Berger and Sollum collaborate on optimizing LED lighting for greenhouse crops

Berger, a global supplier of horticultural substrates, has announced a partnership with Sollum Technologies to integrate dynamic LED grow lights into its research greenhouse facilities. The collaboration aims to refine strategies for optimizing crop performance, with an initial focus on lettuce cultivation.

Berger’s research greenhouses, which currently use high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting, will transition to Sollum’s dynamic LED lighting system. The shift is expected to enhance precision in lighting conditions for different crops, with potential benefits for yield and quality. “Sollum’s dynamic LED technology provides flexibility and adaptability,” said Marc Charland, Head of Research at Berger. “By combining lighting strategies with our high-performance substrates, we aim to improve lettuce production while maintaining the ability to adapt to other crop varieties.”

Both companies emphasize innovation in agricultural research. Berger, a third-generation family business operating 14 harvesting sites and nine production plants across North America, has decades of experience in substrate development. Sollum Technologies, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Montréal, specializes in AI-driven LED lighting solutions that replicate natural sunlight. Its SUN as a Service platform allows precise control over light spectrum, intensity, and zoning, making it applicable for both research and commercial greenhouse operations.

“Berger is a well-established name in the industry, and this collaboration provides an opportunity to refine best practices in substrate development and lighting strategies,” said Kassim Tremblay, Vice President of Strategic Accounts at Sollum Technologies.

The research will evaluate how different substrate formulations interact with dynamic lighting to optimize crop growth. Findings from this collaboration are expected to contribute to industry-wide advancements in controlled-environment agriculture, particularly in the integration of lighting and substrate technologies.