Bristol-based advanced materials start-up Albotherm is collaborating with one of the world’s largest glass manufacturers and two UK food firms in a groundbreaking project that could revolutionise the way crops are grown in greenhouses.
The University of Bristol spin-out is developing an innovative temperature-responsive coating for greenhouses.
By using advanced polymer chemistry, the heat-sensitive material has the potential to boost food productivity in commercial greenhouses by up to 34%.
Now the firm has been awarded a £500,000 Innovate UK Grant to work with global glass group Pilkington, watercress and salads producer Vitacress and Flavourfresh, a leading British commercial glasshouse grower.
The funding for the ambitious project has come from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) as part of its Farming Innovation Pathways Grant, administered by Innovate UK.
The aim is to address the pressing need for sustainable solutions in the horticulture sector by maximising energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
The project aims to develop and test Albotherm’s innovative smart coatings, with a focus on the optimisation and scale-up of its retrofit temperature-responsive shade coating for commercial greenhouses.
Initial testing is scheduled to start next spring with commercial scale crop trials.
Pilkington will use Albotherm’s technology to develop a glass coating for new greenhouse construction that can be produced using Pilkington’s large area manufacturing processes.
This new product will have a longer lifetime, maximising the environmental benefit of Albotherm’s technology and allow access to a wider market opportunity in industrial glazing.
The idea for the coating, which automatically adjusts how much light it lets through in response to changes in the temperature, emerged from cutting-edge PhD research into temperature-responsive materials by Dr Sian Fussell at the University of Bristol.
The technology means commercial greenhouses can maintain optimal growing conditions without the need for active cooling systems.
Two months ago Albotherm raised £1.6m in a seed round led by the Green Angels syndicate and supported by a number of prominent investors.
In addition to the new project funding from Innovate UK, Albotherm is also benefitting from growth support from Innovate UK EDGE, delivered by innovation and growth specialist Marc Rambaud.
Albotherm CEO Molly Allington, pictured above, right, with Dr Fussell, said: “Marc and the team at Innovate UK EDGE have helped us to build a really strong framework across areas like design, HR, internationalisation and funding and finance.
“We are excited to receive the Innovate UK grant and to collaborate with leaders in the UK horticulture industry.
“We are honoured to have the support of Flavourfresh, Vitacress and Pilkington on this project and we look forward to contributing to a more sustainable future for the horticultural industry.”
Flavourfresh production manager Andy Roe added: “This Albotherm project is exactly why British horticulture is number one in the world.
“Flavourfresh is so excited to be partnering with Albotherm on such an incredible and innovative concept. The outcome of this work will be so beneficial to all growers across the sector.”
