TAEDA Tech project update: growing willow with aeroponics
TAEDA Tech project update: growing willow with aeroponics
Last October, LettUs Grow announced its partnership with the University of Surrey to develop an aeroponic greenhouse system for the propagation of willow trees. The project, funded by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, aims to explore how innovative agricultural technology can be used to help meet the Government’s biomass and tree planting targets.
The UK’s Net Zero Strategy aims to increase biomass within our energy network and secure a sustainable supply of biomass, from within the UK and imports. Another challenge is to scale-up biomass supply, without compromising food security - which is where propagating trees comes in.
Now, just over a year in, the TAEDA Tech project has successfully been propagating willow using aeroponics in their new polytunnel and greenhouse location in Surrey. Growing within these environments allows greater control of the cultivation conditions, including temperature and light levels.
The aeroponic system has been uniquely designed and fitted for the project, with the first stages of trials focusing on the operational side of the growing process. Aeroponics is an irrigation method which involves delivering water and nutrients to plant roots with water that is dispersed into a mist - this maximizes oxygen levels and as a result, boosts growth rates.
Dr Zoe M Harris, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Environment and Sustainability Lecturer at the University of Surrey, said, “Using aeroponics is great fun! It’s very simple to run and intuitive. We’ve adapted to the system really well, the team has dealt with any challenges we’ve thrown their way, and we’ve got something that meets our needs. It’s been a really collaborative process.”
The next stages of the project will involve growing within a polytunnel as an alternative environment, to further explore the economic feasibility of growing willow in this way. The project team is aiming to have built another system by March of next year in order to plant in season, with a focus on plant physiology and different responses to the infrastructures.
“We’re very excited to be supporting the TAEDA Tech project to see aeroponics being used outside the scope of growing leafy greens or herbs, and within a greenhouse environment. Increasing the use of renewable energy in the UK is absolutely vital to the success and sustainability of the controlled environment agriculture industry, so being directly involved in its production is a full-circle opportunity for us,” said Lilly Manzoni, Head of Research & Development at LettUs Grow.
You can follow updates from the TAEDA Tech project on their blog.
TAEDA Tech Project is part of the Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme, funded through the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. It is being delivered in collaboration with both academic and industrial partners including UKUAT, LettUs Grow, Rothamsted Research, Aberystwyth University, Forest Research, NIAB, NMC2 and CapitalAgri.
