Challenges Facing the Agriculture Industry

Soil Degradation - By 2050, $23 trillion in revenue will be lost worldwide due to soil degradation
Fertilizer Cost - $24.4 billion spent on fertilizer products and systems in the U.S. (2020)
Pesticide Cost - $15.5 billion spent on pesticide products in the U.S. (2021)
Food Safety - $7 billion in lost or unusable food products lost due to contamination (2021)
Water Scarcity - California lost $1.1 billion in profitability due to water scarcity in 2022 alone

Increased Seed Germination & Yield

Plasma-Activated Liquids for Decontamination

Soil Decontamination

Reduced Food Waste

Cold Plasma

A platform technology with the potential to replace or integrate with many production stages of the agriculture and food continuum due to its low energy requirement and flexible system design

Plasma-Generated Nitrate Fertilizers

Reduced Bacterial Levels At Harvest

Chemical-Free Process

Virus, Bacteria, Fungus, Pest Removal

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security

Non-thermal (cold) plasma-enabled processes have unique advantages and applications along the food and feed crop production supply chain. Cold plasma dissociates microorganisms and biofilms on food surfaces, decontaminates food processing equipment and packaging, eradicates airborne toxins, and inactivates microbial enzymes, allergens, and anti-nutrients.

Cold plasma demonstrates that it can:

Treat seeds before planting to enhance germination, root growth, and plant vigor
Protect seeds from pathogens and pests, reducing the need for chemical treatments
Promote soil health, increase microbial activity, and enhance nutrient availability
Reduce soil-borne pathogens, such as Fusarium and Pythium, that cause plant diseases
Stimulate plant growth, increase photosynthesis, and improve nutrient uptake
Reduce foliar diseases (i.e., powdery mildew, rust) and pests (i.e., aphids, spider mites)
Disinfect fruits and vegetables post- harvest, reduce foodborne illness, extend shelf life
Reduce chemical residues from produce, such as pesticides and fungicides
Sterilize food processing equipment
Remove oxidative gases that decomposes perishables (i.e., ethylene).

Benefits of Using Cold Plasma to Prevent Food Waste

Decontamination
removes microorganisms thereby extending shelf life

Preservation
slows the ripening process preserving freshness

Increased nutrient content
makes produce more nutritious so it is less likely to be discarded

Chemical-free process
using non-toxic methods to decontaminate and preserve fresh produce