Key Takeaways:
- FOTONIQ focuses on making greenhouses more efficient, sustainable, and profitable to help meet the global food demand.
- The company developed a patented PAR+ coating, enhancing light diffusivity without compromising light intensity, aiming to increase crop yield and reduce energy costs.
- Investment from Navus Ventures and Icos Capital supports FOTONIQ’s cost-effective solution against traditional methods, intending to boost harvest size and profitability for growers.
- Following a successful investment round, FOTONIQ plans to expand its production and apply its technology to over 30 hectares this year, with ambitions for global market reach.
- The technology has been applied successfully on several hectares in the Westland region of the Netherlands, demonstrating its potential benefits.
Enhancing Greenhouse Operations:
FOTONIQ’s mission to innovate in the greenhouse sector is driven by the challenge of meeting increasing food demands efficiently. Eduard Meijer, Managing Director at Navus Ventures B.V., emphasized the complexity of greenhouse climate control, stating, “Various crop growing problems can be encountered when operating greenhouses. One of the key problems is how to create and maintain an ideal climate inside the greenhouse, which relies on factors such as the optimization of lighting and temperature. At Navus, we believe that FOTONIQ has found a straightforward and effective solution that helps to solve this problem.”
The PAR+ Breakthrough:
FOTONIQ’s response to the greenhouse climate challenge is the development of the PAR+ coating. This patented technology is designed to improve diffusivity throughout the year without a loss in grow light intensity, potentially revolutionizing greenhouse crop production. “FOTONIQ developed and patented a durable coating (PAR+) that brings year-round diffusivity inside the greenhouse without losing grow light intensity,” said Meijer, highlighting the balance between light management and climate control.
Strategic Advantages:
Peter van Gelderen, Managing Partner at Icos Capital, detailed the benefits of the PAR+ coating, noting its long-lasting performance and easy integration into existing greenhouse infrastructures. “FOTONIQ offers an alternative to seasonal coatings or diffuse glass without making any of the concessions typically associated with those strategies. With long-lasting performance, the PAR+ coating can be easily integrated into existent infrastructure for a fraction of the price of diffuse glass,” van Gelderen explained. This approach allows growers to achieve a bigger harvest and increase their profit with only a limited investment cost.
Future Expansion and Support:
Willem Kesteloo, CEO & Founder of FOTONIQ, thanked the investors for their support and outlined the company’s expansion plans. “The current fundraising round allows us to scale up our production capabilities and market roll-out. This year, we plan to apply PAR+ coating solutions on ≥30 hectares, providing our customers with a product that meets their expectations,” Kesteloo stated. This initiative marks a significant step towards reaching a broader market and enhancing greenhouse agriculture on a global scale.
