Optimizing natural and artificial lighting in vertical horticulture

Horticulture is racing to discover ways of increasing plant density and catch up with the drop in cost of low energy lighting solutions such as LEDs. Novel space-saving vertical farming systems offer extremely high potential productivity but optimization of light is a critical and unknown quantity. This project enables vertical growing system developer Saturn Bioponics to team up with Erik Murchie at the University of Nottingham who specializes in the efficiency of light-utilization by plants. Dr Murchie’s expertise will be used to develop the optimal spacing and lighting arrangements in SB’s vertical system, test and calculate the improvement in productivity vs costs/savings in energy that this will provide.