Collaboration on LED optimisation benefits tomatoes

Following the success of the first LED optimisation trial at Dutch grower Duijvestijn Tomaten in Pijnacker, Duijvestijn, along with Ledgnd and Gavita International is launching a second research phase to be carried out over the coming year. 

During the first trial, Duijvestijn examined how the tomato crop responded to a shift not only in the lighting but the whole microclimate. 

“LED is not a plug-and-play solution,” explained Kees Weerheim, senior plant physiologist at Ledgnd. “It requires different cultivation decisions; you are not just changing the lighting, but the entire microclimate.” 

Measurements of plant feedback, including fluorescence and transpiration, were linked to climate settings, showing where performance gains or limitations occurred. 

“In our data platform MyLedgnd, we observed that two days with the same Daily Light Integral (DLI) could show up to 50 per cent difference in photosynthesis, purely due to a different ventilation strategy,” Weerheim said. “The data revealed irregularities days before they became visible to the naked eye. The MyScore graph even showed that a small adjustment in the RTR strategy led to higher assimilated consumption but lower production. Plants can fall out of balance faster than you think. Only by continuously measuring plant feedback can you truly optimise.”

Kim Oosterom, project manager at Duijvestijn, added: “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 optimise dehumidification during the winter period. Two varieties will be continuously monitored throughout the trial.”

According to Maarten van Bemmel, co-founder of Ledgnd, the 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,” he said. “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 at Gavita International, commented: “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 optimisation 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.”