Following the success of the first LED optimisation trial at Duijvestijn Tomaten in Pijnacker, Duijvestijn, Ledgnd and Gavita International are launching a second research phase to be conducted over the coming year. The results of the initial trial were presented to an exclusive international audience during GreenTech in June. The new trial officially started in early October.
“LED is not a plug-and-play solution,” emphasises Kees Weerheim, Senior Plant Physiologist at Ledgnd. “It requires different cultivation decisions; you are not just changing the lighting, but the entire microclimate.”
Kim Oosterom, Project Manager at Duijvestijn, adds: “In this second trial we aim to further improve Light Use Efficiency (LUE). We are investigating how lighting strategies, pipe heating and air circulation affect crop activity and head temperature, crucial factors for growth rate and plant balance. We will also examine how to optimize dehumidification during the winter period. Two varieties will be continuously monitored throughout the trial.”
According to Maarten van Bemmel, Co-founder of Ledgnd, this collaboration demonstrates the real-world power of data: “This project has been running for nearly three years and shows how effectively a grower, lighting supplier and data platform can work together. It all began with a sharp question from Gavita International: What does our lighting actually do in tomatoes at Duijvestijn?
By collecting data from plants and the microclimate using cameras and sensors, and integrating everything into MyLedgnd, we translate data directly into concrete cultivation actions. That’s from data to practice. Thanks to Duijvestijn’s pioneering spirit as an early adopter, we are showing how data makes an impact where it truly matters: inside the greenhouse.”
Talitha Timmerman, Global Sales Director Gavita International “Efficiency and a hands-on approach are the key to our collaboration.” Duijvestijn is a leading and sustainable tomato grower and our first Agrolux Wega Full LED customer. We are proud of that. Tomatoes are our largest illuminated crop worldwide, so further research into optimization will contribute directly to sustainable growth. “With the inspiring team of Ledgnd, we are now taking the step towards a data-driven approach in which knowledge sharing is just as important as innovation.”
The partnership between Duijvestijn Tomaten, Ledgnd and Gavita International focuses on refining lighting strategies using plant feedback and climate data. By continuously monitoring both plant and environmental parameters, the parties aim to achieve maximum energy efficiency, crop balance and production results; marking another step forward in sustainable greenhouse cultivation.
