Cascade is a young French company created in 2012, specialising in thedevelopment and production of optically active additives that, when integrated into Macro Tunnel films, modify the solar spectrum and optimise yields and fruit quality. The bright blue-pink colour is typical of Cascade's technology in Macro Tunnel or double covers.
The main concept of CASCADE® LIGHT technology is to absorb the less useful wavelengths of sunlight, such as UV and green, and re-emit them in blue and red wavelengths that are more beneficial to the crop, improving plant photosynthesis and photo-morphogenesis. As light requirements are specific, CASCADE follows a crop-specific strategy, adapting its formulations to each type of crop, such as vegetables or soft fruits.
LIGHT CASCADE® technology must be evaluated under real growing conditions to optimise agronomic results. In recent years, more than 100 trials have been carried out in Europe on different crops, 44 of them on soft fruits. The results showed positive effects under stressful environmental conditions (low light intensity, low temperature, nutrient deficiency...).
With thesupport of ADESVA, CASCADE focused its agronomic trials on soft fruits on the experimental farm in Huelva. In September 2019, CASCADE and ADESVA organised a seminar to present the results of several trials. Around 100 experts and red fruit producers attended the seminar.
ADESVA's Research and Development Director, Magdalena Torres, presented the results of several trials carried out at the experimental company since 2016 on berries (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry) with covers produced with the additives of the LIGHT CASCADE® technology.
The new trials carried out in 2020 on raspberries confirmed that Macro Tunnel covers produced with LitePlus® provide an important advantage. In the 2020 campaign, a new trial was carried out on raspberry (var. Adelita). Different formulations were tested to confirm the agronomic benefits of the technology on this crop.
Several previous results with raspberry had already shown that winter crops in the Huelva area respond positively to the technology developed by CASCADE. In fact, the first results, in 2017, were obtained with the "Glen Lyon" variety, and the trials showed a substantial improvement in the sugar content of the fruit (+4º Brix), using a Macro Tunnel cover made with the LIGHT CASCADE® technology.
Other trials carried out in 2018-2019 with early varieties ('San Rafael' and 'Adelita') showed an increase in marketable yields of 14.6% and 13.4%, notable for a higher quantity of fruit per plant (+20%). Quality also improved in the early harvests with a higher weight (+7%) and an increase in sugar content (+0.8ºBrix).
Meanwhile, the French agricultural research institute (INRAE), through its IRHS team in Angers, conducted a 2-year trial with another raspberry variety (Tulameen) and the results showed a net yield gain of +29%, and better quality in the first harvest.
In the 2019 campaign, some farmers in Huelva bought the first covers on the market with LitePlus® Berry to make an assessment of the technology in their field. Quantifying the yield was not always possible because it is difficult to verify with the naked eye. However, growers who have closely monitored the harvest have seen improved flowering and 10-15% higher yields with similar or better fruit quality.
MORE: CASCADE'S TECHNOLOGY
LIGHT IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTALLATIONS
The interactions of plants with light are complex and involve two different processes: photosynthesis and morphogenesis. Photosynthesis is a process by which light is converted into chemical energy, while morphogenesis is a biological process in which plant development is influenced by light signals perceived by plant photoreceptors.
The main wavelengths involved in photosynthesis are blue (400-500nm) and red (600-700nm), while the mechanism of morphogenesis is highly dependent on the plant species involved. Controlled light management provides a powerful way to significantly increase agronomic crop yields.
LIGHT CASCADES® TECHNOLOGY ADAPTS LIGHT TO THE NEEDS OF PLANTS
Only a fraction of natural solar radiation is used effectively in photosynthesis. LIGHT CASCADES® formulations for agricultural films adapt the solar spectrum to the specific light requirements of plants. The part of the solar spectrum that is of little use to plants is converted into wavelengths that stimulate photosynthesis, leading to greater crop growth and overall productivity. LIGHT CASCADES® formulations are also optimised to maximise the complex effects of morphogenesis processes. To verify performance improvements, CASCADE conducts numerous agronomic trials on various crops in collaboration with experimental farms and agronomic research experts in France, Spain and internationally.
