Reduce energy consumption
while improving crop quality
The current record-breaking energy prices are having a major impact on high-tech horticulture. Many growers will need to make considerable energy savings in order for their business to survive the coming winter. This cost pressure is causing companies to look for creative solutions. Some growers have decided to leave their greenhouses empty this season, while others are reducing the amount of artificial lighting they provide to their crops, or leaving the lights off altogether.
The Plant Empowerment principles have been helping growers to take an integrated approach to cultivation for several years now. This data-driven growing method, which focuses on aligning all the crop balances, lead to higher yields and better quality while also ensuring that inputs such as water, nutrients and – especially important in the current times – energy are used more efficiently.
The success of this integrated approach has been demonstrated in various real-life projects worldwide by a multidisciplinary team of Plant Empowerment implementation partners. They have gained valuable insights into how screening and air movement can help to optimize the climate, for example, and how artificial lighting can contribute to a healthier root zone. In some cases, energy savings of up to 30% have been achieved.
