A start-up SME founded in 2019 out of a leading university in the UK is targeting market release for their innovation in 2023. The team has a strong background in organic chemistry, nanomaterials, commercialisation and agri-tech. Their innovation allows plants to increase photosynthetic activity in plants resulting in increased crop yields of >20% in the tested crops. With this technology, they aim to enhance agricultural productivity sustainably and reduce pressure on natural resources by optimising the performance of plants. They estimate an initial addressable market of $1.7bn globally for their first target crops. They are targeting standard agriculture, as the product can be readily adapted to fit with conventional agronomic practices. Their initial target market is hydroponic farming targeting tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers, and peppers. This product has the potential to work on a range of crops. They are potentially interested in seeking international research and development partnerships to test the innovation on their crops with some analysis of the crop outputs involved. Potential crops of interest are: cannabis/hemp, cut flowers, leafy greens, eggplant, watermelon and sugar cane
Advantages & innovations
• There are currently no solutions on the market addressing the photosynthetic inefficiency of plants.
• This technology can be readily adapted to fit with conventional agronomic practices.
• A well defined mode of action linked to high efficacy offers the potential to access the whole agricultural sector.
• Non-toxic, naturally occurring, carbon-based nanomaterial, commonly found in foods and drinks, prepared synthetically, making it homogeneous and scalable.
• Potentially increasing the efficiency of fertilisers, with the potential of reducing the amount of fertilisers currently used.
• Yield increases of between 20-40% and increase in photosynthesis efficiencies up to 30%
• Estimate an addressable market of $1.7bn globally
Stage of development
Prototype available for demonstration
Partner sought
The UK SME is looking for research partners that have the facilities to test the product on their crops (ideally hydroponics) and can potentially conduct analysis on the outputs. They are interested in testing on a range of different crops. Analysis is likely to include crop yield data, fruit sugar/acid content, and/or phytochemical profile.
The research partner can be an SME or research establishment. The SME would provide the product to be tested, while the research partner should have expertise in the crop to be tested and ideally also in crop physiology.