- Roots Sustainable Technologies and ClearVue Technologies have signed a collaborative agreement to explore sales opportunities in the greenhouse sector
- The primary goal is the construction of a world-first demonstration greenhouse in Israel
- Both companies will use their technologies to go after sales opportunities with new and existing clients
- Roots’ share price is up 2.13 per cent trading for 4.8 cents apiece, while ClearVue’s share price is down 2.70 per cent and trading for 18 cents apiece
Roots Sustainable Agricultural Technologies and ClearVue Technologies have signed a collaborative agreement to explore sales opportunities in the greenhouse sector.
For the time being the primary goal is the construction of a world-first demonstration greenhouse in Israel.
Under the agreement, both companies will jointly pursue sales opportunities with new and existing clients, and use each other’s technologies to offer a unique combined offering within the greenhouse market.
Additionally, the companies intend to build the demonstration greenhouse by utilising ClearVue’s energy generating PV solar glazing glass panels, and Roots’ Root Zone Temperature Optimisation (RZTO) and Irrigation by Condensation (IBC) technologies.
“The collaboration will enable our customers to access a fully integrated, self-sustaining solution that improves crop yield and quality, and lowers operational costs and improves profitability for growers,” Roots CEO Sharon Devir said.
This sold-sustaining greenhouse, which is intended to be off the grid, will be designed, developed and constructed at Roots’ research hub in Israel and will be available to both parties for customer demonstrations and display purposes.
Roots will use the greenhouse all year round to conduct RZTO and IBC testing on various crops and plants.
Construction of the greenhouse will begin as soon as possible and is expected to be completed within 12 months.
ClearVue’s PV glass solar glazing solution for greenhouses utilises multi-glazed IGU panels to stabilise the air environment as well as generate enough power to Roots’ RZTO technology.
Roots’ RZTO optimises plant physiology for increased growth, productivity and quality by stabilising the plant’s root zone temperature.
By using the principal of Ground Source Heat Exchange (GSHE) Roots installs a closed-loop system of pipes where the lower part is installed at the stable temperature depth and the upper part in the target crop’s root zone.
Water flowing through the pipes is charged by the soil’s stable temperature and the heated (or cooled) water is then pumped through the pipes installed in the root zone where the heat (or cold) is discharged.
This system is able to heat the root zone during the winter and cool it during the summer by up to 10 degrees Celsius.
“Roots’ RTZO technology significantly reduced energy requirements by maintaining optimal root temperatures for crops and plants rather than heating or cooling the air,” Sharon said.
In addition to this greenhouse demonstrator, Roots and ClearVue have agreed to work together where possible to deploy Roots’ RZTO technology into all, or a part of, the greenhouse that ClearVue is currently progressing at Murdoch University.
Roots’ share price is up 2.13 per cent trading for 4.8 cents apiece in a $4.389 million market cap, while ClearVue is down 2.70 per cent trading for 18 cents apiece in a $18.08 million market cap.