After many years of R&D, Vitabeam produced their first LED light bar, which emits a unique cocktail of light wavelengths called VQe (Vitabeam Quantum energy). These safe, patented light wavelengths allow Vitabeam’s technology to provide a crucial solution to salient food problems in many different global markets

The world faces an increasing number of complex food problems, from food scarcity, safety, and waste, to food security. According to the U.N. approximately 739 million people are starving around the world. This is a shocking figure when you consider the fact that 30-40% of all food produced worldwide is wasted. This loss has devastating environmental, social and economic consequences that were estimated by the FAO in 2014 to be worth approximately $2.6trillion. We are unnecessarily releasing greenhouse gases, impacting biodiverse ecosystems and wasting an immense amount of water annually to produce food that never makes it to someone's plate.

When it comes to finding a panacea for the world's food issues, few have the potential to impact the food industry's problems in a way as radical as Vitabeam. After many years of R&D, Vitabeam produced their first LED light bar, which emits a unique cocktail of light wavelengths called VQe (Vitabeam Quantum energy). These safe, patented light wavelengths allow Vitabeam's technology to provide a crucial solution to salient food problems in many different global markets, via their unique properties:
1) VQe stimulates photosynthesis, increasing growth, nutrient uptake, and yield in plants, and delaying cell senescence in harvested produce to prolong freshness, and
2) VQe actively kills bacteria and mould pathogens, improving plant health and minimising the microbial load on fresh food, extending shelf-life and increasing food safety.

One feature that makes Vitabeam so unique, is that its technology is designed to benefit food sectors at every stage of the food supply chain, from grower, to packer, to retailer, to home consumer.

In horticulture, growers are constantly fighting off pathogens like powdery mildew and botrytis. If not treated, these infections can kill off substantial amounts of produce, leading to unhappy growers and customers. Despite changing regulations and environmental impacts, chemicals and pesticides seem to prevail as a short-term solution. Vitabeam has an energy-efficient, chemical-free, cost-effective alternative in the form of their VQe MaxStrip light bar. Growers can easily retrofit the VQe MaxStrip as an addition to their existing grow light setup. Not only do the benefits include a chemical-free solution, but the light bar kills mould and bacteria, increases yield, boosts nutrient uptake, and is safe for human exposure. This sustainable method of pathogen killing allows growers to reduce their usage of pesticides and other chemicals, meaning they can produce clean, safe, chemical-free, residue-free food.

Once produce has been harvested, it can be treated using Vitabeam's Steril Max technology, combining VQe and UV. Whilst UV is often used for sterilisation purposes, the UV wavelengths cannot penetrate the surface of an object, limiting its effectiveness. VQe is able to penetrate into the food, meaning the combined usage of UV and VQe provides extensive sterilisation. This eliminates the need for chemical washing, ensuring consumers receive safe, clean, and tasty produce. This technology can be used for fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and seafood to ensure they are pathogen-free, extending their shelf-life, and thereby reducing food waste.

The next stage of the farm to fork process is supermarkets. Perishable food including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, and seafood are easily damaged by pathogens and go "bad" before they are sold. This leads to a horrifyingly high amount of food waste from supermarkets a year - impacting the environment and costing the stores a substantial amount of money. Vitabeam's technology can help solve these issues. The VQe MaxStrips are designed to be easily installed in display cabinets, protecting produce by ensuring it is free of mould and bacteria. This not only prolongs the shelf-life of produce, but it ensures safe and clean produce for consumers and reduces food waste. Trials have demonstrated that the VQe MaxStrip can increase the shelf-life of fresh produce by up to 50% and reduce wastage by 25-30%. Furthermore, with trials demonstrating a fast ROI (6-9 months for retailers), Vitabeam can help businesses save money whilst simultaneously helping the environment.

Last but most definitely not least, the home-user. When customers take food home, VQe MaxStrips can be integrated into refrigerators to ensure food is kept clean, fresh, and safe from mould and bacterial pathogens. Not only does this diminish the risk of food poisoning, but it also increases the shelf-life of the fresh food bought. Household food waste is reduced, and less money is wasted on food that ends up in the bin!

It is rare that a technology such as Vitabeam's comes along which has the potential to simultaneously benefit companies financially and help to protect the environment by reducing chemical and pesticide usage and reducing food waste. Vitabeam has not just invented grow lights, it has invented a world-first solution that helps to solve food waste, safety, and scarcity problems. Working to form meaningful partnerships, from the smallest local greenhouse to the largest supermarket, and everything in-between, Vitabeam can help tackle these global issues. The future really is brighter with Vitabeam.