Breeding company tests adaptive spectrum technology to support global chrysanthemum development

Floritec, the fast-growing Dutch chrysanthemum breeder known for its global focus and resilient varieties, has begun testing a new NLight LED setup as part of a broader effort to future-proof its cultivation and breeding environments. The installation marks a key exploratory step as Floritec evaluates how modern lighting systems can support crop performance, sustainability and genetic accuracy across international markets.

The company, founded in the early 2000s, has built its reputation on producing varieties that thrive not only in the idealised Dutch greenhouse environment but in the more challenging climates where most chrysanthemums are grown. This global perspective demands breeding conditions that reflect real-world production – including the rapid shift many growers have made to LED.

“Most of our customers now grow under LED, so our trials have to reflect those conditions,” Floritec explains. “If you don’t match the environment, you can’t compare outcomes.”

A Technical Trial Rooted in Real-World Demands

Floritec’s breeding strategy is shaped by major industry pressures: reduced chemical availability, stricter supermarket specifications, labour challenges, and rising energy costs. The company has already invested heavily in climate control technologies, including energy-efficient heating, advanced air circulation and systems designed to stabilise plant activity without unnecessary inputs.

The LED trial is the next layer in this technical evolution.

Floritec installed 160 RV1200 fixtures across its six-hectare greenhouse, using a 3-channel spectrum and intensity control system that allows the team to adjust lighting for different growth stages and trial conditions. At this stage, the focus is on understanding the practical impact: compactness, uniformity, growth rates and how different varieties respond under LED versus traditional SON-T lighting.

Previous sector trials at Delphy had shown clear advantages for chrysanthemums, but Floritec wanted to validate these findings within their own breeding environment.

“The energy crisis accelerated things significantly,” the team notes. “Growers moved quickly to LED, and as a breeder you need to understand exactly how plants behave in that context. This trial helps us bridge that gap.”

Sustainability Through Better Insight

While results are still emerging, the potential benefits align with Floritec’s long-term goals. LEDs may allow the company to reduce energy usage, improve growth consistency and support more natural cultivation with fewer chemical interventions – an increasingly important requirement as retail chains tighten residue standards.

The company is particularly interested in how LEDs could support future strategies around growth regulation, especially in winter months when sunlight is limited. Areas such as far-red steering, colour-specific responses and spectrum-driven plant architecture remain active areas of research.

“We’re at the beginning,” Floritec says. “There’s still a lot to learn about how LEDs can help shape breeding outcomes, especially in chrysanthemums. That’s exactly why this trial is so valuable.”

A Trial Designed for Evolution

Rather than committing to a single lighting recipe, Floritec is using this trial to build a flexible foundation. The team plans to monitor the installation closely over the coming months, with a focus on average performance across many varieties rather than single-variety optimisation. Insights from the trial will inform future decisions about how – and where – LED should be used in Floritec’s wider operations.

LED performance will be evaluated during the peak breeding season later this year, offering a clearer view of how the technology fits into the company’s long-term vision.

About NLight

NLight is a Dutch horticultural lighting specialist developing precision-engineered LED systems for professional growers. Its solutions combine plant science, energy efficiency and advanced spectrum control to help growers optimise crop performance and reduce environmental impact.

About Floritec

Floritec is a Dutch breeder specialising in chrysanthemums, Asters and Celosia.
Since the early 2000s, the company has developed varieties tailored to global growing conditions, with a strong focus on resilience, uniformity and practical performance. Floritec operates a six-hectare breeding facility and works closely with growers worldwide.