A cutting-edge solution that enhances plant defenses through UV-C flashes, providing specialty crop growers with a sustainable alternative to traditional fungicides. By stimulating a preemptive self-defense mechanism in plants, UV Boosting technology helps increase resistance to pathogens, minimizing crop damage and reducing reliance on chemical inputs.
Growers in the agricultural industry face challenges related to the dependence on fungicides for crop protection. Increasing regulatory restrictions and environmental concerns have highlighted the need for sustainable alternatives that minimize chemical inputs while effectively combating pathogens. How can specialty crop growers address these agricultural challenges today?
UV Boosting offers a solution by stimulating plant natural defenses through UV-C flashes. This triggers a defense mechanism in plants, making them more resistant to pathogens even before their appearance.
By enhancing plant defenses, UV Boosting aims to reduce the reliance on fungicides and minimize damage caused by pathogens & other abiotic stresses like spring frost or drought.
UV Boosting’s equipment offers also a flexible treatment rate, allowing growers to adjust the intensity of UV-C flashes based on specific crop requirements and disease pressure.
In conjunctions with UV Boosting, Kubota is testing sustainable alternatives to chemicals and empowering growers to protect their crops effectively while promoting environmentally friendly farming practices
Nowadays UV Boosting offers the solution specialized for vineyards, which Kubota dealers and clients in Italy (Brescia area) and France (Anjou) are testing in 2024. However, the adaptable nature of the equipment allows it to be applied to various other crops where fungal pathogens pose a significant threat. Company has on its roadmap also prototypes for orchards, strawberries & greens (as golf courses).
With adaptable equipment, flexible treatment UV flashes rates, and compatibility with various agricultural machines, UV Boosting empowers growers to protect their crops effectively.
Minimize crop damage due to pathogens & climate events like drough and frost.
Kubota’s clients applied 4-7 treatments during the season to evaluate the technology impact on the yield results as well as the overall effectiveness on the trees’ health state. According to experts and backed by scientific evidence, UV Boosting solution secures the yield for organic, biodynamic and conventional wine growers.
Treatments provide short exposure to proprietary UV sources on plants. Activated plant metabolism works after: plants experience a peak of Salicylic Acid production. It has been proven that salicylic acid is a key plant hormone required for establishing resistance to many pathogens. As a result, plant reacts to biological or physical threats much more efficiently and rapidly.
Wine growers confirmed less yield losses due to hydric stress or fungal diseases. For example, proven agronomical validation within season 2022 in Bordeaux shown the reduction of drought impacting on yield (+22% in yield) and results in €4.9k revenue savings/ha for vineyard.
The UV Boosting Helios implements can be easily mounted on standard (narrow) tractors and straddle tractors for application in vineyards. Treatments are conducted at the tractor‘s speed of 4 km/h.
Those treatments have no residue in the environment and no impact on biotope.
Didier Defaix, owner of Domaine Bernard Defaix in Chablis, France
Didier Defaix is the owner of Domaine Bernard Defaix in Chablis, France. He manages 27 ha over Chablis appellation, Chablis Premier Cru. Domain is an organic vineyard for 15 years and they try to produce a sustainable agriculture.
It is the third season since Didier have invested in UV Boosting technology. He wanted to try it and integrate it into an organic treatment program in order to reduce cooper usage mainly, and in addition sulfur usage for oidium treatments.
In Chablis, wine growers are facing heavy rainfalls, so diseases spread is stronger from season to season. UV Boosting application can be used not only in organic vineyard to reduce copper dosage, but also in conventional vineyard to reduce chemical treatments in general.
UV Boosting panels stimulate natural defense of vine and enable Didier to secure yields and reduce diseases impact on the vineyard even during heavy rain season.
How should we address the great challenges of our time? Can we shape a better future together?
The Kubota Group wants to lead the way with innovative solutions for agriculture.
Article Headline Plant protection using UV stimulation 3 min read scrolldown Published Reason to read A cutting-edge solution that enhances plant defenses through UV-C flashes, providing specialty crop growers with a sustainable alternative to traditional fungicides. By stimulating a preemptive self-defense mechanism in plants, UV Boosting technology helps increase resistance to pathogens, minimizing crop damage and reducing reliance on chemical
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