Results Crop Farm Location +9.4% Wet Weight; +4.4% Dry Weight Lactuca sativa L. ‘Coastal Star’ Romaine Lettuce Santa Fe Community College Research Greenhouse Santa Fe, NM, USA +9.4% Yield Boost in Romaine Lettuce Trial AT A GLANCE
+14-28% Boost in Winter Strawberry Trial AT A GLANCE
+21% Boost in Flowering in Geranium Trial AT A GLANCE Results Crop Farm Location Results of this study show that plants under the UbiGro film flowered earlier and had more flower clusters when compared to plants under the Control film. 32 Geranium Plants (Pelargonium x hortorum, bedding geraniums) The beautiful geraniums were grown from seed, and then moved to larger pots into the greenhouse where UbiGro was installed. Pebble Labs Research Greenhouse The UbiGro research team performed this experiment in 2019. Pebble Labs Reasearch Greenhouse provided a space for the team to execute their own study of UbiGro. Los Alamos, NM, USA DOWNLOAD CASE STUDY PDF ABOUT THE PROJECT UbiGro (600 nm) quantum dot greenhouse films were installed above a 6 ft x 12 ft (1.8 m x 7.3 m) movable bench inside the Pebble Labs Research Greenhouse (Rough Brothers, ~4,000 ft2, acrylic cover) in Los Alamos, NM, USA. An identical neighboring bench area in the greenhouse was chosen to serve as the Control group, over which a clear polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film was installed to balance the light intensities and diffusivities between the two areas. A Watchdog Plant Growth Micro Station with four quantum (PAR) light sensors was installed to measure daily light integral (DLI) on each side of the experiment using five-minute measurement spacing. On December 15th, 2021, 48 bedding geraniums were grown from seed in a Pro-Mix, perlite, vermiculite and Osmocote mixed media inside a seed starter dome inside of a greenhouse for 38 days until the seedlings developed two true leaves. This project focused on geranium cultivation and used advanced plant cultivation techniques to ensure optimal growth. The seedlings were then transplanted into 5-inch deep square pots and placed inside the greenhouse under natural lighting conditions, with a temperature ranging from 18°C at night to 23°C during the day, and humidity ranging from 20-45% (average 28%). These conditions were specifically tailored to promote bedding geraniums’ growth and flowering potential, aligning with best practices in geranium care tips. At 79 Days after sowing (DAS), the plants were transplanted for a second time into larger 2.5 gal (8.7 L) containers and placed under a 16-hour photoperiod using natural and supplemental lighting in the greenhouse. At 91 DAS, the plants were separated into two groups of 16 and placed under UbiGro and Control treatments for the remainder of the experiment. This project exemplifies horticulture innovation by utilizing cutting-edge greenhouse technology to enhance geranium flowering. The experiment lasted 136 days from initial seeding to experimental conclusion and ended on April 30th. All crops, including the bedding geraniums, were grown using an automated drip watering system and fertilized monthly with 1 tsp/plant of Osmocote applied as a topdress to the soil. FLOWERING Once the plants started growing flower buds, flower clusters and flowering data were recorded. A plant was determined to be flowering if it had at least one completely open flower in a flower cluster. First flowering was observed April 4th, 110 DAS. By 131 DAS, all 16 plants on both sides exhibited flowers. The UbiGro side achieved full flowering (all 16 plants) three days sooner than the Control side, as shown in the figure below. This demonstrates the effectiveness of advanced plant cultivation techniques in geranium flowering and bedding geraniums cultivation. Each day, flower clusters were counted on each plant. A flower cluster was defined as a cluster protruding beyond the leaf canopy. There was a larger number of flower clusters under the UbiGro film treatment than the control film treatment, as shown in the figure below. The plants under the UbiGro treatment consistently had more flower clusters compared to plants under the control during the duration of the experiment. By the end of the experiment there were 119 flower clusters on plants under the UbiGro film and 98 flower clusters on those under the Control film, an improvement of 21% in flowering. This showcases the impact of horticulture innovation in enhancing flowering rates through effective plant cultivation techniques and providing valuable geranium care tips for improved results. DLI BALANCE Daily light integral (DLI) data was collected using sensors that were installed at approximately plant height from 121 DAS to the end of the experiment. While this date range does not encompass the entire experiment, this is a representative data set adequate to measure DLI balance. On average, the DLI difference between the two experimental sides was approximately one percent, with slightly more light on the UbiGro side. DLIs averaged 19 mol/m2/day, supporting advanced plant cultivation techniques and geranium care tips. In this experiment on geranium cultivation, the effects of the UbiGro luminescent film spectrum on the number of flower clusters and number of flowering plants amongst a group of bedding geraniums were studied by a comparison to plants grown under a Control film. Plants under both treatments started flowering at similar times, with plants under the UbiGro film showing increases in the number of flowering clusters and percentage of flowering plants throughout the experiment. In general, plants under the UbiGro film flowered earlier and had more flower clusters when compared to plants under the Control film. These results suggest that the UbiGro luminescent film can promote moderately earlier flowering times and increases the number of flowers of bedding geraniums as compared to a Control group when grown under similar lighting and climate conditions. This demonstrates significant horticulture innovation in promoting plant growth and enhancing geranium flowering. In this experiment on geranium cultivation, the effects of the UbiGro luminescent film spectrum on the number of flower clusters and number of flowering plants amongst a group of bedding geraniums were studied by a comparison to plants grown under a Control film. Plants under both treatments started flowering at similar times, with plants under the UbiGro film showing increases in number of flowering clusters and percentage of flowering plants throughout the experiment. In general, plants under the UbiGro film flowered earlier and had more flower clusters when compared to plants under the Control film. These results suggest that the UbiGro
