Syngenta Flowers and OptiFreeze AB from Sweden have contract a coaction understanding to further quiz and acquire OptiCept ; a breakthrough technology in shelf lifespan optimization . OptiCept is a method to improve the post - harvest quality of cuttings , cut flowers and potentially also sow . By using the OptiCept method , the shelf - life-time of flowers can be increased importantly from typically four to 11 days or more .
Syngenta Flowers ’ Innovation Manager , Josef Fischer say : “ We are imprint by OptiFreeze ’s innovation and think this find applied science will improve the caliber of unrooted thinning and young plants for our customers . The improved shelf life of nearly two week enables much good planning and handling of our products with a more predictable supplying to grower ’s sites . The compounding of improved quality , better storability and transportability of unrooted cuttings is really exciting as it allows the industriousness to deliver better products more reliably and reduce waste matter significantly . ”
From provide to right : Göran Hedbys , Eda Demir , Michael Kester and Josef Fischer
The challenge for the flowers industry is that product farms are typically located near the equator in Africa and Latin America . The selection time of harvested cutting is fairly short and they have to be transported over long distance before planting in Europe and North America . With an improved survival meter of well-nigh 14 days for cuttings .
Göran Hedbys , Chairman of the Board of OptiFreeze , says : “ We have now been working for 18 month with Syngenta Flowers and the cooperation on all level has been very good and very constructive . For us , Syngenta Flowers is a sodding collaborator with the market insights that we are omit . We will also get some muscles behind us for the next footfall when make the technology an industrial standard . Step - by - step we are discover the potentiality this technology has and by combining our forces we will take a huge leap forrard . ”
Pelargonium treat ( on the right ) and ascendancy cutting were stash away 7 day after treatment and planted .
Optifreeze AB is a stock listed Swedish start - up from Lund university . It has developed a patented process that raise taste , shape and texture of plant materials . The first collaboration with Syngenta Flowers was in July 2017 to quiz the OptiFreeze engineering in Calliope Pelargonium cutting off to see whether the tone and ledge aliveness could be improved . The test results have been very promising , not only in genus Pelargonium , but also in other decorative crops like Rio Dipladenia , Lavendula and Argyranthemum . The improved ledge life holds the promise to resolve logistic problems with which the industry has been struggling with for many years .
The first industrial line of work will shortly be installed at Syngenta Flowers press clipping farm in Kenya , which bring about over 100 million cutting per year . During 2019 , additional trial run will be done to develop the engineering science for commercial yield . The troupe expects to enter a pre - commercial phase during the second half the yr , followed by first commercial-grade use in the 2019/2020 season . The combination of OptiFreeze ’ technology and Syngenta ’s industrial knowledge will accelerate the market entry of OptiCept . The method will be available for other efflorescence production companies through a licencing modelling .
Argyranthemum treated ( on the right ) and control clipping were stored 10 sidereal day in the electric refrigerator . The icon shows how they seem before plant .
TechnologyThe OptiFreeze technology lie in of two footfall : Vacuum Infusion ( VI ) and Pulsed Electric Field ( PEF ) . These two steps allow impregnation of liquid into plant cellular phone , without damage the plant tissue . By this engineering , the life story expectancy of blossom cuttings are increased dramatically . It also has a positive effect on the root speed and maturation after transportation , lead in strong works . The improved ledge life can make for efficiency at the farm , improved logistics , gives a better quality at the grower and extra time value to the industrial plant .
