⚡ When lightning strikes⚡
Technology which harnesses lightning’s nitrogen-fixing properties could revolutionise #fertiliser production and supply, cut #carbonemissions and support #soilhealth.
The Agri-Tech Centres are working with innovative start-up Debye Ltd to trial its ground-breaking system, which simulates lightning’s ability to capture nitrogen in the form of #nitrates when it strikes water.
👁️Debye envisage modular and containerised systems sited on farms or hubs, giving 🧑🌾🚜farmers on-the-spot or local supply of nitrate-based fertiliser using only air + water + electricity.
The 18-month feasibility R&D project is taking place on🥬lettuce crops in Agri-Tech Centre CHAP's vertical farming facility at Stockbridge, with fellow Centre Agri-EPI providing project management and life-cycle analysis, measuring the product’s environmental and economical sustainability at each stage of its development.
The project is funded by Innovate UK and BBSRC
Burak Karadag, Ph.D. chief technical officer, Debye Ltd said: “Fertiliser is critical to 🌏🌾global food security, but current production methods cause environmental harm and are subject to market disruption.
“Our technology harnesses nature’s own elegant solution: ⛈ lightning strikes water with such energy that it breaks apart atmospheric nitrogen molecules, creating nitrogen dioxide, which is soluble in water and readily absorbed by plants. Our technology replicates these principles using only air, water and electricity.
“Today’s synthetic fertiliser production accounts for five per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to half the total emissions produced by the EU27 in 2021. Just imagine if we could remove those emissions!"
Harry Langford Innovation Network Lead at CHAP, said: “The Agri-Tech Centres are delighted to be working with Debye Ltd. to test the feasibility of this exciting technology and help to determine its value proposition. By creating an evidence base for novel technologies, we can help to support adoption and enable a fair transition for UK farmers and growers.”
🙏 The Agri-Tech Centres help innovative start-ups throughout their journey; securing funding, providing access to research facilities to test, demonstrate and validate new ideas to overcome the agri-industry’s critical challenges, such as climate change and environmental sustainability.
For more information, please visit 👉 www.agritechcentres.com
#agritech #acceleratingagritech #innovation
