Key Takeaways
- Grodan and Fluence have partnered for a trial focused on high-tech strawberry cultivation.
- The trial aims to redefine best practices in cultivating high-tech, everbearing strawberries.
- Wageningen University & Research researchers will evaluate the strawberries’ growth, yield, and quality.
- The trial will explore using stone wool growing media and LED lighting technology.
- The partnership aims to provide data-driven insights to benefit both growers and consumers.
Grodan and Fluence, two leaders in the horticultural industry, have announced a collaborative trial aimed at revolutionizing year-round, high-tech strawberry cultivation. The trial began in August and is being conducted at Wageningen University & Research in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. It evaluated strawberries’ growth, yield, and quality cultivated using stone wool growing media and advanced LED lighting technology.
Objectives and Methodology
The trial aims to optimize high-tech strawberry cultivation, which could have significant implications for both growers and consumers. Researchers will focus on the effect of EC (Electrical Conductivity) management on the growth, yield, and quality of the everbearing strawberry cultivar Favori. The plants used in the trial are propagated in stone wool growing media at different EC levels and are irrigated using an ebb flood system.
Expertise and Collaboration
Thomas Peters, Business Development Manager at Grodan, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “By leveraging our combined strengths in horticulture, we aim to uncover new methods that empower growers to grow high-quality strawberries more efficiently and sustainably.” Leo Lansbergen, a Fluence Horticulture Service Team member in EMEA, also emphasized the importance of LED lighting as an energy-saving solution for year-round crops.
Data-Driven Insights
The partnership aims to provide data-driven insights using GroSens sensors from Grodan. These insights will redefine how strawberries are irrigated and managed. Various agronomic treatments, including lighting, irrigation, and climate management strategies, will be investigated during the trial.
Future Plans
The trial results will offer insights into optimum cultivation conditions and yield. A series of events are planned for 2023 and 2024 to share this knowledge with growers and stakeholders in the industry. Grodan and Fluence will post ongoing updates on this groundbreaking trial on their social media channels and corporate websites.
Image provided by Grodan
2 Comments