In a groundbreaking move that could reshape the future of agriculture, Stevia extract supplier Almendra has ventured into agtech innovation with a technology that promises to dramatically boost crop yields. The Singapore-headquartered company, with manufacturing facilities in Thailand, has developed a system that exposes crops to specific wavelengths of light during the night, a technique known as “night interruption” technology. While this method has been utilized in greenhouses for years, Almendra claims to be the first to adapt it for open field agriculture.
The concept, also referred to as night break technology, involves using short bursts of light, typically red or far-red LEDs, during the night to manipulate flowering in photoperiod-sensitive crops. This manipulation can lead to improved yield, better crop timing, or enhanced adaptability to new climates. Almendra’s innovation lies in its mobile irrigation rigs equipped with banks of LEDs, for which the company holds US and Australian patents.
The night lighting technology impacts various aspects of plant growth, including flowering, leaf production, and ultimately, yield. For instance, stevia plants, which are “short-day” plants, flower when nights are longer. By extending day length with artificial light or creating “night breaks,” growers can delay or eliminate flowering, leading to increased yield. This is because the plant continues to produce leaves, where the sweet compounds are concentrated, instead of diverting energy to make flowers and seeds.
The implications of this technology are vast. It offers a more appealing alternative to growers compared to costly crop inputs or genetic engineering. By optimizing light, the approach enhances plant robustness, increases biomass, and improves yields. Almendra is now seeking to commercialize this technology with partners for a variety of crops, including soybeans, hops, rice, and cotton.
The company has already conducted five years of successful field trials with stevia plants, demonstrating significant yield improvements. Large-scale trials on soybeans in Brazil have also shown promising results. The night lighting delayed flowering by two weeks, giving the plants more time to grow leaves and stems and build a stronger canopy for photosynthesis.
The cost-effectiveness of this technology is another significant advantage. With the sharp reduction in the cost of LEDs, the business case for augmented crop lighting in open fields via irrigation rigs has become more attractive. Almendra is exploring a licensing model to bring this technology to the marketplace, with an initial focus on the USA, Brazil, and Australia.
The implementation of this technology is also straightforward. Many farms already use irrigation rigs, so it’s simply a matter of retrofitting them with LED lighting. The timing and duration of the light exposure will be advised by Almendra, making it a practical solution for high-value crops in open fields, with or without irrigation.