News » 19.06.2025 - "Improved seedling quality, up to 50% energy savings, and better space efficiency"
Hishtil has been trialing new approaches to seedling germination by integrating an advanced LED lighting technology. In collaboration with Hortiv Megalight they decided to optimize lighting for germination rooms at their R&D department in Nahalim. The team has developed a dedicated LED compartment designed to improve the growth conditions for light germinators, like begonia. About three months ago, it was installed. The result? "Improved seedling quality, up to 50% energy savings, and better space efficiency", explains Nadav Pass, VP R&D at Hishtil.
Lighting the future of germination
The challenge
One of the key challenges in Hishtil's R&D program is identifying technologies that can boost seedling germination productivity. Among various innovations, the team explored LED lighting solutions to improve efficiency—particularly when growing seedlings on floor carts, a method that maximizes the ratio between germination area and lighting coverage. After evaluating multiple LED manufacturers, Hishtil identified HORTIV Megalight as a promising partner. "They were initially very accessible, and their professionalism and responsiveness stood out after we compared their products with others," says Pass. Encouraged by positive early results, the team advanced to further testing, focusing on the performance of light-sensitive crops such as Begonia. "Most of our germinations are still done using traditional methods," Pass explains. "We built an LED compartment mainly to trial a new process for light germinators." The initiative centers on closely monitoring seedlings to measure the potential advantages of professional LED lighting compared to conventional protocols.
On the MegaLight production line
The solution
Subsequent trials revealed several advantages of Hortiv's technology. "Notably, it allows seedlings to be cultivated at height within limited spaces due to the minimal distance, just a few centimeters, required between the plants and the lighting source. Additionally, unlike other shelf-based lighting solutions, Hortiv's LED system remains cool, preventing both the plants and the surrounding environment from overheating."
Another significant advantage emerged when scaling up production. "The Hortiv Megalight system demonstrated twice the efficiency of other off-the-shelf LED products in terms of light-to-energy conversion. This meant that Hishtil could illuminate their carts using only half the energy required by competing systems—an essential factor, particularly in locations with limited power supply."
LED compartment built for light-germinated crops
The result
The collaboration with Hortiv Megalight has brought measurable improvements to Hishtil's germination process. "The LED lighting system enhanced seedling uniformity and overall biological performance, while cutting energy consumption by up to 50% compared to conventional systems. Its compact, low-heat design also allows for closer placement to the plants, maximizing space efficiency and creating better conditions for uniform growth."
Having completed proof-of-concept (POC) trials on multiple carts, Hishtil is now transitioning to semi-commercial production scale.The improvements extend beyond germination to the final output, ensuring higher quality and uniformity in seedlings.
Source: www.floraldaily.com
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