CSU partners with Philips Lighting on horticulture research facility

FORT COLLINS — Colorado State University and Philips Lighting are partnering to equip the university’s new research and training horticulture facility at its campus in Fort Collins with advanced LED lighting, the university announced Monday.

Workers are installing Philips Horticulture LED Solutions lighting in the CSU Horticulture Center, which is expected to be completed in early 2016.

“It all started with the stadium,” said Steven Newman, greenhouse crops extension specialist and professor of floriculture at CSU. It was the relocation of the greenhouses at the W.D. Holley Plant Environmental Research to the new CSU Horticulture Center spurred by CSU’s impending on-campus stadium that Newman said got him thinking about finding resources to create a new, cutting-edge horticulture facility for the campus community.

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“We saw this as an opportunity to work with a global leader in LED solutions that has depth, longevity, and an appreciation for close collaborations with universities like CSU,” Newman said in a prepared statement.

“This is an opportunity for research collaboration between academia and a technology world leader in advanced LED products, said Ron DeKok, business development director of horticulture LED solutions for Philips North America.

“This partnership with Philips provides CSU with much-needed advanced tools to keep at the forefront of new technology development, innovation and practical, real-world education of our students,” said Mark Wdowik, assistant vice president for research and industry partnerships at CSU.

The partnership will explore joint educational and training opportunities with CSU and CSU Extension, as well as other Philips partners and customers. New internship and cooperative learning opportunities will be created for CSU’s graduate and undergraduate students.

“Partnerships between CSU and the business community help enhance the quality of the educational experience for our students,” said Ajay Menon, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences.