Hoogendoorn Growth Management and Saint-Gobain Cultilene have launched Connected Irrigation, a unique add-on to Hoogendoorn's smart IIVO irrigation module, at GreenTech 2023. The new software takes the properties of substrates into account, enabling a just-in-time supply of natural resources and ensuring sustainable crop production.
The proliferation of new technologies such as sensors, ventilation units, and new types of screens entering the growing environment can change the energy balance in the crop. One of the biggest changes currently affecting growers is the switch from HPS artificial lighting to LED lighting. Plants receive 40 percent more heat from HPS lighting than from LED. As plants transpire less under LED, they take up less water and nutrients.
Recognizing how even one such change can impact all the others, Hoogendoorn and Cultilene have together developed a tool that will better support growers by providing a rapid overview of evapotranspiration levels in the crop and calculating water and nutrient levels to reflect these changes.
Following the principles of Plant Empowerment, Connected Irrigation delivers customized irrigation by taking the properties of Cultilene's high-quality substrates into account and its advisory values on the pF curve, substrate volume, and dry-back time into the process computer. The software reduces water, nutrient, and energy use while preventing plant stress and benefiting the root environment.
Remy Maat, Manager Application at Cultilene: "By combining our substrate expertise with Hoogendoorn's outstanding process automation technology, we have produced a unique evapotranspiration-based irrigation software application that will benefit growers worldwide. Its ability to improve water use efficiency will lead to healthier, more resilient root systems and, therefore, better quality plants, responding to the need to grow more healthy food while using less natural resources. I encourage you all to learn more about Irrigation for Success: evaporative energy as a solution by attending our inspiring presentation on this topic on the vision stage at GreenTech Amsterdam on Wednesday, June 14, from 13:45 - 14:30."
Martin Helmich, CCO at Hoogendoorn Growth Management: "Collaboration between supply chain partners is essential to feed a growing world population in a sustainable way. Hoogendoorn's long track record in process automation solutions and Cultilene's expertise in smart water and root zone management combine the best of both worlds for the grower, enabling them to get the most out of their crop and achieve more sustainable production."
Hoogendoorn Growth Management is one of the world's leading innovators in horticultural automation, with more than 50 years of experience. While our history is deeply rooted in the Netherlands, Hoogendoorn operates internationally in more than 100 countries. Hoogendoorn has developed many of the systems that are now considered industry standards, including IIVO and iSii. Our goal is to excel not only in technology but also in customer support and training. We work with growers in every climate zone with the most diverse crops to create an efficient and sustainable future for horticulture. Our relationship with our customers is at the forefront of our operations every single time.
Cultilene, part of the multinational Saint-Gobain, has been a world-leading supplier of growing media and substrate solutions for the worldwide horticultural industry for more than 40 years. Through its innovative products, in-depth expertise, and technical support, Cultilene enables growers to maximize plant growth with as little water and energy as possible. Its focus on smart water and root zone management contributes to sustainable food production and helps provide access to fresh and healthy food for a growing world population. Cultilene is based in Rijen, the Netherlands, and has a distribution network spanning more than 50 countries.
Hoogendoorn Growth Management