Key Takeaways:
- Partnership Announcement: Crocus Labs (Profile) and James Hutton Institute have announced a collaboration to enhance plant and crop production efficiency through dynamic light spectra.
- Research Focus: The partnership’s initial research will concentrate on berry propagation in both greenhouse environments and controlled environment agriculture (CEA), led by experts from both organizations.
- Innovative Solutions: Crocus Labs offers its cutting-edge LED technology, SIRIUS X.3, which promises to improve plant propagation survival rates and development.
- Potential Impact: The collaboration is poised to set new standards in plant growth research, emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency in agriculture.
- Experts Leading the Way: The team includes Professor Derek Stewart, Dr. Gabriela Toledo, and Evgeny Gubin, each bringing a wealth of knowledge in plant photobiology and horticulture research.
Transforming Light Use in Agriculture
The James Hutton Institute, a frontrunner in agri-food systems research, has joined forces with Crocus Labs, a Berlin-based deep tech startup renowned for its innovations in lighting technology. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the way light is utilized in plant and crop production, focusing primarily on the effects of dynamic light spectra on young plants.
Initial Focus: Berry Propagation
The joint research initiative, spearheaded by Professor Derek Stewart from Hutton’s Advanced Plant Growth Centre, Dr. Gabriela Toledo, and Evgeny Gubin of Crocus Labs, will initially explore berry propagation. The goal is to understand how customized light spectrums can increase plant propagation survival ratios and enhance the development of young berry plants in greenhouse settings and CEA.
Crocus Labs’ LED Innovation
Crocus Labs brings its proprietary LED technology to the partnership, specifically the SIRIUS X.3 model, known for its energy efficiency and tunable spectrum capabilities. This technology is expected to play a pivotal role in the research conducted at the James Hutton Institute. It offers a versatile tool for experimenting with different light environments and their impacts on plant growth and metabolism.
The Experts Behind the Innovation
- Prof. Derek Stewart: As the Director at The Advanced Plant Growth Centre, Professor Stewart leads numerous innovative research programs that apply scientific developments in Controlled Environment Agriculture to industrial applications.
- Dr. Gabriela Toledo: Heading the Plant Photobiology research group, Dr. Toledo’s work concentrates on the influence of light on plant growth, development, and metabolism.
- Evgeny Gubin: With a background in Process & Quality Management in Agri- and Horticulture, Gubin oversees Crocus Labs’ internal light research and advises customers on optimal lighting solutions.
Image provided by Crocus Labs
