"Only by continuously measuring plant feedback can you truly optimize"

Following the success of the first LED optimization trial at Duijvestijn Tomaten in Pijnacker, the partners Duijvestijn, Ledgnd, and Gavita International have begun a second research phase focused on advancing data-driven cultivation under LED lighting. The new trial officially started in early October, with results from the initial phase presented to an international audience during GreenTech in June.

The project builds on insights from the first trial, which demonstrated that LED lighting in greenhouses requires a holistic approach. "LED is not a plug-and-play solution," said Kees Weerheim, Senior Plant Physiologist at Ledgnd. "It requires different cultivation decisions; you are not just changing the lighting, but the entire microclimate."

© Duijvestijn Tomaten

During the first phase, Duijvestijn studied how tomato crops responded to the transition to LED lighting. By measuring plant feedback indicators such as fluorescence and transpiration and linking them to climate settings, the team identified where performance gains or limitations occurred. According to Weerheim, data from Ledgnd's MyLedgnd platform revealed significant variability in photosynthesis even under identical light conditions.

"Two days with the same Daily Light Integral (DLI) could show up to a 50% difference in photosynthesis purely due to a different ventilation strategy," he explained. "The data exposed irregularities days before they became visible to the naked eye. The MyScore graph showed that even a small adjustment in the RTR strategy could increase assimilate consumption but reduce production. Plants can fall out of balance faster than you think. Only by continuously measuring plant feedback can you truly optimize."

The second trial aims to further improve Light Use Efficiency (LUE) by refining lighting, heating, and air circulation strategies. "We are investigating how lighting strategies, pipe heating, and air circulation affect crop activity and head temperature—crucial factors for growth rate and plant balance," said Kim Oosterom, Project Manager at Duijvestijn. "We will also examine how to optimize dehumidification during the winter period. Two tomato varieties will be continuously monitored throughout the trial."

For Ledgnd, the project highlights how data can directly inform cultivation practices. "This collaboration shows the real-world power of data," said Maarten van Bemmel, Co-founder of Ledgnd. "It began with a sharp question from Gavita International: What does our lighting actually do in tomatoes at Duijvestijn? By collecting plant and microclimate data through cameras and sensors, and integrating everything into MyLedgnd, we translate data directly into cultivation actions. Thanks to Duijvestijn's pioneering approach, we are demonstrating how data creates real impact inside the greenhouse."

Talitha Timmerman, Global Sales Director at Gavita International, emphasized the partnership's practical and sustainable focus. "Efficiency and a hands-on approach are the key to our collaboration," she said. "Duijvestijn is a leading and sustainable tomato grower and our first Agrolux Wega Full LED customer. Tomatoes are our largest illuminated crop worldwide, so further research into optimization directly supports sustainable growth. Together with the inspiring team at Ledgnd, we are taking the step toward a data-driven approach where knowledge sharing is just as important as innovation."