Nanotechnology is finding increasing applications in horticulture, where improved delivery of nutrients and active ingredients may help growers optimise input efficiency while supporting plant health. At Dry-Tech South Africa, Research Technical Director Willie Coetzee says the company’s work focuses on developing nano-scale delivery systems that improve how products interact with plants rather than simply changing the active ingredients themselves.

“The objective is to carry nutrients or other active compounds directly to where the plant requires them, using much smaller quantities while improving uptake.”

He adds that all Dry-Tech formulations branded under Atom8™ are produced below 40 nanometres, allowing the particles to be readily absorbed by plants. “Up to about 50 nanometres, a plant can absorb the particles efficiently. By keeping our products below that size, they become highly available to the plant.”

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Root growth with Atom8™ FreeSoil

Improving application efficiency
The company has developed what it calls the Atom8™ Delivery Engine, a technology designed to improve spray distribution, canopy penetration and contact with plant and fruit surfaces.

“Precision is the key,” Willie explains. “We try to reach the plant, the problem or the process we want to influence by using the smallest possible molecular structures so that the product can be absorbed accurately and effectively.”

The approach has potential relevance for protected cultivation, where precise application and efficient use of inputs are priorities. When asked about greenhouse and hydroponic production, he confirms that the technology is suitable for these systems. “Absolutely. Precision growing environments are exactly where this type of technology becomes valuable.”

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Supporting plant and soil health
Although Dry-Tech initially achieved success with postharvest applications, he says the research has expanded into preharvest crop management, with a strong focus on soil biology and nutrient efficiency.

One area of research involves supporting beneficial soil organisms. “Trichoderma is an incredibly important fungus in the soil and can suppress many diseases,” he notes. “Many conventional products affect beneficial organisms, so we also focus on restoring soil biology.”

The company is also developing formulations intended to stimulate early vegetative growth before shifting plant metabolism towards fruit production through adjusted nutrient management programmes.

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Fruit quality during the ripening phase
Another area of development is Atom8™ XMD, a late-season fruit-finishing system designed to support natural ripening rather than accelerate it artificially.

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Mangoes (left) and citrus (right) after washed with Atom8™ WAC10; no wax on mangoes

“We don’t chase ripeness; we chase colour. The product is applied six to eight weeks before harvest to support more uniform colour development while maintaining fruit quality.”

The programme is designed to support firmness retention, peel integrity, fruit consistency and harvest readiness during the transition from colour break to harvest. According to the company, the delivery system is intended to improve spray coverage and interaction with the fruit surface during this critical period.

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Mimicking the benefits of natural rain
Dry-Tech is also developing NanoRain, a nano-bubble water technology designed for irrigation and greenhouse systems. The concept uses water containing nano-scale oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide bubbles to enhance gas delivery to the root zone while supporting nutrient availability and microbial activity.

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Photo left: nanobubbles can only be seen with a laser. Photo right: dosage installations in packhouse. NanFa is Dry-Tech’s marketing and installation company

“Rain is much more than water. It naturally delivers oxygen, nitrogen and other elements that plants require. NanoRain is designed to simulate and enhance those natural processes through precision delivery.”

While the technology remains under development, Willie believes nanotechnology offers opportunities to improve resource-use efficiency across both protected and open-field production systems. “The more people understand how nano delivery works and how precisely it can be applied, the greater its potential becomes.”

For more information:
Dry-Tech Aerogels
Willie Coetzee
[email protected]
https://atom8.co.za/