Creating greater flexibility and control in growing

Across six locations and 50 hectares in the Westland region, Netherlands, ACRES grows light-grown cucumbers, light-grown tomatoes and unlit tomatoes. At the beginning of 2025, the company took an important step at its Spark location by upgrading from the iSii climate computer to IIVO. The transition coincided with the move to Full LED in cucumber cultivation, creating new possibilities for more advanced and flexible climate and lighting control.

For cultivation specialist Danny Verwoerd, it is especially the flexibility of IIVO that makes the difference in daily practice. The system allows ACRES to configure the climate control according to its own growing strategy. “You can add an unlimited number of settings and parameters via ViPs, allowing you to control and manage the system exactly as you wish,” says Danny Verwoerd, Cultivation Specialist at ACRES.

Making the switch was not a decision ACRES took lightly. With climate, water and energy processes all depending on the system, the potential impact on daily operations was an important consideration. Close cooperation with Hoogendoorn and the installer ultimately provided the confidence to move forward. “By continuously addressing the questions we had and devising solutions for them, they convinced us to make this decision. And to this day, we haven’t doubted it for a second,” says Cornelis de Rijke, Director at ACRES.

The transition was carried out step by step, starting with the greenhouse departments, followed by the water and energy systems. Throughout the process, Hoogendoorn provided guidance, training through the online academy and dedicated one-to-one support. “Through one-to-one sessions, Kevin walked us through the entire climate control system and configured additional settings to make it much easier for us to manage,” Danny adds. Today, ACRES has a climate control system that provides the flexibility and control needed to support its growing ambitions.