Project description
Let the artificial light shine in!
Modern greenhouses and indoor farms usually need to irradiate crops with artificial light because there is not enough sunlight. High-intensity discharge luminaires like metal halide or sodium vapour lamps are widely used and considered a cost-efficient solution. In this context, the EU-funded flexiLED project will bring to market a dynamic precision lighting solution for large-scale greenhouses and indoor, urban farms. This new technology can irradiate each crop with precisely the spectral composition that is best for its light-induced development (photomorphogenesis) at any given moment from germination until harvest. The new LED luminaire includes diodes with eight different peak wavelengths and an additional broad-spectrum white light.
Objective
The overall objective of the flexiLED-project is the successful and sustainable market entry of the dynamic precision lighting solution Malina from Ponix Systems GmbH as a B2B-product for large-scale greenhouses and indoor, urban farms. Therefore, a market strategy based on the highest market potentials as well as the smaller potential markets which are easier to reach has to be developed within a proper feasibility study for an optimised product and described in a detailed strategic business plan and negotiations with first large-scale customers have to be started. Ponix Systems’ Malina addresses first of all greenhouses but also urban-, vertical farms which aim for minimising time, land, water and energy input in agriculture. Malina is capable of irradiating each crop of these farms with precisely the spectral composition which is best for its light induced development (photomorphogenesis) at any given moment from germination until harvest. The plant specific development goal (e.g. time of harvest or of flowering, size, volume and nutritional content) can be chosen by the farmer by simply downloading “Malina light recipes” on to the hardware. By contributing to the LED market diffusion in this segment through novel functionalities, Malina is a truly eco-innovative and resource-efficient food production methodology. Malina furthermore minimises food losses on farms because of detection of unusual changes in plant physiology at any time. This is based on sensors integrated in the lighting solution, the possibility to extend the hardware with exogenous sensors and plant feedback algorithms based on analysing the reflected & emitted light of the plants under changing spectral compositions further allows for detecting unusual changes in plant physiology at any time. Thus also food losses on farm can be minimised. Four tasks are proposed, task titles are provided as free keywords above.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metals
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiology
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticultureurban horticulture
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.2.4. - Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy
- H2020-EU.3.2.1. - Sustainable agriculture and forestry
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
- H2020-EU.3.2.2. - Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
1150 WIEN
Austria
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.