"As costs rise, growers rethink energy and labor efficiency"
Source: VFD.com
That's why our development focuses on reducing energy demand through lighting and climate management while using automation to improve labor productivity." Although greenhouse markets differ around the world, many of the challenges are becoming increasingly similar. "Growers are looking for technologies that reduce operating costs while delivering stable and consistent production." © Richland Integrated systems become the focus beyond LED replacement While LED lighting has become a standard route toward reducing electricity consumption, Richland argues that lighting alone cannot deliver the highest level of greenhouse efficiency.
When these systems work together, climate control becomes more efficient and growers can reduce overall energy demand." According to Andy, efficient lighting alone is insufficient to maximize crop performance. Together they create more consistent growing conditions." Richland's approach to greenhouse lighting focuses on system architecture instead of individual luminaires.
"We design the complete lighting system to improve crop performance while lowering installation costs and improving long-term operational returns." Commercial greenhouse projects also play an important role in validating technology under real production conditions. The objective is to reduce repetitive manual work and improve daily operational efficiency." The company expects the next generation of its robotic systems to be introduced during 2027.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
