Harnessing high-tech horticulture  

Modern horticulture faces a perfect storm of challenges, with ever-increasing pressures from population growth, climate change, resource scarcity and the need to minimise environmental impact. High‑tech greenhouses that use advanced technologies to optimise growing conditions and maximise yields offer a potential solution to this issue. The controlled environments created in these facilities allow temperature-sensitive crops – such as strawberries and tomatoes – to thrive year-round, regardless of external factors like weather or season.

A new era of food production 

High-tech greenhouses are becoming a common site in agricultural areas, appearing in rolling fields around the world. For example, close to our UK headquarters in Ely, Cambridgeshire, a £5 million packhouse processes over a million cucumbers and 600,000 punnets of tomatoes weekly, grown in the adjacent 22-hectare greenhouse. The packhouse uses automation to sort, weigh and quality-check produce before it reaches supermarket shelves.¹ Across the Atlantic, AppHarvest’s 60-acre facility in Kentucky employs hydroponic systems and LED lighting to grow tomatoes year-round, while using significantly less water than traditional methods.² Meanwhile, the Netherlands has positioned itself as a global leader in food production by embracing high-tech greenhouses. Despite its relatively small size, the country is the world’s second-biggest exporter of agricultural products, thanks to extensive greenhouse networks.²

The tech behind tomorrow’s harvest 

These state-of-the-art facilities use horticultural fixture assemblies, automation and monitoring systems to produce vast quantities of fresh produce efficiently. An intricate network of advanced systems, monitors and controls key environmental variables like temperature, humidity and light. Horticultural lighting systems simulate optimal sunlight conditions, while soil sensors and greenhouse monitoring systems provide real-time data on moisture levels, nutrient content and plant health. Automation further enhances efficiency – from irrigation and climate control to automated harvesting and processing – ensuring that every plant grows in the optimal surroundings and is picked and processed in peak condition, leading to higher quality produce with a lower environmental impact.

A critical role for connectors and sensors 

Behind the scenes, robust horticultural connectors are essential to keep these systems running smoothly. Sensors and monitoring systems rely on high-performance connectors capable of enduring harsh conditions – including exposure to moisture, dust and fluctuating temperatures – to transmit data and maintain seamless operations. Bulgin offers a range of durable and environmentally sealed connectors and sensors designed to excel in these demanding environments, ensuring continuous operation to protect critical systems from failure. Whether it’s monitoring soil conditions or supplying power to advanced greenhouse sensors, Bulgin solutions provide the reliability growers need.

Supporting sustainability  

High-tech greenhouses improve yields and provide a continuous supply of crops while reducing resource consumption and maximising productivity, representing a significant step forward in sustainable horticulture. Integration of renewable energy solutions, such as solar power, further contribute to a greener future by minimising reliance on fossil fuels. Together with precise control over water and nutrient distribution, this not only conserves resources but also reduces the environmental footprint of food production. This sustainable approach supports both the growing global demand for food and the pressing need to protect the planet.

At the forefront of the future food system 

High-tech greenhouses are redefining the way we grow food, combining innovation and sustainability to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Robust horticultural connectors ensure reliable operation of the sensors, advanced monitoring systems and automation that these facilities rely on for efficient food production. High-performance electrical connectors will play a vital role in this transformation, supporting cutting-edge solutions that enable growers to focus on what matters most – producing quality food for a growing population .

Get in touch with us today to find out how we can support your horticultural technology needs. 

References

1. Business Live (2023). £5m packhouse development sorting one million cucumbers a week completes. https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/5m-packhouse-development-sorting-one-27316279
2. Forbes (2020). High-Tech Greenhouses Could Be The Future Of Agriculture. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanstrickler/2020/08/28/high-tech-greenhouses-could-be-the-future-of-agriculture/