Local MP for South Derbyshire Heather Wheeler has paid a visit to one of the region’s leading Agritech businesses, Light Science Technologies, as it enjoys a buoyant period of growth.
Heather met with Innovation Director John Matcham and the rest of the team, where she had the opportunity to see the company’s state-of-the-art laboratory, its purpose-built facilities where crop trials are conducted to help farmers and growers create the ideal plant recipe. Opened in 2021 during Covid-19, it is known to be one of the first of its kind, designed to allow its scientists to continue working safely even through a pandemic.
Her visit to the Hilton Business Park-based business was also to support its work to promote the Government’s recently released National Food Strategy, which aims to create a ‘prosperous’ agri-food industry while supporting the environment and tackling food security.
During her time there, Heather got to hear about LST’s ongoing work with leading academic institutions including the University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University, demonstrating the vital role these local partnerships play in its scientific and technological development.
John said: “It was the perfect chance to showcase our grow lighting and sensing capabilities we’ve developed for the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry, as we urgently seek a radical change in the future of food production and ensure more sustainable, self-sufficient methods of farming.
“It was also a great opportunity to further shine the spotlight on the region as a fast-expanding hotbed for investment and a national hub for GreenTech. With the £300m SmartParc development, along with plans for the new £13m East Midlands Institute of Technology (IoT), there’s never been a more exciting time to be part of tech innovation or the CEA sector here in South Derbyshire.”
Heather said: “Innovation Director, John Matcham and Marketing & Communications Manager, Alice Brothill explained clearly the science behind the technology and Chuanching “CC” Foo showed me the products of their experiments which included wonderful looking strawberries.
I was delighted to hear of their working relationships with both the University of Derby and Nottingham Trent University, demonstrating the vital role these local partnerships play in its scientific and technological development.
On what I have seen I believe their methods and products could have immense benefits for us all in so many ways and I will be pleased to speak to the relevant Ministers to ensure the right people get to know about this amazing company.”
