Growers left glowing, figuratively and literally, after Dr. Abhay Thosar’s illuminating presentation at the most recent Cultivate conference.

The seminar, “Horticulture LEDs: A New Era of Adaptability, Flexibility & Sustainability,” offered a deep dive into the dazzling world of dynamic LEDs, a next-generation lighting innovation that’s rapidly reshaping greenhouse growing from seed to sale.

As the chief horticulture specialist at Sollum Technologies, Thosar brought both brilliance and data to the table, guiding attendees through the light spectrum of past practices and into a new era of adaptive agriculture.

The story began with a blast from the past: the era of high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights. While they were once the gold standard for greenhouse illumination, these bulky, energy-guzzling giants cast a wide glow with little precision.

Next came fixed-spectrum horticulture LEDs, which offered growers better energy efficiency and crop-specific lighting recipes. But even this once-revolutionary technology has now been outpaced by its smarter, savvier siblings – dynamic LEDs.

“Things get better as we evolve and adapt our technology,” Thosar said. “Just as we progressed from manual transmission in our cars to automatic transmission and then on to self-driving vehicles, we progressed with our use of LED lights in growing.”

What makes dynamic LEDs different and dramatically better? According to Thosar, it all boils down to adaptability, flexibility and sustainability.

Adaptability – With dynamic lighting, crops don’t just grow under lights, they grow with them. These systems sense shifting conditions (like short winter days or unexpected cloud cover) and adjust the spectrum and intensity of light in real time. It’s the ultimate climate cushion for plants caught in unpredictable seasons.

Flexibility – Fixed-spectrum LEDs limit growers to a set spectral recipe, but dynamic LEDs open the door to full-spectrum control. Whether you’re growing leafy greens, juicy tomatoes or high-value cannabis, your lighting setup adapts with the crop, no rewiring required. That’s especially valuable for operations growing multiple products in rotation or seasonally.

Sustainability – The greenhouses of tomorrow won’t just grow produce, they’ll protect the planet. By fine-tuning output to match a crop’s exact needs, dynamic LEDs cut down on energy waste, reduce HVAC load and deliver light more efficiently. The result? A brighter bottom line and a smaller carbon footprint.

Thosar didn’t just talk the talk – he brought the data to back it up.

Using dynamic LED systems in trials across a variety of crops, Sollum Technologies recorded significant increases in yield and overall plant performance:

  • Mini cucumbers – 16% boost in production
  • Grape tomatoes – 19% increase
  • Peppers – 15% increase
  • Cannabis – 40% improvement

And that’s not all. “Leafy greens experienced reduced cycle time, improved anthocyanin pigmentation and improved plant density,” Thosar added. “And we increased our energy savings.”

These aren’t minor tweaks. They’re major wins that translate to more product, better quality and lower production costs, all thanks to light that listens.

One of the most buzz-worthy elements of dynamic LED systems is their real-time responsiveness. Cloud-connected and sensor-driven, these systems monitor everything from ambient sunlight to internal greenhouse temperature, then automatically adjust lighting conditions to maintain the perfect growing environment.

That kind of precision not only improves yields but gives growers data dashboards and performance analytics to fine-tune their growing strategies. Whether you’re managing one hoop house or a multi-acre facility, dynamic LEDs let you grow smarter, not harder.

Thosar also emphasized the role dynamic LEDs play in future-proofing agricultural operations. As markets shift and growers pivot toward high-margin or specialty crops, the ability to change light recipes on the fly gives operations the versatility they need to stay competitive.

“Lighting doesn’t have to be static anymore,” he said. “We can now shift our light strategy as easily as we change our planting schedule.”

That flexibility means reduced downtime between crop cycles, quicker adjustments to environmental regulations and a stronger response to consumer demand for sustainably grown, locally sourced products.

In a world increasingly focused on resource conservation, energy efficiency and food security, dynamic LEDs hit the sweet spot. They offer a path to higher yields, lower emissions and more agile operations, all while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and wasteful practices.

With technology advancing rapidly, prices falling and accessibility increasing, the barrier to entry is shrinking fast. Even small-scale growers can now access lighting systems once reserved for tech-heavy mega-farms.

Dynamic LEDs aren’t just the next step in lighting, they’re a giant leap for greenhouse growers everywhere. With adaptability baked in, flexibility at your fingertips and sustainability at the forefront, these systems offer more than just a bright future – they offer a smart one.

by Enrico Villamaino