AubeLux
Project type:
Operational group
Duration:
01/04/2026 - 31/03/2028
Theme(s):
Cultivation technology
Lighting
Short summary:
Optimisation of cultivation and lighting strategies for aubergines under LED lighting
Objective of the project
The AubeLux project aims to enable profitable and sustainable year-round aubergine cultivation by using full-LED lighting. This will allow growers to supply high-quality Flemish aubergines all year round, ensuring greater market continuity, more stable prices and greater food security. In addition, the project aims to address the current bottlenecks in illuminated aubergine cultivation, such as damage to the photosynthetic system of young plants, so that higher and more stable yields become achievable.
How do we achieve this
The project is investigating an innovative cultivation strategy in which aubergines are planted as early as June, so that the plants can grow vigorously during the summer before LED lighting is introduced in winter. Over the course of two growing seasons, various varieties, rootstocks and lighting strategies are being tested and monitored in terms of plant health, yield and fruit quality. The results will be evaluated and further optimised in collaboration with growers and experts. In addition, a comprehensive profitability study will be carried out to assess the economic viability of the technique. This will lead to the development of a practical and scientifically sound cultivation model for the Flemish aubergine sector.
