Light Science Technologies Holdings (LSTH) plc, a leading player in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology and contract electronics manufacturing (CEM), is poised to receive a grant of £209,506 as part of a £1.74m collaboration funded by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Transforming Food Production Challenge.
The consortium, named Transformative Reduced Input Potatoes (TRIP), brings together a group of commercial potato growers across England, spanning from Lincolnshire to Cornwall. Notably, Dyson Farming Ltd. owns and operates some of the farms involved in the project. The primary objective is to evaluate a range of regenerative cultivation methods that can potentially curb the environmental impact associated with potato production.
As part of this partnership, LSTH, based in Derbyshire, will enhance its existing SensorGROW product by incorporating Nitrous Oxide sensing capabilities. In addition, the company will supply sensors to various growing sites, with staggered deliveries scheduled for Q2 2024.
Over the course of 36 months, the TRIP initiative will explore novel breeds of disease-resistant potatoes, alternative nutrient treatments for leaf application instead of soil usage, reduced tillage methods utilizing mulches as a growing medium, and innovative techniques to monitor greenhouse gas emissions from farmers’ fields.
Collaborating closely with LSTH on this project are Dyson Farming, The James Hutton Institute, Emerald Research, The Sarvari Research Trust, and scientists from Bangor University’s School of Environmental and Natural Science and Biocomposites Centre.
Commenting on the project, Dr. Christine Jones from Dyson Farming expressed, “Many farmers aspire to produce their crops more sustainably, but integrating potatoes into a sustainable rotation can prove challenging due to their specific requirements. The outcomes of the TRIP project are expected to equip growers with various methods to minimize inputs and environmental impact associated with potato cultivation. Collaborating with TRIP partners presents an exciting opportunity to synergize different developmental areas and translate scientific findings into practical solutions for potato growers.”
Simon Deacon, Chief Executive Officer of LSTH, expressed his delight, stating, “We are thrilled to be part of this robust consortium and are grateful for the support of UKRI and Defra. This endeavor presents an exciting opportunity to extend SensorGROW from indoor to outdoor cultivation, while enabling LSTH to establish new relationships within the research, policy, and commercial growing communities.”