Royal Philips in partnership with Green Sense Farms (GSF) is developing indoor commercial farms using LED grow lights tailored for specific crops.
The LED farming technology allows them to harvest 20-25 times a year by using ‘light recipes’ optimized for their produce, using 85 percent less energy, the company said.
These innovations will help plants grow without sunlight in indoor environments close to or within cities. The technology is based on the principle that plants use certain wavelengths of light more efficiently and respond in a different way to different sets of wavelengths.
Philips, which has been active in horticultural lighting since 1936, working with universities, research institutes and plant growers, has enabled the fine tuning of tailor-made light recipes optimized to the needs of specific crops.
Also, because LEDs run at cooler temperatures they can be placed closer to the plants and optimally positioned, ensuring complete uniform illumination of the plant.
GSF has invested millions of dollars to renovate and equip a million cubic foot indoor growing area consisting of fourteen 25 foot tall growing towers in two climate-controlled grow rooms, which use Philips energy-efficient LED solutions tailored to their specific crops.
The method also eliminates the need for harmful pesticides, fertilizers or preservatives, resulting in produce that is organically grown and virtually chemical free, GE said.
GSF’s vision is to build farms at institutions, such as college campuses, hospital complexes and military bases that can serve large worker populations, reducing the miles their food travels and improving freshness.