Mid-year highlights based on full LEDs, precision irrigation and active air dehumidification: 

• Philips toplighting combined with interlighting is expected to result in a 5–7% uplift in yield.  
• A low-nitrate approach helps steer the crop toward a more generative growth habit.  
• Optimising the potassium-to-nitrate balance could help reduce blotchy ripening (green spots). 
• Additional energy savings are being achieved by refining screening, heating and lighting settings.

Additional energy savings through climate screens, heating and lighting 

Over the two previous full-LED trials, the research team showed that greenhouse heat input can be cut by more than 50%. This season, energy use is still being kept under control by continuing with the proven approach: active dehumidification, intensive use of climate screens, and reduced dependence on pipe-rail heating.  

A central part of this energy-saving strategy is keeping Ridder’s climate screens closed for extended periods. The energy screens stay shut for almost 24 hours a day, while the blackout screens are opened for roughly five to six hours daily. This timing is intended to mirror commercial practice and reflects observations that leaving blackout screens closed for too long can have a negative effect on flower quality. 

The screening strategy has been fine-tuned further using Wireless Value net radiation measurements and other Wireless Value sensor data that is integrated into the Ridder Hortimax Pro climate computer. Together, these inputs provide real-time visibility of radiation leaving the greenhouse. When radiation losses become too high, the screens are closed earlier than normal. This helps prevent the crop heads from becoming too cold, supporting production while also delivering additional energy savings.  

In greenhouse sections that include interlighting, toplighting is set to 247 µmol/m²/s instead of the standard 350 µmol/m²/s. This change results in a further 1.5% reduction in energy consumption. Although 1.5% may sound modest, it can meaningfully affect overall cultivation costs, particularly because LED lighting accounts for about 65% of total energy input.

Current setup of the Botany trial 

The trial is being conducted at Botany using Ridder’s Hortimax Pro climate computer and climate screens, Wireless Value sensors, Grodan stone wool growing media, Philips LED Solutions toplighting and interlighting, and cultivation input on fertilization and water strategy from Normec Groen Agro Control. Axia joined the group of research partners as the breeder and seed supplier.  

Through this trial, Ridder and the other partners aim to gain fresh insights into how technology, data and cultivation expertise can be combined to support more energy-efficient and future-ready tomato production.  

For more information about this trial, you can reach out to Jorge Gonzalez, Product Manager, at j.gonzalez@ridder.com or read more about the mid-year results on Grodan’s website.