Contracts have been exchanged in a major investment first for horticultural research in the UK, described by industry veteran Graham Ward as “the most significant advance in my lifetime in the industry”.
The Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC)’s chief executive was speaking as STC, CambridgeHOK and Philips Lighting inked a deal last week that will see the LED 4 Crops applied research and knowledge transfer facility for LED lighting operating by May.
He added: “This is the first investment made for horticultural research facilities since the withdrawal of most UK government funding for such capital projects.”
LED 4 CROPS will have mobile racks for multi-tiered crop production fitted with Philips Lighting LED lights, to enable light spectrum adjustment and flexibility, for growing a range of low level crops such as herbs, leafy salads, flowers, strawberries and plants in propagation. GreenPower Research Module lights for full spectral modification as well as GreenPower Production Modules will allow scientists to tackle a wide range of investigations and demonstrations. There is a similar sized glasshouse alongside for comparison trialling.
Ward added: “I am very grateful for support and commitment of the STC Research Foundation trustees in funding this, so that scientists can work with growers to tackle issues around their future economic viability and food security and climate change challenges.”
Philips Lighting has five years experience with over 100 projects completed investigating the effects of LEDs on a range of crops.
The company’s Erik Jansen said: “We are very excited to have a base in the UK to which we can bring our increasing knowledge of horticultural spectral requirements. LED 4 Crops will build further to this and enable rapid transfer of knowledge to UK growers.”
CambridgeHOK is the certified UK partner for Philips Lighting and is building and monitoring the installation and control equipment for the LED lights. Tim Haworth, general manager at the company said: “We at CambridgeHOK are very excited to be involved in this project as we truly believe that LEDs will become another significant tool in the grower armoury. For the first time we have the ability to offer growers practical technical solutions that have a direct impact on plant physiology, in ways that can be monitored and measured. The joint relationship in the project of STC, Philips and CambridgeHOK shows what can be possible without massive funds from government bodies.”
Dr Martin McPherson will manage the science and Michael Langdale the growing operations at STC. The work in the unit will be kick-started by a research fellow funded by the Horticultural Fellowship Fund. The fellow will work within a project involving Lancaster University, STC and the Farm Energy Centre. The industry will have an agronomic lighting expert, working with it from the LED 4 Crops base, within two years.
McPherson said: “LED technology is advancing rapidly and offers a novel solution for sustainable intensification for horticultural production, as well as the possibility of creating a step change towards urban farming.”
Philips Lighting and CambridgeHOK have also made a foundation award to STC enable growing staff to gain the essential skills to manage the plants in the trial projects as the unit develops.
