Welcome to LEDs Magazine’s Horticultural Lighting + Tech newsletter for Feb. 6, 2023. Although several executives in our sector have reported stalling markets and energy prices impacting their controlled environment agriculture prospects — including those at Signify-owned Fluence and the parent company itself — there are still bright spots in the CEA application and technologies. Canadian firm Sollum Technologies recently raised CAD $30 million, demonstrating confidence by investors that the sector has great long-term prospects, and announced a partnership with U.K.-based Powerplus Group, a firm providing project services from design through equipping for cultivators. We have been keeping our eye on Sollum since it won an LEDs Magazine Sapphire Award in 2021 for its SUN as a Service horticultural lighting and controls platform, and I think the company is one to watch.

I am also pleased to note that opportunities for industry recognition of innovation are still important. We have just closed the submission phase of our BrightStar Awards program and I’m looking forward to seeing what has been deemed noteworthy by our respected judges. We’ll publicly announce all of the honorees in May, so stay tuned.

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Carrie Meadows, [email protected]