Over the past year, horticultural lighting has changed significantly, with growers, researchers, and technology suppliers pushing the boundaries of what LEDs and intelligent controls can deliver. From tackling moisture management challenges during high-intensity winter lighting to the rise of AI-driven and wireless systems that fine-tune spectra and power use in real time, the industry has accelerated toward smarter, more efficient, and more adaptive solutions.

Players like RED Horticulture, Heliospectra, P.L. Light Systems, Sollum Technologies, Cosmicnode, Philips, and Signify have marked milestones, entered partnerships, and introduced innovations that highlight a sector shifting quickly from simple illumination to fully integrated, data-led cultivation strategies.

"Dynamic lighting is transforming greenhouse operations, offering precision, efficiency, and adaptability," says François R.-Moisan, Co-founder and CTO with Sollum Technologies. "However, many lighting solutions struggle with power management, leading to flickering lights, overloaded circuits, frequent breaker trips, and costly maintenance. The key to successful dynamic lighting lies in an intelligent system that adapts seamlessly while keeping plant growth the top priority." Sollum addresses these issues with its AI-driven dynamic LED system.

Growing consultant Willem Valstar of StarGrow Consultancy was not complaining about the weather on Wednesday afternoon. That is simply because he was in Portugal for a while, for consultancy work. In the Netherlands, it's a different kettle of fish. "Dealing with moisture is what it's all about for lighting growers now," he points out. "And making sure you keep crops productive."

The lit crops are halfway there. Some growers combine LED lighting with dehumidification technology. Others work with just LED, trying to rid their greenhouses of moisture without new techniques. "Under 300 micromol LED, you have quite a bit of moisture," the crop consultant signals. "Dehumidification techniques solve part of it, but from what I see with the current systems, not all of it yet."

RED Horticulture launched its first smart LED lighting solution in collaboration with AI and data experts. "In those early days, AI was still in its infancy," she laughs. "But through rigorous testing at various locations, they developed a lighting system that could be controlled by artificial intelligence." The company's breakthrough was the development of smart LED lights that could be adjusted for different plant growth stages, ultimately leading to improved yields.

Heliospectra AB is marking the 10th anniversary of its helioCORE control system, and 15 years as a dynamic lighting supplier. Founded in 2006 as a research-focused company, Heliospectra brings almost two decades of expertise in utilizing, designing, and producing smart LED lighting and control systems.

P.L. Light Systems products are designed and engineered based on their understanding of their customers' needs and the daily challenges they face in their operations. Their most recent innovations—the multi-channel ParFX™ Ultra Max LED luminaires and MeshIQ wireless control system, are no exception.

© Philips Lighting B.V.

Remember how it was? Growing with Son-T in the days before LED lights existed. It seems like ages ago. In 2007, the brothers Van der Kaaij of Redstar signed the contract for the first LED installation at the Hortifair. For three days, this news buzzed about the Amsterdam exhibition floor as the LED revolution announced itself. By now we are familiar with LED, and can truly speak of an LED revolution. And that revolution has unfolded in just a few years. Expectations were high. Are cultivation results under LED living up to those expectations at the time? Agrolux and Signify comment.

Cosmicnode, based at High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, is well known for its expertise in wireless control solutions. In horticulture, its technology is already in use across numerous large-scale LED lighting projects. Many growers who adjust the spectrum or dim their LEDs to optimize plant growth may already be benefiting from Cosmicnode's solutions.

"We have more experience with wireless LED lighting control in horticulture than anyone else, but our name hasn't always been in the spotlight," says Sharan Avati. For the first several years, the company worked exclusively with an LED supplier before expanding its reach.

© Philips Lighting B.V.

Adapting to the increased light intensity and unique heat output of LEDs requires a thorough understanding of how these factors affect plant growth and development.

Since the introduction of LED lighting, plant specialists at Philips have been looking at the entire cultivation system and working towards a holistic approach. Together with their partners, they are exploring the possibility of varying the amount of light per daypart/hour, with the aim of maximizing savings on LED light use while improving crop quality.

© Gourma

Gourma's previous lighting system was replaced with Sollum's dynamic LED fixtures, managed via Sollum's exclusive cloud-based platform, SUN as a Service®, which is fully integrated with the greenhouse's control systems. This solution allows Gourma to simultaneously manage different lighting strategies and easily program production zones to meet the requirements of its various herb varieties.

© Signify

Signify has partnered with Genson Group to install a new full LED lighting system, enabling the grower to grow strawberries year-round in a more sustainable way. Genson now benefits from a range of light recipes tailored specifically to the needs of their crops, while also providing a pleasant working environment.