The companies will develop next-generation luminescent greenhouse technology under UbiQD's UbiGro family of specialty agricultural products
Greenhouses with UbiGro consistently produce larger crop yields by enhancing the spectral quality of sunlight. (Credit: PRNewswire / UbiQD, Inc)
Science company Solvay Group has collaborated with an advanced materials company UbiQD to develop next-generation greenhouse technology.
Under the deal, the partnership will engage in the development of next-generation luminescent greenhouse technology as part of UbiQD’s UbiGro family of speciality agricultural products.
UbiQD founder and CEO Hunter McDaniel said: “We are only just beginning to see what UbiGro can do for the greenhouse industry, and this exciting new partnership with Solvay will accelerate deployment of a full-cover solution.
“Solvay is the industry leader in greenhouse film additives, and they are widely recognized for their polymer innovation as well as supply chain reliability.”
UbiGro adopts fluorescence to create a more optimal light spectrum for crops
UbiGro is a layer of light that supports plants to gain more from the sun. UbiGro, which is powered by UbiQD’s bright quantum dots, adopts fluorescence to create a more optimal light spectrum for crops.
UbiQD’s dots translate underutilised colours of light from the sun such as blue and UV to more photosynthetically active colours of light.
According to the company, the UbiQD has shown plants grow faster under the orange UbiGro product, helping to consistently generate up to 20% larger harvests for farmers.
The partnership is said to allow growers to achieve spectrum optimisation without needing to change existing greenhouse designs or invest in lighting fixtures or electricity infrastructure.
Solvay vice president Olivier Touret said: “Our innovative solutions have helped drive the growth of the $3 billion greenhouse cover market.
“We look forward to partnering with a company equally innovative and committed to growing the market.”
UbiQD supports the development of product innovations in agriculture, clean energy, and security. Solvay’s advanced solutions are said to benefit sustainable products used in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices, health care applications, water and air purification systems.
In December 2019, NASA awarded UbiQD a phase II small business technology transfer (STTR) contract to tailor the solar spectrum for increased crop yield for space missions.