In the second year of their joint low-energy tomato trial, Grodan and Signify together with other industry-leading partners (Ridder, BASF, Wireless Value, Normec Groen Agro Control, and Maurice Kassenbouw) have once again demonstrated that a holistic approach to cultivation can save more than 50% of the energy required for heating. This comprehensive approach to lighting, irrigation, nutrition, and climate management has proven that it is possible to produce high-quality tomatoes with significantly lower heat input.

The trial's success was driven by a number of key innovations, including the use of active dehumidification in combination with an optimized screening strategy. The team also achieved an extra energy saving of approximately 2% by using spectral dimming of LED lights, which equates to around €5,700 per hectare.

Key Takeaways from the Trial:

• Low-energy tomato cultivation is possible based on a holistic approach.
• The trial achieved a yield of 18.24 kg/m2, a Brix of 9.32, and an average fruit size of 12.20 g.
• Gas consumption was lowered by reducing the use of the rail pipe system.
• Precise control over the leaf area index (LAI) was achieved using low nitrate feeds.
• The dehumidification system supported very stable crop growth and development, resulting in extremely stable greenhouse climate conditions.
• Adjusted K, Mg, and Ca ratios in the feed recipe led to optimal nutrient uptake and Brix levels.

To learn more about the research findings and how a low-heat approach could benefit your own tomato cultivation, read the full white paper.