Key Takeaways
- Advanced LED Research: Lafayette College, led by Dr. Robert Elliott, is conducting a research initiative on dynamic LED lighting and its impact on crop growth and quality with Sollum Technologies.
- Sollum Technologies Collaboration: The project utilizes Sollum Technologies’ dynamic LED lighting system to optimize growing conditions.
- State-of-the-Art Research Facility: The lab consists of 12 independent research cells equipped with precise environmental controls.
- Agritecture Partnership: Agritecture provides urban agriculture expertise, helping shape research priorities.
- Practical Agricultural Applications: Findings will support growers in improving crop quality, productivity, and sustainability.
Lafayette College’s LED Lighting Research Project With Sollum
Lafayette College, under the leadership of Dr. Robert Elliott, is spearheading a cutting-edge research initiative to study the effects of advanced LED lighting on crop growth and quality. Located in Easton, Pennsylvania, the project leverages Sollum Technologies’ dynamic LED lighting solution to create customized light recipes tailored for each crop.
Dr. Robert Elliott, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Lafayette College, emphasized the advantages of Sollum’s system: “Sollum’s unparalleled flexibility and precision make it the ideal choice for our research. Its customizable light recipes and zoning capabilities allow us to fine-tune growing conditions across multiple independent environments, which is critical to producing meaningful, repeatable results that will advance agricultural science and ecological engineering.”
State-of-the-Art Research Facility
The research area includes 12 independent cells (1m x 1m each), each equipped with:
- Temperature and humidity controls
- Vapour Pressure Deficit (VPD) monitoring
- CO₂ level regulation
- Light timing customization
- Irrigation and substrate electrical conductivity (EC) monitoring
This setup enables precise replication of various environmental conditions, helping researchers analyze ecosystem responses and fine-tune LED lighting for optimal plant health.
Collaboration with Agritecture and Sollum Technologies
The initiative is further strengthened by a collaboration with Agritecture, a leading firm specializing in urban agriculture and controlled environment research.
Dr. Elliott noted Agritecture’s role in shaping the project: “Agritecture has played an integral role in fostering our partnership with Sollum Technologies and continues to provide valuable insight in shaping research priorities.”
Additionally, Sollum’s agronomy experts are working closely with Lafayette College to develop and implement lighting strategies.
“Access to Sollum’s agronomy team brings tremendous value to this collaboration,” added Dr. Elliott. “Their support bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical applications, enabling growers to adopt sustainable and efficient farming practices.”
Advancing Sustainable Agriculture
The research aims to provide actionable insights for farmers and growers looking to enhance crop quality, productivity, and sustainability using precision LED lighting.
Matthew Bonavita, Vice President, Sales for the US market at Sollum Technologies, expressed enthusiasm for the project:
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Dr. Elliott and Lafayette College on this ambitious project. Their focus on precision agriculture aligns perfectly with our mission to provide growers with the tools to optimize production and sustainability.”
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