French tomato growers share expertise with 100% LED

Philips Lighting took a select group of leading global tomato growers, owners and consultants to visit three innovative French tomato growers with 100% LED installations during the fourth Philips High Wire Event. Philips Horticulture LED lighting is hosting the trips to the Kernoas greenhouse, with two seasons of experience growing with 100% LEDs, the Tomate Jouno greenhouse, specializing in year-round production of cherry tomatoes and Le Jardin de Rabelais, which grows vine and cherry tomatoes in its new Suprimair 3.4 ha greenhouse.

“This year we are traveling to France, known for its refined cuisine. Over 90% of tomatoes produced in France are sold locally and there has been a strong move towards winter production to satisfy consumer demand,” says Udo van Slooten, manager of Philips Horticulture LED lighting. “This event presents a unique opportunity for the tomato community to gain new insights into how 100% LED installations can improve high wire tomato production from three leading innovators in one of Europe’s biggest markets.”

As the first large-scale French tomato grower to move to 100% LED, Guillaume Kerjean, co-owner of the Kernoas greenhouse, will share results from two seasons of growing the Plaisance cultivar on 1.7 ha with 105 μmol LED toplighting and a double row of 110 μmol LED interlighting. Kerjean says, “Our goal was to expand production of consistent, high quality tomatoes all year round. We have realized all that and more. Our tomatoes are tastier, we have increased our lighting hours and have saved 40% in energy costs.”

The Tomate Jouno greenhouse, run by Christian Jouno, switched to growing year-round cherry and cocktail tomatoes exclusively in 2002 with HPS lights. To do this, it places young plants in between its generative crop twice a year, but the light required by the young plants is usually intercepted by the leaves of the generative plants. Jouno moved to LED interlighting and toplighting because it offered an energy efficient and sustainable way to increase winter production, without compromising on taste. By placing LED between the young plants they get a good start. The result is a shorter inter-node distance (from leaf to leaf) which results in a stronger plant.

Pascal Delahaye, founder and co-owner of Le Jardin de Rabelais, recently completed a 100% LED toplighting-only installation in their newly built 3.4 ha greenhouse. Delahaye says, “Our challenge is to grow more tomatoes in the winter. So we’re excited by the use of Philips Lighting’s horticultural LED lighting which is fundamental for our plans to increase the crop yield of fine vine tomatoes and cherry tomatoes by 10% within a year whilst upholding the taste and overall quality. We also see that the developments of new trusses is not affected by using LED toplighting only. All in all this will put us one step ahead of the competition.”

For more information:
Philips Lighting
www.philips.com