Genson grows high-quality winter strawberries with Philips Horticulture LED

The lighting system includes a recipe with far-red light, which is essential in winter to promote good cluster stretching in strawberry plants. Worker comfort was also a priority. Genson chose a light recipe that includes a specific percentage of white light, which improves visibility and helps workers assess fruit ripeness and quality more easily. The GreenPower LED toplighting force 2.0 is dynamically managed using a combination of the Philips GrowWise control system and Ridder climate control. These systems automatically adjust light intensity based on external sunlight, dimming on sunny days and supplementing light on cloudy ones.

Unlike traditional HPS lamps, LED lighting does not emit significant heat, which alters the greenhouse climate strategy. “We’ve had to adapt by using fans to manage humidity levels,” said Neeltje van Vaalen, Crop Specialist at Genson. “It’s a new way of farming—experimenting to find what works. Strawberries prefer a slightly cooler climate than tomatoes, for example.” The LED system helps achieve exactly that. Neeltje concluded that they are very pleased with the new system, as it is far more energy-efficient than HPS and enables them to grow more sustainably with an eye on the future.

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