The first big hybrid lighting project in Holland is currently being installed in Bergschenhoek at Jami VOF, a member of growers union Van Nature. On three hectares 2000 HID armatures as well as over 14,000 LED modules are being placed. From the end of October tomato grower Jami will light half its tomato cultivation with a hybrid lighting system by Philips. "We believe in this lighting so firmly that Van Nature and ourselves have complete trust in this investment. We believe that this system is the future and will contribute to the efficiency of our company," says Michel Zwinkels.
From left to right: Peter Hendrix of Lights Interaction Agro, Koos de Wit of Philips Lighting, Arjan de Jong, Andy de Jong and Michel Zwinkels of Jami VOF.
Van Nature has wanted to have all year round tomato production for a while, and the entrepreneurs behind Jami had the same wish. Together they looked for a new innovative way to make this possible. Through Eef Zwinkels of B-E De Lier, Van Nature and Jami found out about the hybrid system with which Jami will now light the tomatoes. Lights Interaction Agro is the party who supplies the full hybrid system. Both companies are certified as official Philips Horti Partners. Boekestijn Elektrotechniek from De Lier installs the hybrid lighting system. This system consists of a combination of Philips GreenPower Plus 1000W top lighting (HID) and Philips GreenPower LED interlighting: apart from the double row of LED modules which are placed between the crops, the grower lights the tomatoes from above as well with HID or SON-T lamps. For the plant as well as the eventual company result this combination is ideal. This way the temperature is kept level in the winter months and optimal tomato production is reached in every season. Jami expects to harvest the first lighted tomatoes just after Christmas, of the variety Komeett, a variety which has been grown for four years.
Jami is a member of Van Nature's growers union. The growers union holds sustainability in high regard. Van Nature and Jami followed the tests running at the Improvement Centre in Bleiswijk with a lot of interest. For a number of years tomatoes of the same variety as Jami's, have been grown with LED between-lighting here. The results of previous tests and the reproducible successes of Philips' LED interlighting were so convincing for Van Nature and Jami that they felt the time was right to step in.
Jami is an innovative business that is always looking for ways to optimise the operations. The company is lead by three associates; Michel Zwinkels and the brothers Andy and Arjan de Jong. Michel Zwinkels of Jami: "We are always busy optimising the cultivation and our business and making them more sustainable. Philip's LED solution fit these goals perfectly. The product quality also increases with a higher light intensity in the winter." The hybrid system has proven to be able to increase production with efficient light absorption in tests. With LED you have around 1.46 times more efficiency than with HID. This gives the plant better growing conditions, especially in the winter months." Another reason we're very enthusiastic, is the energy efficiency of the system. The hybrid system by Philips is the perfect solution for us," according to Michel Zwinkels.
Philips is involved in the project as a supplier, but also as an advisor. Van Nature and Jami received full support on advice about the light plan, the installation of the modules and an extensive risk analysis of the investment.
For more information visit: www.philips.com/horti
Jami is an innovative business that is always looking for ways to optimise the operations. The company is lead by three associates; Michel Zwinkels and the brothers Andy and Arjan de Jong. Michel Zwinkels of Jami: "We are always busy optimising the cultivation and our business and making them more sustainable. Philip's LED solution fit these goals perfectly. The product quality also increases with a higher light intensity in the winter." The hybrid system has proven to be able to increase production with efficient light absorption in tests. With LED you have around 1.46 times more efficiency than with HID. This gives the plant better growing conditions, especially in the winter months." Another reason we're very enthusiastic, is the energy efficiency of the system. The hybrid system by Philips is the perfect solution for us," according to Michel Zwinkels.
Philips is involved in the project as a supplier, but also as an advisor. Van Nature and Jami received full support on advice about the light plan, the installation of the modules and an extensive risk analysis of the investment.
For more information visit: www.philips.com/horti