Hydrofarm joins GLASE as premium industry member

Hydrofarm has joined the Greenhouse Lighting And Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium as a premium industry member.

Hydrofarm is a distributor and manufacturer of controlled environment agriculture equipment and supplies, specializing in innovative solutions such as high-intensity grow lights, climate control systems and growing media.

As a member of the GLASE Industry Advisory Board (IAB), Hydrofarm accesses an array of exclusive benefits, including free educational short courses on the GLASE Library, exclusive networking opportunities at the GLASE Summit and research and technology transfer with member institutions like Cornell University.

“Joining GLASE enables Hydrofarm to collaborate with industry leaders and access cutting-edge research that aligns with our mission to empower growers with efficient, high-quality solutions,” said Xander Yang, VP of trade marketing at Hydrofarm. “We’re excited to support advancements in greenhouse technology and sustainable CEA practices.”

To advance student research with high-performance horticultural LED lighting, Hydrofarm provided its Photobio LED Toplights to equip the Kenneth Post Lab greenhouse, one of Cornell University’s teaching and research greenhouses.

This research greenhouse is home to Neil Mattson’s Hydroponic Food Crop Production and Management course in Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section.

“The lighting upgrade to our greenhouses ensures that our students learn and grow with the same tools used in the CEA industry,” Mattson said. “I’m really excited about the Photobio LED Toplights, which will not only enhance our students’ educational experience but also allows us to optimize crop yields and better prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of modern agriculture.”

The course introduces undergraduate students to the principles and practices of commercial hydroponic vegetable and herb production in controlled environment agriculture. Students gain hands-on experience growing crops such as leafy greens, herbs and vine crops, including tomatoes and cucumbers.

“We were able to replace our old HPS fixtures with the new Photobio LED Toplights in a 1:1 swap,” said Nicholas Kazmar, research support specialist at Cornell University. “The new fixtures use less energy and provide much higher light output.”

For questions or more information about GLASE, the Industry Advisory Board or how to join the membership, contact glase@cornell.edu.