Syngenta, Illumitex to jointly develop new lighting technology in plant growth

Syngenta has entered into a joint research and business development collaboration agreement with Illumitex, a US-based developer of world-leading lighting sources. The companies will jointly develop new applications for innovative LED-based lighting technology in plant growth.

Research has shown that novel LED lighting systems, which use low-energy semiconductors as the light source, can better support plant growth in controlled environments such as greenhouses, and reduce costs for growers. Light plays a crucial role in plant growth. Its energy fuels photosynthesis, the conversion of carbon dioxide to organic compounds that make plants grow.

The benefits for growers include optimized color uniformity on the plants – an important feature especially for ornamentals – as well as the possibility to control the wavelengths of light delivered onto the plant surface. This further reduces energy consumption.

The collaboration with Illumitex will give Syngenta access to new technologies that will expand our integrated offer to horticultural growers. Through Syngenta’s research expertise, new growing protocols combined with state-of-the-art LED technologies can be developed to help increase the quality and efficiency in plant production.

Joint collaboration projects with Illumitex in Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United States are scheduled to begin this year. Further research and development projects are being planned around the world.