Aerial view of greenhouse installation

Final stage of construction

Mature cucumber plants

Lettuce growing under Svensson screens in Autopot system

The Maldives is the classic example of a very difficult climate to grow crops in. With high temperatures, humidity and stormy seasons, it seemed the perfect place for us to test our climate control systems.

The Maldives is one of the world's special places. The beautiful beaches and warm seas are excellent for the holiday maker, but the climate is terrible for producing food. Like much of the equatorial area, it is hot and humid, with high levels of radiation, and many species of crop-damaging insects to deal with. Coupled with unusually high occurrences of high winds and storms, and you have a very tough climate to grow in.

So, what were the challenges?

• Too much radiation and heat
• The problem of insects
• High humidity levels
• Water wastage

And how did LS Climate Control overcome these problems?

Firstly, we built a rain and insect-proof house with high ventilation and moving shade to give good humidity control. Next, we used Autopot Systems to regulate the amount of water used by the plants, according to what the plants required. This reduced water waste through more effective use.

For the first time, thanks to LS Climate Control, it has been demonstrated that successful food production can be achieved in hot tropical areas. The investment paid back in less than 2 years.

We also:

• Reduced plant temperatures by up to 12ºC 
• Reduced dew drops and disease
• Balanced the relative humidity
• Provided a fantastic environment for the staff and the plants