Cultivators has announced the official launch of the Leafy Hydroponics Consortium (LHC), an international, multi-year research initiative dedicated to advancing hydroponic greenhouse cultivation of leafy greens.
The consortium is organized and managed by Cultivators, together with the Proefstation voor de Groenteteelt (PSKW) in Belgium, where trial execution takes place at one of Europe's leading applied horticultural research centers.
The Leafy Hydroponics Consortium brings together key technology leaders, breeders, and system specialists, combining expertise across genetics, lighting, substrates, systems engineering, climate, irrigation, and crop protection. Its main partners include Rijk Zwaan, Enza Zaden, Hortiplan, Signify, Grodan, and Ellepot. Supporting partners include LetsGrow.com, Ammerlaan Construction, Svensson, Roam Technology, JB Groep, and Delgeco.
A unique research platform for hydroponic leafy crops
The Leafy Hydroponics Consortium was established to generate independent, high-quality research data that addresses the most pressing questions growers face worldwide. The program focuses on optimizing greenhouse hydroponic production systems for a wide range of leafy crops, from baby leaf and teen leaf lettuce to spinach, rucola, corn lettuce (veldsla), and full head lettuce types such as Little Gem, crunchy, and iceberg.
At the core of the consortium lies a flexible trial setup featuring multiple gutter systems, modular infrastructure, and advanced climate, lighting, irrigation, and data control, allowing researchers to simulate and compare real-world commercial growing scenarios. This enables systematic testing of crop performance, variety behavior, irrigation strategies, substrate selection, lighting spectra, photoperiod regimes, overall system design, as well as testing innovative products and technology.
Two-year research program with long-term vision
The consortium is structured as a two-year intensive research program, with the possibility of extension into a longer-term knowledge platform. In early 2026, the first cultivation trials have already started, focusing on direct seeding and sleeve-based gutter systems, while major compartment upgrades are underway to ensure the greenhouse environment meets the highest technological standards.
These infrastructure improvements aim to create one of the most advanced hydroponic leafy research compartments in Europe, ensuring precise climate control, lighting flexibility, irrigation accuracy, and comprehensive data collection. This high-tech setup will enable highly reliable results and practical recommendations for commercial growers.
From research to real-world impact
Beyond pure research, the consortium is designed as an open innovation and knowledge-sharing platform. Throughout the program, both internal and external events will be organized, including technical grower days, partner workshops, and international knowledge-sharing sessions.
Results and insights from the trials will be presented at major international industry events, including GreenTech Amsterdam and the Leafy Hydroponics Summit (June 2026). These events will provide a platform to share data-driven insights, best practices, and technological breakthroughs with growers, technology providers, and investors from around the world.
© Cultivators
Leading the global leafy green revolution
The primary mission of the Leafy Hydroponics Consortium is to collect actionable insights, stimulate innovation, and provide scientifically validated answers to the questions growers ask every day, about yield, quality, system reliability, and operational performance.
By uniting leading industry players and combining research with real-world application, the consortium aims to set new benchmarks for hydroponic leafy green production, supporting growers worldwide in building more resilient, efficient, and sustainable cultivation systems.
For more information:
Cultivators
[email protected]
cultivators.nl
