every Lettuce Variety Without Having To Think About The Light Recipe

May 30

The construction of the greenhouse for lettuce growers From Boer in the Dutch town of Dinteloord is in full swing, while this is happening they are already thinking about equipping the greenhouse with the latest technology. For instance, regarding the perfect light needed during cultivation. To figure these things out, Rofianda Lighting Solutions and Form Boer had a meeting. The plans changed a hand full of times, but they have now devised a complete plan.

'Without' thinking
Rofianda and From Boer met in the spring of 2019. Due to modernization, the re-locating, and the current technological developments, the lettuce growers are looking into the questions regarding lighting. The researches’ most important goal is to find a way to cultivate every variety of lettuce without having to think about strict lighting recipes.

“To achieve this goal, Rofianda Lighting Solutions full-spectrum sunlight lighting is perfect”, says Arjan Boer. “You only need to decide on the lighting level, and the plant will take care of the rest.”

'Sunlight lamps’ versus red and blue LEDs
In a testing greenhouse, the results for lighting lettuce under sunlight lamps were compared to the results of those same varieties under red and blue LEDs. The results for lighting under Rofianda Lighting Solution lamps were very noticeable. “The overall growth is close to how it is in nature, and the root forming is much better than when using the LEDs.”

Micromol discussion
Because Arjan and Leonard want to equip their new greenhouse with the latest technology, cultivation will happen in a most modern way. Ronald Gronsveld, owner of Rofianda Lighting Solutions, and the brothers Boer have invested a considerable amount of time in creating just the right lighting plan for the automated cultivation department.

“These types of challenges form the cornerstone of our existence”, says Ronald. “We don’t just supply a few lamps, but think along with the growers when it comes to questions regarding design, installation, costs, lighting levels, the impact of lighting on the cultivation as a whole and payback period. More is not always better, especially in the current discussion regarding micromole. The quality of the light is much more important than the quantity”, in Ronald’s opinion.

The right choices
Arjan confirms that the plans have changed a few times and that they eventually reached a complete plan. “The contact was abundant, and we managed to make the right choices together”, says Arjan.

In the middle of March, the signatures were placed, and the entire cultivation will be equipped with lighting technology that was designed in the Netherlands.