At LettUs Grow, we are evolving CEA beyond the standard herbs and salads. By integrating aeroponics at key developmental milestones—specifically during propagation—LettUs Grow is redefining productivity for a diverse crop portfolio. Our mission is clear: more efficient, sustainable growth for a wider world of agriculture.
Many countries face challenges in strawberry production in the early stages of growth; in the UK approximately 85% of UK-grown strawberries originate from imported plant material. This leads to the UK importing around £180 million of strawberries annually, accounting for 32% of the market. Issues such as inconsistent quality and poor plant health in propagated material result in substantial plant waste and financial losses. Therefore, UK-based propagation, especially with aeroponics, could not only reduce carbon impact of importing, but also yield higher quality plants more consistently.
Our strawberry trials focused on two key aims: reducing the time it takes for tissue culture mother plants to produce tips (daughter plants) and minimising plant loss. Traditionally, the first propagation stage takes 4-6 weeks, and plant loss can be as high as 20-30% with conventional methods. In the second stage of propagation, a tip traditionally takes 5-6 months to become an established strawberry plant.
Daughter to fruit in 5 weeks
Key results
Reduced propagation time
Using aeroponics, the growing period for tissue culture to produce tips was significantly reduced to just 2 weeks, a reduction of over 50%.
Reduced plant loss
Plant loss was decreased from 30% to just 5% with aeroponic propagation.
Improved plant health
The strawberry plants grown in our aeroponic system remained free from common strawberry diseases like rust and whitefly, and their nutritional value was high.
Accelerated plant establishment
With aeroponics in controlled environment conditions, this growing period was reduced to just 5 weeks, reducing the duration of the second stage of propagation by over 4 months.
Next steps
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The trial delivered outstanding yield and quality for strawberries and the ability to achieve a second, higher-yielding harvest was a particularly promising result for the client.
These initial controlled environment trials have proven successful using Advanced Aeroponics to propagate strawberry plants.
We recommend transferring the strawberry plants from the aeroponic system to an outdoor setting, polytunnel, or greenhouse at this stage for maximum energy and cost efficiency, as fully controlled environment agriculture is most effective when utilised at specific growth phases.
Following these positive initial results, future steps include repeating these trials and exploring the possibility of extending aeroponic benefits into the greenhouse environment for subsequent growth stages.
Talk to us
Talk to our team about trialling Advanced Aeroponics™ in your facility or exploring a commercial project.