F.O.G. revolutionizes pest and pathogen control in agriculture with BOOST UV

In the ever-changing landscape of agriculture, innovations are constantly reshaping the way we address agricultural challenges. One such groundbreaking initiative comes from the company Future of Grow (FOG), which, in collaboration with the prestigious HEPIA (Geneva School of Landscape Architecture, Engineering, and Architecture), has conducted an in-depth study on the use of UV radiation against pests and pathogens in crops, particularly Fragaria x ananassa ‘Darselect’ strawberries and Cannabis sativa L.

UV Lamps and Their Effectiveness

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of three prototype UV lamps emitting wavelengths of 222 nm, 275 nm, and 310 nm. FOG, a company based in Aigle, Switzerland, provided these lamps for the tests. The objective was clear: to evaluate their impact on controlling pests such as powdery mildew and mites in strawberry and cannabis crops.

The study’s findings revealed interesting insights, laying the groundwork for specific guidelines on energy consumption, suspension height, and operating time for each light fixture in commercial settings.

Future of Grow's UVA-UVB-IR Boosts

UV Treatment for Strawberries

In the case of Fragaria x ananassa ‘Darselect’ strawberries, the study showed that a lamp emitting light at a wavelength of 275 nm, at a specific dose, demonstrated exceptional attractiveness. The treated plants showed a significant reduction in average chlorophyll loss throughout their growth cycle compared to untreated plants or those treated with Armicarb®.

According to the study, «the treated plants lost an average of 104.215 mg/m² less chlorophyll than the untreated plants, and 27.011 mg/m² less than those treated with Armicarb® (p = 0.00002) .».

Furthermore, UV exposure had no significant effect on the dry weight of the strawberries or on the fruit’s sugar content.

UV Treatment for Cannabis

In the cannabis trial, UV treatment at a wavelength of 310 nm, administered at a specific dose, resulted in a remarkable rate of 90% of healthy plants free of powdery mildew. This proportion is comparable to the results obtained with Armicarb® treatment.

Furthermore, in cases of mite infestations on the apical parts of cannabis plants, the 310 nm UV treatment resulted in the lowest proportion of mite infestations, with 80% healthy plants. This result is better than that of the Armicarb® treatment, which yielded only 40% of mite-free plants.

The study also examined stem diameter increase and chlorophyll changes in the final experiment on Cannabis plants and found no significant differences between the UV-treated groups and the control groups.

Agronomic Implications and Future Directions

UV radiation has emerged as a multifaceted solution, demonstrating its potential in combating powdery mildew and mites, increasing chlorophyll concentration in strawberry plants, and reducing stress at specific doses. On cannabis plants, the UVA-UVB-IR Boosts from Future of Grow They can also be used to increase the levels of active compounds, terpenes, and resin during flowering, as well as to reduce pathogens and mites.

The study also notes that «further UVB tests will be conducted in 2024 and 2025 as part of a master’s thesis project with the University of Bern in Switzerland» to provide new insights into the broader applications of UV radiation in agriculture.