Lambda Agri
- Type
- Technology Company
- Location
- Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Industries
- Controlled environment agriculture, Crop / plant science, Farm input
- Domains
- Beet, Plant based primary products
- Technologies
- Advanced Materials, Platform technology, Platform & Service technologies
About Lambda Agri
Lambda Agri Technology, also known as Lambda Energy, develops advanced materials for greenhouse and polytunnel coverings that improve how plants use sunlight. The company’s core idea is to convert underutilized UV light into red light, which is especially effective for photosynthesis, helping growers increase crop yield and quality.
Founded in 2022 by Dr Monica Saavedra and Dr Boris Breiner, Lambda began with quantum-dot concepts before shifting to non-toxic, biodegradable, and scalable chemistry for agricultural use. It positions itself as an IP-led materials company with ambitions beyond agriculture, supported by in-house synthesis, university collaboration, and a growing patent portfolio.
Core Values
- Sustainability: The company emphasizes non-toxic, biodegradable chemistry and solutions that support more sustainable food production.
- Innovation: Lambda develops proprietary light-management materials and continues to expand its patent portfolio through applied materials science.
- Scalability: Its technology is designed for practical manufacturing routes, including spray coating, film production, and scale-up with chemical manufacturers.
- Crop performance: The central goal is to improve plant growth, yield, and quality by making better use of the available light spectrum.
Unique Aspects
- UV-to-red light conversion: Lambda’s differentiator is a material platform that converts underused UV light into red light, rather than relying on conventional lighting systems.
- Evidence from trials: Pilots at Cranfield University and NIAB reported indicative yield increases of 9% for basil, 33% for rocket, and 47% for beetroot.
- University-backed development: The company has worked closely with researchers at the Universities of Cambridge, Bath, and Cranfield, including chemistry and plant-trial support.
- IP-led platform strategy: Lambda describes itself as an IP platform technology business with multiple patents filed and more in development, with potential applications beyond agriculture.
- Manufacturing-oriented scale-up: The active chemistry is synthesized in-house and scaled with chemical manufacturers, with plans for larger-volume supply to greenhouse materials producers.