Jiffy
Product: Jiffy Gel
What it does: Jiffy Gel is the first biodegradable, gel-based substrate specifically engineered for controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Unlike conventional substrates (peat, coir, rockwool), Jiffy Gel introduces a water- and gel-based matrix composed of bio-based polymers and essential macro- and micronutrients. This unique composition provides:
– Pathogen-free, sterile growth environment at production
– Automation compatibility (uniform plug or sheet format; high stability during handling)
– Flexible production model — ready-to-use delivery or on-site production with simple, low-cost equipment
– Circularity — fully biodegradable, eliminating substrate disposal concerns
This combination of features represents a breakthrough in growing media design, directly addressing food safety, logistics, and sustainability challenges in CEA.
In their own words: “Growers face increasing demand for food safety, traceability, and sustainability, alongside pressures to cut labor costs and streamline operations. Traditional substrates often carry contamination risk, supply chain delays, or disposal challenges. Jiffy Gel addresses these issues by:
– Providing a clean, pathogen-free substrate that reduces risk of crop loss.
– Offering on-demand, on-site production, which lowers freight costs, shortens supply chains, and ensures local availability.
– Adapting to a wide range of crops including leafy greens, herbs, microgreens, berries, and tissue culture.
– Delivering consistent quality to support automation-driven CEA environments.”
Voltiris
Product: Energy and crops, without compromise Solar Modules
What it does: Voltiris has developed the world’s first solar modules that integrate perfectly with CEA. Unlike conventional PV systems that shade crops and harm yields, Voltiris modules use a dichroic filter to transmit all photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) to plants while redirecting near-infrared (NIR) light to solar panels. This breakthrough generates up to 400 MWh/ha/year of clean electricity, while keeping full light availability for the crop and eliminating excess heat, lowering leaf temperature by up to 5°C. It is the world’s first solution that seamlessly integrates high-value crop performance with renewable energy production on a hectare-scale.
In their own words: “High-tech greenhouse growers face rising energy costs, increasing sustainability demands and the challenge of excess heat. Voltiris modules directly address both issues by generating up to 400 MWh/ha/year of renewable electricity, reducing operational expenses and strengthening energy independence. By transforming NIR-radiation into renewable energy, the solution prevents plants from over-heating. By lowering plant temperatures, Voltiris improves crop stress and improves yields. The modules are retrofittable into existing greenhouses without disrupting operations, making them scalable across crops (tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, strawberries, flowers, etc.) and environments. Market reception has been highly positive, with more than 10 projects underway across multiple countries, including the first hectare-scale commercial installation at Meier Gemüse in Switzerland. Growers and research institutes report improved crop performance, reduced waste, and strong energy outputs, demonstrating both demand and scalability.”
Zayndu
Product: ActivatedAir™ On-Site Seed Priming System
What it does: Zayndu’s ActivatedAir™ utilizes cold plasma to prime seeds at a grower’s site. This “On-Site Seed Priming” delivers higher crop yields leading to greater profitability. By harnessing “the power of lightning”, Zayndu enables priming of seeds at a grower’s site. They do this by encapsulating all the know-how of experienced horticulturists into software modules that can be downloaded onto our seed treatment platform. This unique approach, of “digitalising” a seed specialist’s knowledge and making it available at the point of planting, is made possible through the unique capabilities of our seed processing platform. These software modules are optimized for a specific seed variety – a level of precision made possible by the very tight control Zayndu has over its world-leading cold plasma systems. Its seed processing platform uses bespoke plasma monitoring sensors for control, while our breakthrough plasma power units deliver repeatable treatments – even in the presence of real-world seeds, which are often dusty and damp.
In their own words: “Growers are seeking every available opportunity to profitably increase production; this is especially true in CEA, where the cost of expanding growing space is significant. ActivatedAir allows growers to increase their output whilst maintaining the same fixed costs, and all from the same asset base. It’s a win-win, boosting production and profitability. ActivatedAir has delivered performance boosts on well over 200 seed varieties to date, making it widely applicable to all leafy CEA crops encountered in America, Europe and the Middle East. The user base is increasing fast, with dozens of users (mid 2025), several of whom are already running multiple installations across their farms. Three capacity options on the seed processing platform cater for all CEA users and specialist seed producers. Future developments will include systems designed for field use.”
