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.”