Call for project proposals: Manipulation of light spectrum for the
benefit of UK Horticultural production systems
Purpose
To investigate and demonstrate the capacity of LEDs to generate commercial benefits for
UK levy payers.
Scope
The benefits of LED lighting for horticulture are widely cited as energy saving, the ability to
locate light sources close to crops and the potential to generate benefits beyond driving
photosynthesis either to supplement low incident solar radiation in glasshouses or in closed
cropping systems (e.g. growth rooms).
Discussions with a wide range of levy payers have concluded that investigation of LEDs as
replacements for conventional High Pressure Sodium lamps is already in hand via trials
underway with LED suppliers and growers. It is therefore considered that work in this area
will duplicate effort that will in time filter through to growers through commercial routes and
would therefore not be supported.
The scope of this call is therefore to focus on the less well established potential benefits of
LEDs via the potential offered to manipulate spectral composition delivered to crops with
resulting commercially relevant impacts, including aiding pest and disease control. This field
is wide and is summarised in the table below along with an indication of how the priorities of
the relevant crop sectors tie in with the topics identified. It is expected that funding will be
allocated to a work programme that encompasses a range of relevant work packages from
those identified below.
Topic
Manipulation of plant habit (reduced stretching /
improved branching).
Reducing production speed on high value
propagation subjects (e.g. begonia).
Providing capacity to produce plants in tiered
systems to increase productivity per unit area
(with plants in propagation being a good target).
Manipulating secondary chemicals e.g. flavour,
nutritional content and/or pigmentation.
Improving rooting.
Potential to enhance pest and disease control
(and identifying any potential disruption to
existing control systems).
Options to reduce capital and further improve
energy efficiency via intermittent lighting
regimes.
Demonstration of the minimum spectrum
necessary for normal plant morphology.
Relevant crop sector
Propagation or tiered production –
ornamentals and herbs.
Propagation – ornamentals, protected
salads.
Micro propagation.
Herbs and protected ornamentals suited
to tiered systems.
Babyleaf, herbs, leafy salads, and
microleaf.
Propagation – hardy nursery stock,
micro propagation and protected
ornamentals
All sectors with a focus on propagation.
All sectors with a focus on propagation.
All sectors with a focus on propagation
and/or plants likely to be finished in
tiered systems.
Challenges:
Projects that meet the interests outlined above will need to:
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Generate information that can begin to build the capacity to predict recipes for
previously untested subjects and that avoids development of recipes relevant to only
a single species/variety.
Ensure project outputs are driven towards maximising benefits for growers which
may stray beyond the current LED offerings from the main stream suppliers.
Aim to compliment rather than duplicate work in progress elsewhere in this fast
moving field.
Offer a programme of work that is balanced to deliver back to the contributions from
the Hardy Nursery Stock, Protected Edibles and Protected Ornamentals Panels
broadly in proportion to their financial commitment to the work (i.e. 20%, 40% and
40% respectively), whilst providing a co-ordinated programme that provides the
added value that this collaborative approach across the three sectors should deliver.
Objective:
The successful proposal will outline a work programme designed to provide an innovative
solution to the challenge of providing the protected hardy nursery stock, protected edibles
and protected ornamentals sectors with supporting information to inform decisions on future
uptake of LEDs. Current limitations of the technology will need to be taken into account but
emphasis needs to be placed on improving crop production and should avoid being overly
constrained by the current LED unit design or availability. Applications will need to
demonstrate an ability to provide a balanced programme of work relevant to the interests of
the supporting HDC sectors (as described above), a clear explanation as to how data
generated may be extrapolated beyond the model species tested to previously untested
species and varieties will be necessary.
Relevant Background Research:
There is increasing interest amongst HDC levy payers in LEDs as evidenced by the high
levels of interest in the Growsave LED tour and the HDC Focus on Light Spectrum event in
2012. The current cost of the technology is a barrier to uptake in the short term along with
issues such as the lack of radiant heat from LEDs where they are being considered as
replacements for conventional HPS lighting. Despite this there are a number of growers
sufficiently interested in the technology that they are already undertaking in house trials with
LED suppliers.
HDC’s activity within the wider area of manipulating light spectrum has been predominantly
related to the use of photo selective polythene as tunnel covers. These include:PC 150:
Bedding plants: the use of spectral filters to regulate plant growth
PC 170:
The potential of spectral filters for pest control
PC 168:
Cut-flowers: Evaluation and development of plastic films and low-cost
growing structures
HNS 108:
Growth of a range of nursery stock subjects under different coloured and
spectral filter plastic films
CP 019:
Horticultural crops: Demonstration of the potential benefits of modified
plastic crop covers.
CP 019a:
The potential benefits of three modified plastic crop covers in Hardy
Ornamental Nursery Stock production (Garden Centre Plants, Preston)
CP 019b:
The Effects of Spectral Modified Filters on Invertebrate Pest Populations
CP 026:
The use of spectral modification to control plant growth and quality – a
biological framework for predicting crop responses
PC 221:
HDC Research Fellowship Scheme
PO BOF 002a:
National Cut Flowers Trials Centre 2013-2018. Includes plans for a 2013
demonstration project.
