Light Science Technologies leads the charge in transformation of UK agriculture with technology
In a major development for the UK agricultural sector, Light Science Technologies Holdings plc (AIM: LST) has announced its participation in a significant 12-month collaboration, backed by a £299,748 fund from The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Innovate UK’s Transforming Food Production Challenge. This initiative, titled “SensorGROW: an intuitive, cost-effective, and scalable precision growing platform,” aims to revolutionize farming practices through advanced technology. Light Science Technologies Ltd, a key player in this consortium, will receive a grant of £188,251 over the project’s duration, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering innovation in agriculture.
The consortium, including Bridge Farm and Zenith Nurseries, is set to embark on a 12-month industrial research project to extend LSTH’s existing SensorGROW air zone sensor technology. This endeavor focuses on integrating root zone data collection through a robust TRL7 technology platform, involving design refinement, prototyping, and a real-world 4-month technical feasibility assessment.
With an estimated market growth of $55bn and a 12% CAGR from 2023 to 2032, the smart agriculture sector is poised for significant expansion. The SensorGROW project addresses the urgent need for more efficient, sustainable farming practices within the UK’s 10 million m^2 of protected growing environments. The collaboration aims to eliminate manual readings and field walks, detect climate issues, crop diseases, and pests sooner, and enhance the sustainability of agriculture by using resources more effectively. This project could lead to year-round growing times and significant economic benefits for growers.
Bridge Farms, with decades of horticultural innovation, and Zenith Nurseries, a commercial-scale producer of fine leaf salads, play crucial roles in this project. Their expertise and facilities are instrumental in the technical feasibility assessment and prototype testing of the SensorGROW technology.
Simon Deacon, CEO of LSTH, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the increasing demand for innovative solutions to boost food security and crop yields. The SensorGROW project, launched in June 2022, has made significant strides in technology development. This new partnership aims to empower farmers with enhanced resource management capabilities, leading to cost savings and increased yields.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the integration of technology into agriculture, promising to address global cultivation challenges. By enhancing efficiency and sustainability, projects like SensorGROW are setting the stage for the future of farming, ensuring the sector can meet the growing demand for food sustainably.