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HORTICULTURE
vative climate screens and energy recovery methods.” greenhouse climate was so stable that in
from an active dehumidification system. the 30 weeks of the cultivation the average
Additionally, the trial will test new adapted Taking the learnings from 2023 and 2024, drain volume was a mere 8%”, states An-
fertigation and irrigation management the trial aims to demonstrate to growers drew Lee, knowledge manager at Grodan.
strategies. how energy efficient strategies can lead to
additional improvements in plant and fruit “Collaborating with the right partners
Through the end of April, a holistic ap- performance: can drive innovation and enhance our col-
proach will be utilised to achieve optimal laborative e!orts, bringing knowledge and
energy efficiency and plant performance This year’s trial will focus on: expertise outside of the Grodan and Philips
while maintaining high light use efficiency, The use of spectral dimming – to im- LED collaboration.” adds Andrew Lee. We will
excellent taste, and optimal fruit weight. prove electrical efficiency of the LED instal- continue our partnership with BASF, Ridder,
This marks an exciting prolongation be- lation. The strategy this year will be to tar- Normec Groen Agro Control and Wireless
tween two industry leaders dedicated to get specific Daily Light Integral (DLI) whilst Value, and we are excited to announce that
advancing sustainable horticulture prac- switching off the least efficient LED colours Ammerlaan Construction B.V has joined us.
tices. Adding a new partner broadens the scope
The use of advanced climate screens –
“When growers started using LEDs to to offer greater thermal insulation of the of our research and by combining our ef-
grow tomatoes, we could explain how greenhouse with a higher potential for forts we can create synergy by bringing
steering light and heat separately had everyone’s expertise to the table to achieve
huge benefits. When growing with full heat-recovery through the dehumidifica- a greater level of energy e"ciency and set a
LED, another factor comes into play; steer- tion system. direction for the future”.
ing your humidity to better manage the Managing water and nutrient uptake
crop balance,” indicates Marcel Raats, plant – to target the lowest possible electrical “Grodan and Signify understand that
specialist for Philips LED grow lights. “With conductivity (EC) while maintaining the growers play a significant role in shaping
a holistic approach to growing; meaning highest production and fruit quality and the direction of sustainable horticultural
separately managing light, heat, evapora- simultaneously steer crop-balance with methods . By involving growers (and con-
tion, fertigation, irrigation, and measuring the right nutrient composition. sultants) we will ensure that the knowl-
and monitoring each factor, you will get edge we develop is not only innovative
the best insights in how the crop performs “Last year’s trial has demonstrated that but also practical and aligned with grow-
over time,” he adds. “Last year we used 50% controlling and optimizing all aspects of ers’ needs. This year grower’s experience
less heat input compared to commercial the cultivation enables a lower heat input. and insights will contribute to enhancing
reference growers. This highlighted the Using active dehumidification stimulated the trial’s strategy,” adds Marcel Raats. “This
potential of active dehumidification com- sufficient plant transpiration to support collaboration will ensure that the knowl-
bined with full LED lighting in climate con- a strong crop and realise a high produc- edge we develop is also viable in day-to-
trol. As we move into the second year, we tion. Extra generative growth at the start day operations and the new strategies
are focused on fine-tuning our approach of the crop was encouraged by actively developed are aligned to real-world chal-
to strike the balance between optimal manipulating nitrate and chloride levels in lenges of commercial tomato growing to-
crop production and more energy efficient the feed recipe. During the cultivation, the day and tomorrow.” Circle 24 on enquiry card

Healthy Hydroponics InnoTech and SGS Crop
Science Canada Announce Strategic Partnership

Healthy(Hydroponics(and(SGS(Crop(Sci4 As part of this collaboration, SGS will now provide Healthy Hydro-
ence(are(excited(to(announce(a(new(part4 ponics services to its clients, including the innovative Fungal Com-
nership(that(promises(to(bring(innovative( plete Scan. This test allows growers to detect and measure up to 400
crop( protection( services( to( greenhouse( di!erent fungal pathogens, giving them a clear picture of what’s
growers.( By( combining( their( expertise( happening in their systems. Additionally, SGS will o!er Healthy Hy-
and(advanced(technologies,(the(two(com4 droponics’ Pathogen+ and Pathogen Mini services, expanding the
panies( are( working( together( to( provide( options available to growers. Healthy Hydroponics will now also o!er
comprehensive(testing(solutions(that(will( SGS testing solutions to their clients to ensure they have the full pic-
EHQH¿W JURZHUV DJURFKHPLFDO FRPSD4 ture of how di!erent factors a!ect yield, disease risk, and much more
nies,( propagators,( and( other( key( stake4 in the greenhouse.
holders(in(the(agricultural(industry. By staying ahead of rapid advances in genomic technologies, SGS
Healthy Hydroponics InnoTech provides advanced pathogen track- and Healthy Hydroponics are positioned at the forefront of agricul-
ing services through its online portal, allowing growers to detect and tural innovation. Together, they aim to make these powerful tools
monitor a wide range of pathogens, even before symptoms appear. and strategies accessible to growers across the globe, helping to pro-
This early detection system o!ers crucial insights into disease risk, mote more sustainable farming practices.
empowering growers to take preventative measures. SGS, a global Tanya Irani, CEO – Healthy Hydroponics InnoTech
leader in inspection, veri#cation, testing, and certi#cation, brings
decades of experience delivering advanced agricultural testing solu- “We are tremendously excited to join forces with the excellent
tions through its Crop Science arm. With a worldwide presence, SGS team at SGS Crop Science so that together we can deliver a wide
is committed to ensuring the safety and quality of products across range of solutions across the agriculture sector.”
industries, including agriculture. Together, the two laboratories plan Jason Carrier, Business Development Manager – SGS Crop Science
to expand their o!erings by introducing their own advanced testing
methods to growers in the CEA space. “The collaboration between SGS Crop Science and Healthy Hy-
droponics holds signi#cant promise. Establishing a unique, inte-
This partnership is driven by a shared goal: o!ering the most re- grated o!ering for the growing hydroponics industry, combining
liable, science-backed solutions to help growers protect their crops cutting-edge microbiological insights with advanced agronomic
and increase sustainability. Both laboratories are located in close services. Together, we will be able to address the growing need for
proximity and are driven by the desire to help growers identify and sustainable and precise farming methods, making this collabora-
implement sustainable agricultural practices through the re#nement tion bene#cial for both parties and the broader agriculture com-
of agricultural inputs. munity as a whole.” Circle 25 on enquiry card
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