Dutch LED firm Philips Lighting this week hosted 28 European agriculture ministers to its GrowWise centre at Eindhoven as part of a two-day visit to the Netherlands.
Organised by the Dutch EU presidency, the theme of the trip was ‘Food of the future – the future of food’, and saw ministers view the latest innovation and new technology in horticulture and other food sectors.
Philips’ GrowWise centre hosts research in vertical farming, with trials looking at ‘growth recipes’ on particular LED light levels that stimulate optimum growth in crops including lettuce, tomatoes and berries.
Dutch agriculture minister and president of the EU agriculture and fisheries council, Martijn van Dam, said that a shift to “climate smart agriculture and a circular economy is vital”, in order to feed a growing world population.
“I welcome all innovation and initiatives that can contribute to that,” he said.
