After years of research and development, Techponics has made a confident leap from prototype to production with the sale of its first leafy green system in France. This installation marks not only a milestone for the company but a breakthrough for open-field growers transitioning to soilless cultivation in the leafy green industry.
"This is a big moment for us," says Louis Belloin, Co-Founder of Techponics. "Just a few months ago, we were still finalizing the system. Now, we're installing our first unit for a grower who, only six months ago, told us he'd never consider going soilless. Our technology changed his mind."
Designed for simplicity
"At Techponics, we've redesigned hydroponic systems to grow leafy greens by merging two existing approaches: the floating systems and the moving-gutter systems (MGS) used in high-tech greenhouses," explains Louis. "Instead of traditional floaters, we use mobile gutters running on water basins – keeping the simplicity and permissive environment of the pond, but adding automation and precision: our dynamic spacing system. Growers tell us floaters are too labor-intensive, and MGS is often too complex and expensive. We've built a solution that fills the gap – simpler, more affordable, and designed around the grower."
The difference lies in adaptability. Unlike traditional systems, which often require high-tech greenhouse infrastructure, Techponics' solution can be installed anywhere, from open fields to aging greenhouses or basic tunnels, to high-tech greenhouses. "We don't need to build a new structure around our system. Instead, we adapt the system to fit whatever the grower already has. That's a huge shift, especially for open-field growers who don't want to get into the complexity of high-tech facilities."
Dynamic spacing for all varieties
One of Techponics' standout innovations is its dynamic spacing capability, which is of interest especially for leafy green growers. "With MGS, the gutter spacing is fixed at installation. If you're growing thin-leaf varieties, you install them for that spacing. If you later want to switch to big-head lettuce, it's technically possible, but time-consuming, expensive, and usually not worth the effort," Louis explains.
Techponics removes this barrier with software-controlled dynamic spacing. "Each gutter is independent and can be moved according to the crop," he explains. "If you're growing small leaves, they're placed closer together. For bigger heads, they space out. And the best part is, it's all managed via our in-house software. We're also integrating AI with camera systems to detect the crop type and recommend optimal spacing automatically. We bring to growers a copilot that will adapt to its own climate."
Two markets, one flexible system
The adaptability of Techponics' solution is proving to be a key strength as the company expands into both the European and U.S. markets. "In Europe, especially countries like France, Italy, and Switzerland, we see more interest from open-field growers who want to make the switch without investing in expensive greenhouses," Louis says. "In contrast, the U.S. players we're speaking to are already in greenhouses and are looking to retrofit their current DFT or floater systems with something more efficient."
The variety preferences also differ between regions. "European growers lean towards large-head lettuces, while in the U.S., it's more about thin-leaf mixes. The beauty of our system is that it works for both. Whether you're producing baby greens or full heads, you can adapt the spacing and continue using the same infrastructure."
Building for the grower, not around the system
With over 150 growers from around the world already visiting the company's showroom in Belgium and several projects currently in advanced stages of discussion, Louis believes this is just the beginning. "We strongly believe that we are the only solution currently capable of equipping all leafy green growers in a scalable, affordable, and user-friendly way."
For more information:
Techponics
Louis Belloin, Co-Founder
+4178 319 87 78
[email protected]
www.techponics.ag