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Enhanced Light Solution for Sustainable Cropping

Project description

Achieving a sustainable yield increase through sunlight management

The need for naturally increased food production requires innovative solutions for boosting yields without increasing production costs and energy use. The EU-funded ENLIGHT project will introduce a groundbreaking technology in the form of masterbatches to shift a portion of the sunlight spectrum, little used by plants, into wavelengths most efficiently used for photosynthesis and plant development. Incorporated into greenhouse film covering high-tunnels, low-tunnels and glasshouses, ENLIGHT technology will provide a solution for reinforcing yields and ensuring a more sustainable food growing by significantly reducing water, fertiliser and pesticide use.

Objective

The need for food continuously increases as the world population is growing (estimated to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050 (>30% higher than today)). To meet their food needs, 56% more crop calories will be needed in 2050. Farmers are in dire need for innovative sustainable technologies to boost crop yields without increasing production costs and energy use. There is no silver bullet to achieve food security, hence adopting sustainable solutions and integrating technologies that sustainably enable climate resilient crop production has become a current priority.
CASCADE, a French SME, has developed a game-changing disruptive solution in the form of masterbatches using its LIGHT CASCADES® technology to shift a portion of the sunlight spectrum, little used by plants, into wavelengths most efficiently used for photosynthesis and plant development. This LIGHT CASCADES® technology can be incorporated into greenhouse film covering high-tunnels, low-tunnels, and glass houses ultimately benefiting growers. In addition to boosting yields, our technology makes growing food sustainable by significantly reducing water, fertilizer, and pesticide use. CASCADE aims to capture 2.5% of this market by 2024 (revenue 19 M€) with 11 customers (large greenhouse film manufacturers) and estimates a serviceable obtainable market of 800 M€. With the EIC Accelerator funding the company will be able to test its multi-season LIGHT CASCADES® technology in operational conditions for enabling commercialization. Upon successful commercialization, LIGHT CASCADES® technology with its conservative estimate of 10% yield increase potential, will result in more than 1 million metric tons of additional horticultural produce (fruits and vegetables) in the EU region alone. This additional yield contributes to reduction of 51 K tons CO2-equivalent GHG emissions, increase of 16 000 Kg CO2 uptake per ha per year, and saving of 1600 ha of land (additional greenhouses needed to produce the added yield).

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

CASCADE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 044 976,50
Address
91 RUE DES ROYSSIS
92140 Clamart
France

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Hauts-de-Seine
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 3 010 211,25
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