British strawberries could soon be available all year round, thanks to pioneering new technology which will force them to grow out of their traditional season.
When LED lighting is used in greenhouses, strawberries can be fooled into thinking that it is spring rather than winter.
Forcing of fruit and vegetables isn't a new thing but traditionally the practice is carried out using energy hungry white lighting. The new red and blue LED lights are low-energy, meaning they use much less power and therefore mean that strawberries can be grown out of season at lower cost.
The LED 4 CROPS poroject is being pioneered at the Stockbridge Technology Centre in Selby, North Yorkshire in partnership with CambridgeHOK and Philips.
Graham Ward, STC chief executive said "This is the first investment made for horticultural research facilities since the withdrawal of most UK Government funding for such capital projects."
Philips Lighting have over five years experience with over 100 projects completed investigating the effects of LEDs on a range of crops around the world.
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