Netherlands-based Signify and the University of British Columbia (UBC) have announced new goals in the fourth year of their pepper production trial. This trial focuses on optimizing dynamic lighting conditions and has delivered insights into how pepper plants respond to artificial lighting throughout the year. Its goal is to achieve a target production of more than 40 kg/m² of peppers for a full-year cycle with a dynamic light recipe using GreenPower LED toplighting force 2.0 (TLF 2.0).

In 2022, the first trial in UBC was set up to realize a yield of at least 34 kg/m2, with a stable weekly production of at least 0.7 kg/m2 in winter. The trial has continuously evolved to include different varieties and pruning strategies.

In this fourth year, the trial will focus on leveraging TLF 2.0—a cutting-edge, colour-controllable LED light technology designed to fine-tune lighting recipes dynamically across growth stages and raising the production goal to more than 40 kg/m² of peppers for a full-year cycle while improving the pruning strategy and variety selection.

 
Achieving optimal pepper growth under LED lighting requires a carefully balanced light recipe. However, light is not the only factor influencing plant growth. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels, are equally crucial. This trial integrates expertise from various industry leaders to provide state-of-the-art support. 

Syngenta and RijkZwaan supplied optimized seeds, BEVO Farms handled plant propagation, and Aranet’s sensor technology monitored critical climate conditions. Climate control solutions from Priva and specialized substrates from Grodan further enhance growth environments. The trialed varieties—Gina, Ridona, and Silverstone—were selected specifically for their compatibility with LED lighting; choosing the suitable pepper variety is critical when working with LED lighting. 

2025 will mark the culmination of this extensive research project. By synthesizing this knowledge, Signify aims to provide growers with a definitive guide to optimizing pepper production using LED lighting, ensuring that they can continue to improve yields and quality well into the future.

Source: Signify November 11, 2024 news release