Molecular additive shows promise for improved crop yields

Developed by Cambridge-based Lambda agri, the molecular additive can be embedded into the plastics that make polytunnels to convert incoming UV light into red light. The patent pending molecule can also be spray painted onto greenhouses or incorporated into polytunnel films for new-builds. 

This light conversion is called luminescent downshifting, which enhances photosynthesis and has the potential to boost crop yields. 

Indeed, tests by Lambda have shown that increased crop yield and leaf size can be achieved when grown under these conditions.  

“We've had [a] 9.3 per cent increase in crop yield, which was relatively statistically significant only in that within that data set we have a 10 per cent increase in broadness of basil leaf,” said Lambda CEO Dr Monica Saavedra, EngD.

The tests carried out at Cranfield University also saw a five per cent increase in strawberry sweetness, which has caught the attention of growers.

In 2023 the company won the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Emerging Technologies Competition in the Energy category, and Dr Saavedra is currently looking to raise £550,000. 

“We've had a lot of interest from investors, growers, and manufacturers of coatings for greenhouses and polytunnel films,” she said. “I've [also] noticed that the government is keener to cater for food insecurity. Due to climate change, people are only going to grow more plants indoors, in more controlled environments.”

Lambda’s technology is at TRL 5/6 and Dr Saavedra added that the MVP (minimal viable product) likely to go to market costs a few pence per square metre of greenhouse.

“We're still finding ways of processing it so that we can get that minimal viable product in a good enough state to be within the final product,” she said.

Once the business takes off Lambda look likely to look again at solar.

“UV is damaging to the solar cells – that is, to the wafer itself - as well as the glue that keeps the solar glass attached to the wafer,” said Dr Saavedra. “So protecting the cells from UV by absorbing it and converting into benign light - and light that you can actually use to create electricity – is a no brainer.”