These projects have demonstrated how light spectrum can be manipulated to generate a
commercially relevant impact and this is further supported by a range of information
available within the scientific literature and international trade journals which indicate the
potential to improve plant morphology (e.g. reducing plant stretching), development of
pigments, flavour and nutritional value as well as rooting.
Polythene manufacturers have continued to develop their products and the current industry
representatives’ view is that follow up R&D work on filters would be premature in advance of
wider UK industry demand but the ability to further develop the potential of light spectrum
manipulation using LEDs is the next stage of development within this field that the relevant
panels wish to pursue.
Recent and on-going HDC funded projects which have focussed on the potential of LEDs for
improving production include:PC 237:
The use of supplementary lighting in protected ornamental and edible crops:
beyond the maximisation of biomass
PC 296:
Examining the lighting requirements for daylength control so as to assess the
suitability of energy saving bulbs
PO 010:
LED Lighting for Horticultural Applications – Establishing the Economics of
Current Hardware Offerings
CP 88:
Enhancing the monitoring and trapping of protected crop pests by
incorporating LED technology into existing traps
CP 085:
Securing skills and expertise in crop light responses for UK protected
horticulture, with specific reference to exploitation of LED technology which
aims to providing underpinning capability within the field of light and light
spectrum. [Co-funded by the Horticultural Trades Association and the East
Malling Trust]
Output
Standard project reporting requirements will be applied to the successful project along with
the need for a pro-active and innovative approach to communicating interim outcomes to
levy payers in liaison with HDC. Regular opportunities for levy payers to view trial progress
will be an important element of the work programme alongside other appropriate knowledge
transfer activities, which may include regular web based updates. The successful project will
need to include a clear knowledge transfer plan that demonstrates delivery to the three
contributing sector panels.
Deadlines for the application procedure
Research contractors wishing to apply for funding in response to this call should submit a
proposal to HDC by 25th September 2013. Applicants may be called to present to the project
steering group on 23rd October.
Proposals in response to this call will be scored initially by HDC managers with resulting
recommendations assessed by an industry steering group comprising of two representatives
from each of the supporting panels (HNS, PE and PO) who have delegated authority to
allocate the award.
Applicants are encouraged to liaise with relevant grower representatives and/or associations
when building project proposals and to do this well ahead of the deadlines; panel member
contact details are available from the HDC website along with details of a range of grower
associations. Dr Debbie Wilson is the lead HDC representative for this call for enquiries
about industry contacts and should also be kept updated of progress with tender
development to help co-ordinate efforts.
Project duration
It is envisaged that a three year programme of work will be commissioned, commencing in
2014. There will be clear annual break points in this programme of work to review and
amend the forward programme with HDC and the nominated industry representatives
according to progress made.
Budget
The budget for this project is capped at £125,000 per annum for the life of the project. As
noted previously the work programme needs to reflect the proportional contributions from the
three sector panels (HNS, PE & PO). Value for money to levy payers is a selection criterion.
The intention is to fund only a single project but joint proposals from two or more contractors
are acceptable and encouraged. If deemed desirable, applicants may be requested to form a
consortium and work together.
Application
The application form can be found at HDC Application Form for Funding vT01.13.
Please submit the technical content of the proposal separately from the financial content i.e.
two separate documents.
Evaluation of submissions
A number of criteria will used to judge the quality of the submissions (value in brackets
indicates weight in assessment process).
1.
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2.
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3.
Scientific and technical quality (35%)
Clarity & scope of aims and objectives
Clarity and appropriateness of methodology
Feasibility (including risks)
Does the proposal address relevant issues outlined?
Balance of programme in line with contributions from the 3 HDC sectors whilst
demonstrating the added value of working within a larger project framework.
Expertise and strength of team (25%)
Knowledge and expertise
Quality of past contributions to, and impact on, the proposed area of research
Potential to bring added value to the proposed research through current and/or past
contributions
Evidence of interaction between key project team members and representatives from
a range of LED supply companies
Evidence of strong project management capability, including ability to deliver
according to deadlines
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Project costs (20%)
Are costs reasonable and necessary?
Will the total budget be adequate to carry out project activities?
Is the budget in proportion to the anticipated resulting commercial benefits identified
by the work?
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Knowledge Transfer (20%)
Ability to interact well with industry and to deliver commercially relevant outcomes
Identification of appropriate transfer mechanisms which are clearly planned for year 1
and include to delivery to all relevant sectors (HNS, PE and PO).
4.
Any proposal that scores less than 60% overall in the evaluation process will be
rejected.
For each of the four criteria under examination the following scoring system will be
applied:
0 — The proposal fails to address the criterion under examination or cannot be
judged due to missing or incomplete information;
1 — Poor: The criterion is addressed in an inadequate manner, or there are serious
inherent weaknesses;
2 — Fair: While the proposal broadly addresses the criterion, there are significant
weaknesses;
3 — Good: The proposal addresses the criterion well, although improvements
would be necessary;
4 — Very Good: The proposal addresses the criterion very well, although certain
improvements are still possible;
5 — Excellent: The proposal successfully addresses all relevant aspects of the
criterion in question. Any shortcomings are minor.
Questions - If you have a specific question related to this call please email
Debbie.Wilson@hdc.ahdb.org.uk. As part of the open tender process HDC cannot discuss
specific project details with you before submitting your proposal.