Light Science Technologies Holdings PLC on Friday said it will participate in a partnership funded by The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Innovate UK.

The Derby, England-based plant monitoring solutions developer said the collaboration will last 12 months, and is valued at £299,748.

Light Science will receive a grant worth of £188,251.

The company-led project consortium, SensorGROW, includes Bridge Farm Group Ltd, a horticultural expert, and UK grower Zenith Nurseries Ltd.

‘The consortium will deliver this 12-month industrial research project, focussing on extending LSTH’s existing SensorGROW air zone sensor to provide root zone data via a robust TRL7 technology platform through design refinement, prototyping, and a real world 4-month technical feasibility assessment,’ the firm said.

Chief Executive Officer Simon Deacon said: ‘We are extremely excited to be part of this consortium. There is growing need for innovative solutions that will help increase food security and crop yields, and we are delighted to be working with a range of partners that are at the forefront of change and providing welcome solutions to global cultivation challenges.

‘Since launching SensorGROW in June 2022 we have made great strides in developing the technology. This collaboration creates the perfect platform for us to further develop the technology, with the aim of empowering farmers to enhance resource management, saving costs on water, nutrients, fertilizers, and energy, while simultaneously increasing yields and cultivating healthier crops.’

SensorGROW was launched in June 2022 and its technology enables farmers to monitor key growing factors such as CO2 levels, light and soil pH levels in real time. The company said the SensorGROW product provides an additional high-margin route to market.

Shares in Light Science rose 3.9% to 2.96 pence each in London on Friday morning.

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