"The technology offers a sustainable way to ensure water stays free of any pathogens"
Source: VFD.com
showcased its VGE Pro UV-C disinfection systems for the horticulture sector at GreenTech Amsterdam 2026, with a particular focus on water reuse applications in indoor and vertical farming. "The technology offers a sustainable way to ensure water stays free of any pathogens that could infect plants.
Before reusing water from irrigation, you need to eliminate any fungal spores or bacteria that could reinfect your plants," says Nick van Lier, International Account Manager. "If you take in water from the surface or from rainwater collection, it may contain foreign pathogens.
VGE Pro units also feature the company's Smart Pin Technology and Single-end Bayonet Technology, both designed to allow lamp replacement and maintenance while the system remains filled with water. A long-standing presence at GreenTech The company, which has been operating since 1982 and delivers to more than 70 countries, exhibited at GreenTech as one of its major annual touchpoints with the global horticulture industry.
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.
