Light Science Technologies (LST) , a specialist in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology and contract electronics manufacturing (CEM), has received a grant from The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the UK Research and Innovation for a sustainable potato farming project. The company is participating in a 36-month £1.74m collaboration.

Light Science will receive a grant of £209,506.

The project includes a range of commercial potato growers across England and will test out a range of regenerative cultivation methods that could reduce the environmental damage caused by producing potatoes.

As part of the collaboration, Light Sciences will add Nitrous Oxide sensing capabilities to its existing SensorGROW product and supply sensors to various growing sites, phased to be delivered in Q2 2024.

Simon Deacon, Chief Executive Officer of LSTH, commented: "We are delighted to be involved in such a strong consortium and grateful for the support of UKRI and Defra. This will be an exciting opportunity to take SensorGROW from indoor to outdoor growing, while enabling the Company to forge new relationships within the research, policy, and commercial growing pools."
 

View from Vox 

Outcomes from the project can be expected to offer growers a range of methods to reduce both inputs to and impacts from potato crops. As pressure increases for growers to opt for more sustainable farming methods, Light Science’s Nitrous Oxide sensors added to SensorGROW could be an incredibly attractive offering to potato farmers. 

By Light Science adding Nitrous Oxide sensors to its existing SensorGROW, it can potentially aid in emissions reduction, as nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas, alongside optimising fertilizer use. Nitrous oxide is produced from nitrogen-based fertilisers. With sensing capabilities, farmers can precisely measure nitrous oxide levels and adjust fertilizer application rates accordingly. This helps reduce over-fertilization, which can lead to nitrous oxide emissions and groundwater pollution.

Follow Light Science Technologies for more News and Updates: