Plasma technology can contribute to a number of challenges in food production

Plasma technology can contribute to a number of challenges in food production

This project is made possible in part by a contribution from the National Growth Fund program NXTGEN HIGHTECH

Objective and activities

The aim of this project is to develop, scale up and deploy plasma technology for sustainable food production. The ambition is to create a central position for the Netherlands in this key technology.

Plasma technology can contribute to a number of challenges in food production.

Sustainability: Pesticides and synthetic fertilizers have a negative effect on biodiversity, the environment and climate. Plasma can be used as a sustainable and circular alternative to chemicals such as pesticides and synthetic fertilizers used in food production.

Energy transition: Conventional production of fertilizers based on fossil fuels is responsible for 3.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Plasma offers an efficient alternative based on the electrification of these processes.

Emission reduction: An undesirable side effect of intensive livestock farming is the emission of odors, greenhouse gas emissions and pathogens. The current regulations and approach to this emissions problem in livestock farming limit farmers' business operations. Plasma technology offers the sector a sustainable solution to reduce emissions and at the same time combat odors, and pathogens.

Circular agriculture: Plasma can be used on a local scale and thus help solve the manure and emissions problem in agriculture and horticulture by closing (local) cycles.

Plasma technology enables applications in crop protection, nitrogen fixation, hygienisation, disinfection, air purification and valorization of manure. The general effect has now been demonstrated and the next step is to develop large-scale applications in Food and Agri. This project aims to accelerate development and implementation in (energy) efficiency, upscaling, cost optimization, and embedding plasma technology in regulations.

The NXTGEN HIGHTECH program offers solutions for the future of the Netherlands in six essential application areas. Plasma4Agrifood contributes to the general NXTGEN HIGHTECH program, the Innovation package High-tech Soil-bound agriculture and the Innovation package Greenhouse horticulture from the focus and ambition of using disruptive autonomous technology for greening and making food production more sustainable. The use of plasma technology can bring about a transformation in sustainable food production in close cooperation and integration with precision agriculture applications and autonomous hands-free working in field crops and livestock farming.

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