Roses spur new LED R&D initiative at Philips Lighting

Business news | June 15, 2016

By Rich Pell

Optoelectronics LEDlighting

At the rose breeding company in Kudelstaart one bay has now been fitted with a combination of HPS lamps (80 µmol/m²/s) and Philips GreenPower LED toplighting (80 µmol/m²/s), making a total of 160 µmol/m²/s average light intensity.

The red Avalanche+ breeding project, as the new initiative is called, will focus on the search for a new, special red rose, with the first commercial cultivars expected to appear on the market by the end of 2017, early 2018. The first cultivar in this program is currently being lit with a hybrid lighting installation, along with other varieties.

“For us it’s really useful to be working with an international breeder. For instance we can test the effect of technological developments on several crops and varieties. We mainly consider the increase in quality and yield to be important,” said Udo van Slooten, Managing Director Philips Horticulture LED Solutions in a company statement.

Rose growers are showing plenty of interest in Philips GreenPower toplighting. Last year rose nursery Wimceco and flower nursery Scheers in Belgium invested in LEDs to supplement their HPS installation. LEDs improve crop quality and production and give the option of using lighting on dark days in the spring and summer. The Dutch rose nursery Porta Nova specifically anticipates an improvement in quality in its trial. At the Delphy Improvement Centre in Bleiswijk research is being conducted into 100% LED lighting for roses.

Philips Horticulture LED Solutions: www.lighting.philips.com
Dümmen Orange: dummenorange.com/