As a research and development engineer for Heliospectra in Gothenburg, Sweden, Daniel Bånkestad is considered a leader in advancing LED lighting technology and control solutions for the horticultural and agricultural industries.
Bånkestad completed graduate degrees and work in bioengineering with Chalmers University in Sweden and Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA before joining the Heliospectra team in 2003. Much of his engineering work is focused on light characterization and collaboration with supply-chain partners, third-party agencies, and growers to ensure that horticultural lighting and LED products are validated and verified to deliver reliable and efficient performance. He also actively develops light plans, light simulations, and customized optics to optimize light transmittance and uniformity within a diverse array of growing environments and facilities.
Chairing a new research project with the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), Bånkestad and his team are currently developing new optical sensors to measure chlorophyll fluorescence at the plant canopy level. The sensor integrations will detect plant stress caused by incoming light and other non-biotic factors such as drought or salt as well as biotic stress caused by pests or other disease aggressions in greenhouse environments. He recognizes the power that artificial intelligence will bring to smart farms and autonomous greenhouses in the future.
