Page 14 - AWA Vol.41-No.3

HORTICULTURE

Sollum Technologies and Leaficient introduce
the first plan-responsive dynamic LED lighting solution

ollum Technologies and Lea-
Sficient are pioneering a break-
through technology that redefines how
LED lighting adapts to plant growth.
Today’s traditional lighting strate-
gies rely on Daily Light Integral (DLI)
as the primary metric for optimizing
plant growth, based on the premise
that plants absorb and use light with
the same efficiency throughout the
day and at all growth stages. However,
recent research has shown that plant
productivity can change significantly
based on a myriad of factors relating
to the environment, resources provid-
ed and internal biological processes.
In response, Sollum and Leaficient
are collaborating to develop the first
closed-loop, plant-adaptive dynamic
lighting system, which adjusts lighting
in real time based on plant productiv-
ity and growth rates.
“Today’s lighting strategies are out-
dated because they don’t take into
account the actual efficiency of light
absorption by plants,” said François
R-Moisan, CTO and co-founder of Sol-
lum Technologies. “Growers are often
paying for photons that plants are not
using effectively. By integrating Lea-
ficient’s real-time plant measurement
technology with our dynamic LED
lighting solution, we can now ensure
that every photon is maximally uti-
lized—boosting yields while reducing
energy costs.”
Caption 1: Leaficient uses hyperspec-
tral imaging to analyze plant surfaces timize lighting, reducing costs while Industry disruption with real-
and measure biological processes be- ensuring quality and yield. world impact
yond what color cameras can detect.
“The future of horticultural lighting For greenhouse and vertical farm op-
A new era in dynamic lighting isn’t just about delivering more light— erators, this innovation offers a com-
The combined Sollum-Leaficient so- it’s about delivering the right light at pelling alternative to legacy lighting
lution leverages Leaficient’s cutting- the right time,” said Brian Stancil, co- strategies that often rely on static
edge plant monitoring technology to founder and CEO of Leaficient. “By fo- schedules and overcompensate with
measure photosynthetic efficiency cusing on real-time plant productivity excessive energy consumption. In-
and adjust light intensity accordingly. rather than static lighting schedules, stead, Sollum and Leaficient offer an
This closed-loop approach ensures we’re not just improving efficiency— intelligent lighting system that adapts
that plants receive the exact amount we’re transforming how growers man- to the biological rhythms of crops to
of light they need, precisely when age their crops.” This groundbreaking ensure optimal performance at every
they need it, eliminating unnecessary collaboration between Sollum and stage of development. Beyond opti-
mizing lighting efficiency, this break-
energy costs and optimizing growth Leaficient marks a paradigm shift in through will enable precise control
conditions for any crop varieties. controlled environment agriculture over crop development—triggering
Caption 2: Plants use light differently with the first plant-aware dynamic fruiting and flowering at optimal times
throughout the day and growth stages. lighting solution that maximizes both or even enhancing specific nutrient
Measuring these changes helps op- yield and sustainability. and flavor profiles. Circle 16 on enquiry card
12 Vol. 41 No. 3