The other side of UV: It grows things, too

Ever since the outbreak of the global health pandemic, most of the “ultraviolet” talk in the lighting industry has centered around using the UV spectrum to eliminate or deactivate pathogens such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19 and which is unable to replicate when exposed to the C-band of UV.

But a partnership that horticultural lighting company Fluence recently struck reminds us that UV can nurture things too.

Austin, Texas–based Fluence has teamed with New Zealand–based agricultural technology specialist BioLumic to deliver UV recipes, developed by BioLumic, via Fluence lighting hardware and systems.

In a joint announcement, the two companies noted that UV can improve plant yields, health, and quality when applied during the propagation stage of plant growth.

“BioLumic’s patented technology leverages UV photomorphogenesis to trigger biological events in seeds and young plants to dramatically optimize plant performance,” they said in a press release. “[BioLumic’s] proven UV Light Signal Recipes can induce large gains in plant yields, desirable plant traits, and vigor while also activating natural plant resistance to disease and pests.”

The companies said they will initially work with cannabis cultivators. Cannabis, which recently became part of Signify’s horticultural applications lineup, is a Fluence specialty.

“Our goal at Fluence is to drive cutting-edge plant science and innovations in agriculture technology,” Fluence CEO David Cohen said. “We’re excited to pursue that goal in collaboration with BioLumic and create the next generation of leading lighting solutions for cannabis and produce growers around the world.”

BioLumic is headquartered in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It specializes in delivering UV to seeds and seedlings.

The idea is not novel. LEDs Magazine has covered UV in the horticultural area in the past.

But the notion of UV as a facilitator of growth has taken a back seat lately with all the talk of using UV-C wavelengths to destroy SARS-CoV-2, which in turn has brought renewed interest in all bands of UV as a germicidal agent — be it against viruses or other pathogens.

However, the rush to make UV-C products to combat COVID over the last couple of years does not seem to have delivered a bonanza for the lighting industry. Signify recently declared as “obsolete” the UV-C products it offers to combat the virus on surfaces, a move which it says devalues the inventory in an accounting sense but stops short of outright dropping product lines. The same fate might also have applied to UV-C boxes intended to cleanse objects such as keys, phones, and wallets. LEDs Magazine is awaiting more information from Signify on that product category.

The company has had more success with UV-C products aimed at sanitizing air. But Signify continues to decline requests from LEDs Magazine for a volume update on sales, which might indicate that success has been limited.

MARK HALPER is a contributing editor for LEDs Magazine, and an energy, technology, and business journalist ([email protected]).

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