We all know that Photosynthesis requires water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight. Remove one of these factors, and a plant can’t grow.
As CEA evolved over the last few decades, we’ve learned how to introduce these factors artificially. One of the most comm on cases of this is the use of grow lights, which are absolutely essential to any vertical farming setup. And with the constant improvements in LED technology, artificial light is becoming better than ever, but this technology cannot match the full spectrum of light that radiates from the sun… until now.
A group of scientists at UC Riverside and the University of Delaware have managed to artificially trigger photosynthesis in crops, completely eliminating the need for light all-together. Using a process called electrolysis, Carbon dioxide and water can be electrically transformed into an acetate, which is then incorporated into the crops’s growing medium, just as you would a fertilizer. Not only can these acetates replace the need for sunlight and grow lights, but they can be used in addition for growth that is up to 18x more efficient than natural or artificial light alone. Isn’t that wild?
For more information, you can read the full article
here.
As always, more news in CEA and the latest Vertical Farming Podcast, featuring VoltServer’s Founder + CEO Stephen Eaves, just a scroll away.
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Happy Friday,
-Noah ☀️
