'UV crop protection without expensive robots'

For that reason, Peter van der Avoird from www.trayplant.nl  in The Netherlands, chose in 2022  to start working with UV from CleanLight.

Peter: “I was familiar with moving CleanLight systems such as CleanLight modules on “over-crop trolleys” and on “UV Robots” and I knew from colleagues that they were satisfied with the control of diseases, the beautiful effects on crop vitality and the safety of this technology for beneficial insects.  We have also gained experience with CleanLight on moving systems and they work fine indeed.”

Peter continues: “However, I was looking for a solution for our demo greenhouse. There is no boom system and no robot to drive the CleanLights in our demo greenhouse. Arjo van der Sluis from CleanLight then made us an offer for a “CleanLight Fixed” system. They made a lighting plan for our greenhouse, supplied a system and guided us in implementing the system for our crops. In short, the system consists of small low dosage CleanLight modules that are mounted in the roof of the greenhouse.”

Arjo van der Sluis of CleanLight  explains: “We have to plan these types of systems very carefully to ensure that the dosage is as uniform as possible throughout the greenhouse; too much or too little UV in a corner of the greenhouse is not desirable”. Peter: “In addition, I wanted careful measurements to be taken to confirm that the amount of UV is safe for humans, crops and biology”

Now in 2024, two years later, Peter draws the following conclusions:

1) This fixed system makes it possible to work with minimal other resources: The UV system reduces the disease pressure in the greenhouse so well that intervention with traditional resources is used only sporadically.

2) Our crop looks better after introducing this system. We think there are three reasons for this:

A) We spray much less chemicals  on the plants which is a bonus for plant quality.

B) The system provides our plant with much needed beneficial UV light every day for increased crop vitality.

C) The natural wax layer on the leaf appears thicker, which also protects the plant better against pests.

4) This system saves us a lot of work:  It operates on a simple timer going on and off automatically. We now need much less time for mixing and spraying chemical crop protection.

Arjo van der Sluis emphasizes that CleanLight was founded in 2005 and now works with growers in over 40 countries and has supplied similar #CleanLightFixed systems in several other European countries, with comparable results.

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