Monday 29 August 2016 09:22 AM
Biolumic's UV plant technology extends beyond crop growth to pest, disease resistance
By Fiona Rotherham
Aug. 26 (BusinessDesk) - Agritech start-up Biolumic, which increases crop yields by applying ultraviolet (UV) light to
seeds, seedlings, and plants, is also treating them for resistance to pests and disease.
The Palmerston North-based company was founded in 2012 by chief scientific officer Jason Wargent, who is a Massey
University-based world expert on the effect of light on plant growth and development. He initially investigated whether
the hole in the ozone layer was damaging plant growth and instead found increased UV levels were beneficial.
Early trials in New Zealand on lettuce and basil plants showed promising gains by having specific “recipes” of UV light
shone on them to make them hardier and grow bigger. Biolumic’s game-changing Smart Light Array Technology releases
varying quantities of UV light at different wavelengths.
Successful trials last year on lettuce and broccoli for one of California’s largest salad grower, where yields increased
an average 10 percent, led to the company becoming Biolumic’s first paying customer this year with 35 million seedlings
being treated.
Biolumic’s business model is to have recurring revenue based on installing equipment onsite and charging a per-plant
treatment fee, with the US and Mexico the initial target markets, followed by Europe.
“We’ve been able to show that customers will get a significant return with a payback of $2 for every $1 spent with
Biolumic,” said chief executive Warren Bebb.
Companies involved in the trials often say the environmentally-friendly technology seems “too good to be true”, he said.
“They do challenge it and question what the process involves and how easy it is to scale up and incorporate with what
they do. While it looks promising, we still have a few things to work out.”
The start-up has also moved beyond treating leafy vegetables to trials of treating seeds of corn in New Zealand this
year which have produced similar good results. “There has been the same consistent reaction to seeds as treating
seedlings and we didn’t expect that,” Bebb said.
Further seed trials are planned in New Zealand from November and then in the northern hemisphere next year. Prime
targets for the seed treatment are row crops such as corn, soy, and wheat.
The seed treatment industry alone is worth an estimated US$10 billion annually and growing at 20 percent per annum, Bebb
said. “It is such a great opportunity that even though we’re a small company we have had to put resources into it and
shareholders have been happy to support that so far.”
A third leg under development is treating the plants for pest and diseases resistance by using a slightly different
ultra-violet light and would do away with the need for pesticides. Bebb said its two UV treatments could be combined or
kept separate though the trials for pest and disease resistance which involve spraying a pathogen onto healthy plants
may be harder to convince commercial growers to agree to.
The first quarter of next year is shaping up to be a big one for the start-up when the outcome of a second commercial
trial in Mexico for one of that country’s largest processed vegetable producers will be known, the one-year contract
with its big Californian customer comes up for renewal, and new trials in Europe are hoping to be kicked off.
The start-up’s funding is also due to run out in March next year and Bebb said they will do a further fundraising round
early next year from existing and strategic investors. Though the amount has not yet been signed off by the board it
will be above the $2 million raised last year. That round was supported by new and existing investors and major
shareholders include the Manawatu Investment Group, NZ Venture Investment Fund, Stephen Tindall’s K1Wi investment
vehicle, Ice Angels and Enterprise Angels. Wargent’s stake has been diluted to just under 10 percent.
It has also had around $300,000 in research and development grants to date.
(BusinessDesk)
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