Free seeds from impurities without chemistry

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Origionally posted

A new method for hygienizing seeds without chemical treatment before planting. This is the challenge facing start-up Viridhys Technologies Sàrl. Founded a few months ago in the canton of Fribourg, the young company is about to move to Romont. In the Maillarde industrial zone, it will occupy the former Tetra Pak research laboratory, with a floor space of around 400 m2.
It is on these premises that Viridhys intends to design a pilot plant capable of processing 200 kg of seeds per hour. If successful, the start-up plans to move up a gear, building a facility capable of processing one tonne per hour. “In conventional agriculture, seeds are coated with pesticides and fungicides to prevent the development of weeds and give crops a better chance of emerging from the ground. The problem is that these products end up in the cereals and plants, as well as in the soil”, explains Frédéric Haase, founder of Viridhys, who also mentions the damage to farmers’ health.

This is a physical treatment that removes impurities. On seeds, it removes bacteria, yeasts and fungi from the surface.

The start-up’s focus is on plasma seed treatment. In simple terms, if energy is applied to a gas, it becomes plasma (the fourth state of matter, after the solid, liquid and gaseous phases). When it comes into contact with solid materials, the plasma acts with its energy on the affected surface. “It’s a physical treatment that eliminates impurities. On a seed, it removes bacteria, yeast and fungi from the surface”, explains Frédéric Haase, noting that plasma treatment is used in many industrial sectors, including automotive, electronics manufacturing, packaging and watchmaking.

This entrepreneurial adventure is the fruit of four years of research. The project began in 2017. Research was carried out in Germany and Belgium with the Frauenhofer Institut (attached to the University of Freiburg im Breisgau) and Materia Nova (from the University of Mons). By 2021, feasibility has been demonstrated on wheat, barley and soybean seeds, with trials on field crops. Equipment capable of processing 30 kg of seed per hour has been built. “At first, we were producing popcorn. The kernels exploded because the energy was too high. We had to fine-tune the treatment doses”, says the entrepreneur.

The start-up estimates that the use of plasma will replace around 25% of existing fungal treatments for conventional agriculture. “Our solution is also suitable for organic farming, for which no physical treatment currently exists. Yields can be increased considerably in this sector of agriculture”, predicts Frédéric Haase, who notes that the technological solution requires very little energy.

Viridhys has approached seed producers in Switzerland and abroad. “We already have a dozen pre-orders in North America, Europe and Australia”, assures Frédéric Haase, who is banking on an equipment rental system. “We will be 95% active in the export market. Our equipment is easy to transport in a container. Abroad, swisstech is a guarantee of seriousness and credibility”, says Viridhys’ CEO.

Having spent CHF 2 million on research, the start-up plans to invest CHF 2 to 3 million over the next five years. The project currently involves a team of five people. “Within three years, we could be between ten and fifteen, but that will depend on our speed of development. Our technology is disruptive, but the agricultural sector is conservative”, concedes Frédéric Haase.
In any case, the potential is enormous. According to the start-up, non-organic seeds represent a market of 30 million tonnes per year worldwide. The organic market would amount to at least 3 million tonnes a year. “The only other competitive solution identified is a steam treatment developed by a Swedish company. But this technology requires a high level of investment”, compares the Viridhys CEO.

Originally from Alsace, 55-year-old Frédéric Haase has been based in Corminbœuf since 2019. His professional career has taken him to France, Germany and Switzerland. After working in the chemical industry, he turned to biotechnologies, then to materials recycling. The start-up Viridhys benefits from support from Fri Up and a seed loan of 100,000 francs from the Seed Capital Fribourg foundation. “We’ve found what we’re looking for in the canton of Fribourg”, concludes Frédéric Haase.