As the CSU representative and host of the event, Dr. Steve Newman, Ph.D., Greenhouse Crops Extension Specialist and Professor of Floriculture, said, “our recent R&D collaboration with Philips Lighting enables us to use new LED technology to focus our research and cultivation studies. We’re proud of the work we are doing here at CSU and excited about the potential it offers horticulture students and the horticulture industry.”
Dr. Erik Runkle of Michigan State University added, “The research summit provided an excellent opportunity for leading researchers and growers to share their experiences with LED lighting on a wide range of crops. The ability to discuss many of the opportunities (and constraints) helped provide directions for future LED research to move the implementation of this technology forward.”
The Research Summit kicked off with an evening reception and tour of Colorado State University’s new Horticulture Research Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, which opened in 2015. The $7.5 million facility is outfitted entirely with Philips Horticulture LED lighting including Philips GreenPower LED Toplighting, Flowering Lamps, Interlighting and Production Modules.
During the one and a half day event, the attending researchers shared highlights from their recent research projects focused on various applications with LED technology. They also discussed the potential of both current and emerging applications of LED lighting in agriculture. Presentations were made by Dr. Erik Runkle, Michigan State University; Dr. Bruce Bugbee, Utah State University; Dr. Ricardo Hernandez, North Carolina State University; Dr. Paul Karlovich, C. Raker’s & Sons; Dr. Wim van Ieperen, Wageningen University; Travis Higginbotham, Battlefield Farms; and Dr. Bill Bauerle, Colorado State University.
Several other presentations investigated:
• The use of LED technology in supplemental lighting and the impact on chemical plant growth regulators
• The photoperiodic response of plants to LEDs
• The use of LEDs as sole-source lighting in plug propagation
• Growing hops in a greenhouse under LEDs
A question and answer session and open discussion followed each presentation.
“The ability to beneficially change plant shape with unique light spectra has now made LEDs a cost-effective option for several crops in commercial greenhouse applications”, said Utah State University’s, Dr. Bruce Bugbee. Dr. Bugbee’s presentation examined LED’s commercial application value in his presentation: “Six Considerations for Determining the Value of LEDs”.
Travis Higginbotham, Research & Development Manager at Battlefield Farms, said, “LEDs have the potential to revolutionize our approach to growing, as we attempt to satisfy an environmentally concerned consumer. LEDs can be a tool to reduce our environmental impact through energy savings, and improve plant growth efficiency.”
Regarding the Research Summit, Ron DeKok, Business Development Director of Philips Lighting, said, “It’s important that we comprehend the knowledge and expertise of this group to learn and gain a better understanding of what they see as the challenges and applications for growers as the adoption of LEDs increases across a broad range of growing environments.”
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