GreenTech 2026: Focus on efficiency, Smart Lighting Control, and Sustainable Cultivation Concepts

Premstaetten, Austria, and Munich, Germany (18 June, 2026) — GreenTech 2026 in Amsterdam once again demonstrated how dynamically the international horticulture industry is evolving. Many discussions centered on solutions for greater energy efficiency, new approaches to plant care, and the growing integration of lighting technology, sensor technology, and automation.
For ams OSRAM, the trade show provided an opportunity to discuss current challenges and future developments in professional plant cultivation with customers, partners, and research institutions.

Energy efficiency remains a key issue
Rising energy costs continue to shape the requirements of many greenhouse operators. Consequently, there is significant demand for lighting solutions that deliver high light output while minimizing energy consumption.
GreenTech demonstrated that efficiency gains will continue to be among the most important drivers of innovation in the market.

Lighting and sensor technology are converging
In addition to the performance of individual LEDs, the focus is increasingly shifting toward integrated system solutions. Examples include closed-loop control systems in which sensors measure light conditions directly at the plants. 
Based on this data, lighting systems can automatically adjust their intensity and spectrum. The goal is to continuously provide plants with the desired light conditions and thus ensure stable growing conditions.
The combination of sensor technology and lighting technology opens up new possibilities for more precise control of cultivation processes.

UV-C technologies are gaining importance
Another topic at GreenTech 2026 was the use of UV-C radiation to support plant health.
Conventional UV-C solutions are already being used today to treat plant diseases. At the same time, companies, research institutions, and universities are working to better understand the effects of different UV wavelengths.
LEDs offer additional advantages in this regard, as they do not contain mercury and can be flexibly tuned to specific wavelengths.

Innovation beyond the greenhouse
A look at professional sports demonstrates just how versatile modern plant lighting has become.
Coinciding with the start of the World Cup, GreenTech also focused on the maintenance of stadium turf. The same lighting concepts used in greenhouses to promote plant growth also support the regeneration of heavily used playing surfaces between matches.
Red and blue light promote turf growth, while UV-C technologies may in the future also contribute to the treatment of diseases and fungal infestations. This opens up new areas of application for technologies that were originally developed for professional plant cultivation.

Sustainable approaches for the agriculture of the future
In addition, new concepts were presented at the trade show that can reduce the use of chemical agents. These include, for example, camera-based systems that detect weeds and treat them precisely using laser technology.
Such approaches demonstrate how modern lighting, sensor, and laser technologies can help make agricultural processes more efficient and especially resource efficient.

GreenTech as a platform for exchange and innovation
In addition to technological developments, the focus at GreenTech was primarily on industry exchange. Discussions with customers, partners, and research institutions have once again highlighted how important innovation, research, and the protection of intellectual property are for the further development of the horticulture industry.
For ams OSRAM, GreenTech thus remains an important platform for better understanding current market requirements, driving technological developments forward, and working with partners to develop solutions for the agriculture of the future.

Those who want to delve deeper can find additional insights and analyses on the key trends at GreenTech 2026 in the accompanying Hortibiz Newsradio interview. 
 ams OSRAM: Driving energy efficiency in horticulture - Hortimedia

Our experts Thomas Grebner and Alexander Wilm explain how ams OSRAM is developing more energy-efficient lighting and sensor technologies that help growers reduce energy consumption, lower costs, and maintain sustainable production