Glasshouse growers can be assured that the latest technology advancements are relevant to them, thanks to a commercially-representative testbed facility in Yorkshire. The Advanced Glasshouse Facility, located at Stockbridge Technology Centre (STC), can host testing for a range of products including small harvest robots, innovative heating and greenhouse operating systems, LED lighting, and furniture solutions for the next generation of energy efficient glasshouses. It also enables testing of the latest plant protection products and biopesticides.
The Advanced Glasshouse is part of Agri-Tech Innovation Centre CHAP’s suite of state-of-the-art capabilities. CHAP Commercial Director, Linsey Cresswell, said: “What makes the Advanced Glasshouse Facility valuable to product innovators is that it is a fully flexible controlled glasshouse, providing reliable trial conditions that can be replicated across treatments. With no permanent furniture or fixings, its open span design is customisable - ideal for exploring new technologies such as harvesting solutions or disease detection systems."
For growers, by imitating real-life commercial facilities currently being used across the UK, the site provides the reassurance needed that innovators are developing relevant solutions that meet real-life needs both now and in the future.
"This facility isn’t just for the testing of plant protection products or novel biopesticides, it’s ideal for hosting technology developers such as robotics too. The glasshouse is flexible, which means we can offer a solution for all parties."
“For those who do want to test plant protection products, we can also offer a suite of 60 custom-designed deep-water hydroponic units. This enables product development and evaluation through to ecotoxicology and other registration studies.
“Because this is on a commercial-scale, it’s ideally positioned to help provide robust supporting evidence for product registration applications.
“STC has a long-term history of developing innovation in horticulture and protected cultivation, making it the ideal place to showcase UK entrepreneurship.”
For more information:
CHAP
enquiries@chap-solutions.co.uk
www.chap-solutions.co.uk/