Seed treatment, without compromise? Cold plasma is ready for prime time, says Clean Crop Technologies
Seed treatment, without compromise? Cold plasma is ready for prime time, says Clean Crop Technologies AgFunderNews
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Massachusetts-based Clean Crop Technologies Launches Commercial Seed Treatment Facility
Clean Crop Technologies, a Massachusetts-based startup, has recently launched a commercial cold plasma seed treatment facility. The company claims to have signed $3.4 million in purchase orders and has a sales and pilot pipeline worth $47 million in annual recurring revenue from companies that represent 39% of the global vegetable seed market.
Advantages of Cold Plasma Seed Treatment
Clean Crop Technologies uses ionized gases to disinfect seeds, offering an alternative to hot water and chemical seed treatments. While hot water and chemical treatments are effective at tackling pathogens, they can also reduce germination rates. Clean Crop Technologies’ cold plasma treatment kills contaminants without harming the germination of the seed.
Focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Clean Crop Technologies is aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. By providing a sustainable and efficient seed treatment solution, the company contributes to SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Commercial System and Process
The company has built its first commercial system in 2023, specifically designed for vegetable seeds. Customers send their seeds to Clean Crop Technologies’ tolling line, where the seeds are treated with ionized gases in a class 7 cleanroom. The treated seeds are then packaged aseptically and returned to the customers. The machines are modular, allowing for scalability and matching line speeds of hundreds of pounds per hour with multiple machines in parallel.
Applications and Market Demand
Clean Crop Technologies has seen significant demand in high-value vegetable seeds such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, and peppers. The company is also exploring applications in row crops and lower-value vegetables like spinach. By providing a reliable seed treatment solution, Clean Crop Technologies enables seed companies to sell a higher percentage of their crop and helps growers increase yields by reducing pathogen pressure and eliminating harmful chemical treatments.
High Voltage Atmospheric Cold Plasma Technology (HVACP)
Clean Crop Technologies uses high voltage atmospheric cold plasma technology (HVACP) to inactivate contaminants from seed surfaces. This dry, automated, and residue-free process breaks down microbes without harming the quality of the food. The technology can target a wide range of contaminants, including Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and mycotoxins.
Regulatory Pathway and Environmental Impact
Clean Crop Technologies’ cold plasma technology is considered a pesticidal device by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The company has obtained clearance from the EPA to make pesticidal claims and has been certified as an organic seed handler. The treatment process does not leave residues on the seed, making it a fast-tracked pesticidal device. Clean Crop Technologies ensures scientific evidence backs up their claims and follows strict regulations to maintain product quality and safety.
Cost-effectiveness and Future Growth
Clean Crop Technologies’ cold plasma technology offers cost-effective seed treatment compared to traditional methods. The company aims to scale its capacity to meet the growing demand for vegetable seeds. They have raised $13 million in funding and plan to raise more in the future. Clean Crop Technologies focuses on unit economics and has developed a financing strategy to onboard machines without relying on equity financing.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 2: Zero Hunger
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 15: Life on Land
The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they involve improving food safety, reducing pathogens and contaminants in seeds, enhancing crop yields, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
- Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
- Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
These targets are relevant because they focus on sustainable food production, reducing pollution and contamination, promoting clean technologies, managing chemicals and wastes, and restoring degraded land.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:
- Percentage increase in crop yields for seed companies using the cold plasma seed treatment.
- Reduction in pathogen pressure and use of existing controls (such as wet chemical treatments) by growers using the cold plasma seed treatment.
- Reduction in the number of deaths and illnesses caused by hazardous chemicals and contaminants in food crops.
- Adoption rate of cold plasma technology in the seed treatment industry.
- Extent of land restoration and reduction in soil degradation resulting from reduced pathogen load on seeds.
These indicators can help track the progress made in achieving sustainable food production, reducing pollution and contamination, promoting clean technologies, managing chemicals and wastes, and restoring degraded land.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 2: Zero Hunger | Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production. | – Percentage increase in crop yields for seed companies using the cold plasma seed treatment. – Reduction in pathogen pressure and use of existing controls (such as wet chemical treatments) by growers using the cold plasma seed treatment. |
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | – Reduction in the number of deaths and illnesses caused by hazardous chemicals and contaminants in food crops. |
| SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure | Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. | – Adoption rate of cold plasma technology in the seed treatment industry. |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | – Reduction in the release of hazardous chemicals and contaminants to air, water, and soil through the use of cold plasma seed treatment. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. | – Extent of land restoration and reduction in soil degradation resulting from reduced pathogen load on seeds. |
Copyright: Dive into this article, curated with care by SDG Investors Inc. Our advanced AI technology searches through vast amounts of data to spotlight how we are all moving forward with the Sustainable Development Goals. While we own the rights to this content, we invite you to share it to help spread knowledge and spark action on the SDGs.
Fuente: agfundernews.com
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