Mathieu van de Sande, Senior Account Executive at LumiGrow
During the GreenTech 2014 conference in Amsterdam, we had a chance to sit down with Mathieu van de Sande. The Senior Account Executive at LumiGrow was able to give us an update on current developments at LumiGrow, a company that is rapidly expanding its European presence.
"Our company now has solid market share in our backyard, the North American greenhouse industry," Mathieu said. "Now our international customers are propelling us into the European market as well. We’ll succeed by offering LED solutions that distinguish themselves from the current offerings and that fulfill an unmet demand."
"LEDs: a powerful steering instrument"
One of the key features of the LumiGrow LED solution is the patented SmartPAR light management service, which enables a grower to automatically customize greenhouse lighting based on a variety of factors including region, climate, crop type and desired crop characteristics.
"Growers use our fixtures to steer their crops, whether they want to achieve vegetative growth or generative growth, you can steer everything with the system. In this way spectral control becomes a powerful instrument to achieve better quality, higher yields and outstanding production, instead of just a replacement for daylight or supplemental HPS lamps. It’s exciting to see the novel uses of LumiGrow lights. For example, growers are customizing the flavor of their produce and accelerating crop cycles.”
We already know that LEDs work, and can contribute to achieving energy-efficiency goals and better production outputs. There is no doubt about that. We now have to think one step ahead and use the LEDs in new ways. They are not merely replacements for HPS."
LumiGrow emphasizes the use of LEDs as a crop stimulant and guardian. Thanks to the SmartPAR service, a grower can save quality loss during difficult times, by just giving that little extra necessary boost to the crop. This is also how they approach the market, and they believe that the LEDs can be very beneficial, even for growers that are already achieving great results with conventional 1000 Watt HPS fixtures.
Mathieu van d Sande HortiDaily's booth during GreenTech Amsterdam
The Netherlands
LumiGrow systems are used by large and small greenhouse growers in North America. Many of their customers are growers who are familiar with Dutch horticulture and employ similar techniques. This is also the reason why LumiGrow is now looking overseas and is approaching the Dutch market; a scene that is not new to Van de Sande."The roots of my family lie in Dutch horticulture. When my father immigrated to the US nearly 20 years ago, he became the country’s first hydroponic cut flower consultant. He has extensive experience in greenhouse modernization and taught me a great deal. Additionally, I have worked for several Dutch horticultural companies. We understand the market and are familiar with the special needs of the growers."
LumiGrow is currently conducting LED-HPS hybrid trials with several European breeders and growers. "We start on a small scale with a few hundred lamps, but we aim at the top of the market, just like we have done in North America.
Our strategy was to to develop a top-notch system in the U.S, and now that we have the right spectra, fixtures, configurations, software and settings available, we are ready to enter the Dutch market, aiming at innovative growers in the industry."
Consultancy
Thanks to the extensive network of Mathieu's father Theo, LumiGrow is able to consult with growers on the use of LEDs in their crops. "My father has deep experience in many types of cultivation and is supporting us and our customers with additional feedback and consultancy. We recently hired two highly respected consultants in The Netherlands, which will further help us make our solutions available to Dutch growers. We welcome all inquiries, especially those from companies offering installation services. We’re excited to continue a tradition of innovation in the US and The Netherlands.”For more information
LumiGrow
Mathieu van de Sande
mathieu@lumigrow.com
www.lumigrow.com