Enabling

cutting-edge cultivation

Borst Bloembollen’s owner, Jos Borst, is no stranger to innovation. Voted the 2012 Agricultural Entrepreneur of the Year, he is always looking to grow his business. When he expanded his greenhouse in 2011, he planned a two-layer cultivation system. The problem was that the bottom layer – almost 40% of the plants– would receive no sunlight. Although tulips still grow from the nutrition received by the bulb, Borst saw this as a problem.

LED was the solution. After consulting with Philips and installer Van der Laan, Borst decided to use Philips GreenPower LED production modules in deep red and white. The young tulips are placed on containers that move on a fixed route throughout the greenhouse over seven to ten days. Smaller shoots need less light, so the plants move through increasing brightness, from 14 to 27 micromoles.

Thanks to this clever idea, powered by the LED flowering lights, Borst has optimized the growing process. The LEDs make it possible to achieve a low uniform light level even when the plants are close together. And what’s more, the system releases less C02 than traditional lighting would.

Borst Bloembollen will quickly recoup the investment cost, thanks to the energy savings of 60% provided by the LED lights.