Australian atmosphere management technology company, Airofresh Intl has launched a new and unique system that includes a commercial scale Gas Phase Feeding (GPF) capacity, so growers can capitalise on the benefits of atmosphere-feeding of critical nutrients to greenhouse fruit and vegetables.
AiroFresh has traditionally been in the cold storage, and ambient storage space, but Founding Director Jonathan Taylor says the company has since done some research and set up some water management devices. Part of the research brought the team to a point where they realised what they were doing in water processing is applicable to water vapour and atmosphere, so they started doing some work around electromagnetic fields.
"We got to the point where we were able to produce an essential plant nutrient from the atmosphere, which is pretty good because no-one has done that yet," Mr Taylor said. "We did a couple of laboratory trials, which worked out pretty well, and then we got hold of a (tomato) greenhouse in Virginia in South Australia. We had access to a 20,000 cubic-metre facility, and the difference between our GPF room and the 'control' room was nuts. There was a huge difference."
Recent developments in this technology include the integration of specialized, structured electric and magnetic fields and sequential photon energy. The result is a unique ability to generate constant year-round, therapeutic levels of performance-impacting nutrients in the greenhouse atmosphere. Mr Taylor added that this was discovered through some output testing with Adelaide University.
"I won't go into the depths of what we produce, but it is not ozone, it's not carbon dioxide, and it is not ammonia - everyone thinks it is one of those three," Mr Taylor said. "But it is very successful and is absorbed by plants like a sponge. What it does do is enables that plant to become stronger and fruit better. The fruit doesn't necessarily get much bigger but there is more fruit. We've looked around and can't find anyone else who does atmosphere-feeding of gas phased nutrients. It is a surprise to me, but they don't, so we have taken steps to register the IP."
The unit is now available for purchase and Airofresh Intl is working with international companies in Europe and the United States; AM Fresh (UK), Paine Schwartz (New York), Agrafresh (California) and Decco to plan the process of getting this technology on the market on a larger scale.
"It is still early days for us, and we are working on getting the optimal nutrient concentration," Mr Taylor said. "We got some information out of the greenhouse trial research; our initial indications were that this nutrient was normally applied with water. So, the plants get their nutrients from the water, but there is a competitive environment. Molds like it, fungi like it - but there is no comparison for our approach for atmosphere, as you don't get this competition."
The combination of research and commercial results to date show a significant production uplift of between 30-80 per cent achieved with no added chemicals, in terms of volumes of fruit, whilst maintaining normal commercial size.
"We didn't really have a concept of how big we thought that the plants would get, but we knew it would be bigger, in terms of plant stems, leaves, and the whole thing really," Mr Taylor said. "Our research tells us that the nutrient, in the same way that bodybuilders use the nutrients in human biology, makes them stronger and capable of being disease resistant. The existing research, through the water application of those nutrients, was that they did get an increase of 40 per cent in fruit but they also got a 100 per cent increase in molds, 100 per cent increase in funguses. We don't have those issues."
In addition, Mr Taylor explained the AiroFresh Intl unit still destroys the fungi, mold, bacteria and viruses, and has been Australian university tested against the MS2 virus which is a globally accepted surrogate test for COVID-19. He said the outcome for the unit that is used in large cool rooms, was a 13-log first pass reduction, "which no-one has ever received", which means the company can now issue certificates of 'mold and virus protected storage'.
"This technology is affordable, portable, solar capable and adaptable to any location," Mr Taylor said. "We are thrilled to be able to offer greenhouse producers a technology solution which uniquely combines these production advantages with air purification and ethylene control benefits. Being a certified organic process, this new ability to “feed the plant” is especially valuable for organic and zero-residue producers."
Gas Phase Feeding is expected to work on most produce, except for some root vegetables, and AiroFresh Intl’s Queensland State Manager, Dr Mike Woodrow adds that there are also two other major production benefits of the technology.
"One is the resilience of both the plants and the fruit. There is certainly data to show that the resilience is preserved post-harvest," he said. "We now know that post-harvest produce continues to absorb these gas phase nutrients resulting in reduced chilling injury, weight loss and wastage. From the research, the benefit extends into post-harvest storage for 30-60 days. Something we have not alluded to much is the time to harvest. The room that we have been using the technology in is almost a month ahead of the 'control'. That is a significant production advantage.”
One of the side-issues to arise out of the research trials in the greenhouse is that the 'control' room developed canker, while the ‘Gas Phase Feeding’ room was perfectly protected. Mr Taylor explained that this is consistent with the research which shows that nutrient absorption increases the plant’s resistance to disease.
"A lot of people say that if you get canker in a room, not to grow in there for three years, but we moved in the next year," he said. "So, instead of keeping our 'control' as a control - we have proved concept at the moment - what we are doing is fitting out the 'control' room with our units, and if we can get rid of canker this season, to me that is an added plus. We are trying to make a positive out of a disaster in the control room, and the research is backing up that we probably will, which will add value later on."
AiroFresh Intl is also providing existing customers with an upgrade to this GPF technology when they get previous units serviced.
For a video of the Australian greenhouse trial click here.
For more information
Jonathan Taylor
Airofresh Intl
Phone: +61 412 851 767
jon@airofreshintl.com
www.airofreshintl.com
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