+17% Yield Boost in Romaine Lettuce Trial AT A GLANCE Results Crop Farm Location +17 % Wet Weight at maturity; +6.1% average Leaf Length. Lactuca sativa L. ‘Coastal Star’ Romaine Lettuce. Santa Fe Community College Research Greenhouse. *This work was independently performed by SFCC students Jen Lein and Amanda Garcia with advising by Controlled Environment Agriculture professor Charlie Shultz and greenhouse manager Pedro Casas. Film donation and data analysis were provided by UbiQD, Inc. Santa Fe, NM, USA DOWNLOAD CASE STUDY PDF ABOUT THE PROJECT This study monitored the growth and development of ‘Coastal Star’ romaine lettuce crops, improving crop yields by growing romaine lettuce under an orange-red UbiGro luminescent quantum dot (QD) greenhouse film, and identical high yield lettuce crops grown under a colorless control film at the Santa Fe Community College Research Greenhouse in 2021. These agricultural farming techniques aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of advanced greenhouse technology in improving crop yield. EXPERIMENT UbiGro QD greenhouse films emitting at 600 nm were installed above a 254 ft² (23.6 m²) nutrient film technique (NFT) system inside the Santa Fe Community College Research Greenhouse (SolaWrap cover, 83% PAR transmission). An identical neighboring NFT area in the greenhouse was chosen to serve as the control group, over which a clear polyethylene film (K50 Clear 6 mil, RKW Klerks) was installed to balance the light intensities and diffusivities between the two areas (see Table 1 describing the haze and transmission of the QD film and the polyethylene control film). A reflective mylar barrier was hung between the two areas to prevent light mixing between treatment areas. A Watchdog Plant Growth Micro Station with four quantum light sensors was installed to measure daily light integral (DLI) on each side of the experiment using five-minute measurement spacings. Crops, including romaine lettuce, were grown with Calcium Nitrate, Magnesium Sulfate, and Potassium Nitrate-rich nutrient salt solutions with targets of EC 1.7 and pH 5.8. In order to better achieve proper light intensity and improve crop yields for growing romaine lettuce, shade curtains were deployed over the crops in both treatments until August 26 (covering the first three crops in this experiment), when they were removed. These adjustments provided insights into how to grow lettuce fast while maintaining optimal crop health. Table 1. Optical properties of the QD film and the polyethylene control film. Every week for 12 weeks starting in July 2021, two groups of 27 plants were seeded in Oasis Rootcubes on an ebb-and-flow seedling table inside the greenhouse. Each pair of plant groups was transplanted into the NFT system, under the QD film and control films, at 21 days after sowing (DAS). In order to explore differences in growth rates over time, each transplant group was split into three subgroups, where each subgroup consisted of 9 plants. Each subgroup was harvested a week apart from the others in order to explore all stages of growth – early to late (mature). The staggered harvest times ranged from 39 DAS to 59 DAS. Separating the staggered harvests into DAS ranges allows a better understanding of how development changes over time under the altered QD film spectrum. Amongst 12 crop groups, including romaine lettuce, a total of 35 individual harvests (subgroups) were made during the experiment. These efforts were aimed at exploring ways to improve crop yields. The first harvest was completed on August 20, 2021, and the final harvest was completed on November 23, 2021, showcasing the effectiveness of high yield lettuce techniques, how to grow lettuce fast, and agricultural farming techniques. HARVEST DATA Staggered harvests were grouped into similar DAS ranges, as indicated in Table 2, such that four growth stages were explored: very early growth (39 DAS), early growth (44-46 DAS), mid growth (51-53 DAS), and late growth (56-59 DAS). Due to labor scheduling, the harvests were conducted ±2 days from the target nominal DAS. The maturity time for this lettuce species, including romaine lettuce, is 57 DAYS according to seed purveyor Johnny Seeds, so these ranges represent harvest times up to a typical harvest time for a commercial grower. However, this 57-day maturity time can vary with sunlight intensity, seasonality, climate, and other variables, which are critical factors in growing romaine lettuce. *Table 2. Harvested wet weights, % difference and p-value for lettuce harvests from four growth stages. * indicates that the difference is not significant beyond a 95% confidence threshold. Average wet weights for each harvest were compared across all crops, and are shown in Table 2 and in the form of growth curves in Figure 1 and bar plots in Figure 2. Harvest results outside of one standard deviation from the mean were excluded as outliers. Plants grown under the QD film exhibited larger wet weights for all DAS ranges. The largest yield increases were for the very early