Wageningen University Proves Viability of Fluence by OSRAM LEDs

Five-month growing trial on high-wire tomatoes conducted by
Wageningen and Vortus demonstrates full-spectrum LEDs from Fluence by
OSRAM are a viable solution to replace legacy HPS fixtures

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands & AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Wageningen University and Research (WUR), in cooperation with Fluence by
OSRAM and Vortus, has released initial results of a cultivation trial
analyzing the viability of full-spectrum LED lighting solutions, using
Fluence PhysioSpec Greenhouse™ spectrum, in comparison to legacy
high-pressure sodium (HPS) greenhouse lighting fixtures. Preliminary
data shows PhysioSpec Greenhouse is up to 11% more effective than HPS in
yield for certain tomato cultivars, with the added benefit of being more
energy efficient than HPS fixtures.

“The initial results of this trial show growers can cultivate tomatoes
as effectively with PhysioSpec Greenhouse as you can under HPS, possibly
with a better yield, and with shorter stems,” said Dr. Ep Heuvelink,
associate professor, WUR. “Of the tomatoes grown under PhysioSpec
Greenhouse, when compared to the HPS control environment, the WUR team
saw the crop developed well and fruits had similar dry matter content.
In fact, fruit yield is a bit higher in the LED sections for the
Tomagino cultivar, which is a welcome benefit when considering the
energy reduction LEDs naturally exhibit over HPS technology.”

Dr. Heuvelink, and his team at WUR, tested PhysioSpec Greenhouse in
comparison to HPS lighting from a recognized vendor. The research was
conducted on Tomagino and Merlice tomato cultivars. WUR will publish the
full data set later this year.

“Current practices use HPS technology as the sole source for
supplemental lighting in greenhouses and the WUR trial proves this
should not be the case,” said Barend Lobker, director and owner, Vortus.
“Growers have been reluctant to transition to LEDs because they are
uncertain if LEDs can be as effective for cultivation and the WUR trial
eliminates any doubts around the capabilities of full spectrum LEDs.”

“This is a very exciting result for the application of full-spectrum LED
technology in greenhouse tomato production. It demonstrates that even
without any other environment optimization for LED solutions, LEDs can
match, or even out-perform legacy lighting fixtures for commercial
growers,” said Haris Ouzounis, horticulture service specialist and
senior photobiologist, Fluence by OSRAM. “Upcoming studies from Fluence
into the influences of light quality, distribution, and intensity, as
well as optimizations to the rest of the environment should demonstrate
improvements in productivity compared to legacy production practices.”

Further Collaborations in Science and Research

Cooperating with recognized thought leaders around the world is a top
priority for Fluence by OSRAM. This initial trial with WUR is the first
in a series of results Fluence will release over the coming months.
Additionally, Fluence is advancing several other initiatives with
research centers, universities, and organizations around the world to
further develop best practices and forward-looking applications for the
industry.

“Basing our solutions on research and science are fundamental
differentiators which sets Fluence apart,” said David Cohen, chief
executive officer, Fluence by OSRAM. “We are proud to be working with
Wageningen University and to join the WUR Club of 100, to further extend
the world’s understanding of critical and fundamental horticultural
research. Greenhouses are a significant source of nutritious fruits and
vegetables and WUR’s ground-breaking research will empower more
countries to cultivate high-quality crops in an energy-efficient way.”

To learn more about the preliminary results, meet with the Fluence team
at Green Tech in Amsterdam, or visit https://fluence.science/wageningen
for more information.

About Fluence by OSRAM

Fluence Bioengineering, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of OSRAM,
creates the most powerful and energy-efficient LED lighting solutions
for commercial crop production and research applications. Fluence is the
leading LED lighting supplier in the global cannabis market and is
committed to enabling more efficient crop production with the world’s
top vertical farms and greenhouse produce growers. Fluence global
headquarters are based in Austin, Texas, U.S.A., and its EMEA HQ in
Rotterdam, Netherlands. https://fluence.science

About Wageningen University and Research

The mission of Wageningen University and Research is “To explore the
potential of nature to improve the quality of life.” Under the banner
Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the
specialized research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation
have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important
questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its
roughly 30 branches, 5,000 employees and 10,000 students, Wageningen
University & Research is one of the leading organizations in its domain.
The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues
and the collaboration between different disciplines.

About Vortus bv

Established in 1982, Vortus bv is an independent greenhouse consulting
firm which services clients from around the world. The team is comprised
of ten consultants, which specializes in providing technical advice
regarding climate, irrigation, nutrition, energy management, and labor
management for greenhouse environments. The Vortus bv office is based in
Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. For more information on Vortus bv
services, visit www.vortus.eu.

Contacts

For North America:
Emma Chase
emma@redfancommunications.com
O:
512-551-9253 / C: 512-917-4319

For EMEA:
Sabrina Martin, Media Relations, OSRAM, Munich Germany
Phone:
+49 (89) 6213-5466
E-Mail: s.martin@osram.com

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