and early harvest windows, +20% and +28%, respectively. The mid stage showed a small yield increase of +4%. The late harvest showed a +17% yield improvement which represents the total growth during the full period. This late stage growth represents the most impactful result of this experiment, as a commercial grower would grow out their romaine lettuce crop to full maturity and realize the yield benefit in terms of greater revenue (if selling by weight) or faster growth cycles (if selling by headcount). This yield boost for the mature crop translated to the ability to harvest the same size crop 2-3 days earlier, demonstrating the effectiveness of high yield lettuce, advanced agricultural farming techniques, and methods to improve crop yields. Additionally, these results offer insights into how to grow lettuce fast, which is vital for optimizing production cycles. *Figure 1. Top: Growth curves for lettuce grown under the QD film and under the control film, with 1 standard deviation error bars. Bottom: Average wet weight yield increases for different DAS ranges for staggered harvests. *Figure 2. Average wet weight yields for different DAS ranges for staggered harvests, with 1 standard deviation error bars. Plots marked with the same letter are not
Hunter McDaniel, PhD
Founder & CEO
Hunter earned a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, before joining Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Chemistry Division. Ultimately the value proposition of UbiGro is about boosting crop yields and quality without the cost or energy impact of lighting. Hunter has more than fifty publications and patents, and more than 2000 total citations, h-index: 20. Hunter fundamentally believes that novel materials underpin every significant technology advancement, and he is focused on leveraging new materials to have a lasting and sustainable impact.
Damon Hebert, PhD
Director of Agriculture
Damon brings a wide range of experience in agriculture, materials science, spectroscopy, and small business. During his time in Prof. Angus Rockett’s research group at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Hebert authored a doctoral thesis and multiple papers on the materials science of CIGS semiconductor materials, which is closely related to the materials developed at UbiQD. He also served as a consultant to Nanosolar, a CIGS nanocrystal solar cell manufacturing company. Hebert has industry experience having co-founded Dr. Jolly’s, a leading cultivation and distribution operation in Bend, OR.
Tania Lafaille
Sales Representative
Tania is a UbiGro Sales Representative, with over 7 years of experience in product sales (specifically berries and avocados) covering all of North America and parts of South America. While in agriculture, Tania has cultivated strong relationships with growers and distributors, granting her a unique insight into both perspectives. That understanding, paired with her fierce dedication to results, drives her fun and fiery commitment to her craft. Tania is based in Gilroy, CA.
Tyler Veyna
Sales Representative​
Tyler brings 15 years of experience in Greenhouse production and facility management of a wide range of crops in multiple states to the UbiGro team. Based in Salinas, California. “Being a fourth-generation farmer, I look to improve and empower the grower, and with UbiGro, we can do just that.”
Jim Gideon
Sales Manager
Jim Gideon is an UbiGro Sales Manager, with over 25 years of greenhouse industry sales experience covering all of North America. Previously Jim has worked for Green Tek, Plazit-Polygal, Texel, Cherry Creek, and Nexus. He is based in Montgomery, AL, and Jim believes that “light is everything to the grower.”
Eric Moody
Director of Sales
Eric Moody is UbiQD’s Director of UbiGro Sales. Eric has more than 6 years of experience in horticulture lighting industry, building relationships with greenhouse growers of all sizes and crops on optimal lighting for their growing operation, and most recently managed a North American sales team for PL Light Systems. Overall, Eric has been in sales leadership positions for more than 13 years. Eric brings with him a great understanding of the market and available technologies for growers, greenhouse facilities, and sales leadership. Reach Eric by phone at 541-490-6421 or by email at [email protected].
Mike Burrows, PhD
Dr. Michael Burrows is UbiQd’s Vice President of Business Development. His educational background includes a Materials Science doctorate from the University of Delaware and an MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business. His career has specialized in the commercialization of novel electronic materials in venture-run programs for different industries including solar, biosensors, and the automotive industry. In both start-up and corporate environments, he has extensive experience in global market development, foraging supply chain partnerships, productization, and brand building. He is currently leading UbiQD’s partnership efforts in luminescent greenhouse technology, smart windows, and security ventures.
Matt Bergern, PhD
Cheif Product Officer
As Chief Product Officer at UbiQD, Dr. Matt Bergren leads the company’s product development efforts, sales, and product manufacturing, including the company’s first commercial agriculture product, UbiGro. He plays a critical role in continuing the company’s path of technology development and vision of powering product innovations in agriculture, clean energy, and security.
He serves as the principal investigator for UbiQD’s contract with NASA, focused on tailoring the solar spectrum for enhanced crop production for space missions. Dr. Bergren’s leadership experience includes serving on the board of directors for the New Mexico Energy Manufacturing Institute, focused on job creation in New Mexico’s energy, and related manufacturing community.