Glass microspheres to cool greenhouses without sacrificing light

Agriculture is being impacted by climate change, which is altering the balance of crops and making it increasingly difficult to control environmental conditions inside greenhouses. In response to these challenges, the Italian company Agriplast S.p.a. has implemented systems to address these issues.

In the greenhouse? Agri50 and Agri50 Pro
"Global warming is a real threat to agriculture, jeopardizing crop productivity in many regions of the world," says Enrico Garrasi. "As temperatures continue to rise, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain ideal conditions in greenhouses, so growers are looking for innovative solutions. In this context, we at Agriplast have developed Agri50 and Agri50 Pro, two revolutionary products designed to respond effectively to this issue."

"Grow Everywhere is not just a slogan for Agriplast; it is a philosophy," says the sales manager. "It is what drives our research and development process. Our goal is for greenhouse covers to become a valuable ally for growers, helping them to grow their crops even in difficult environmental conditions. Solutions currently used to control greenhouse temperatures include shading paints, heat shields, nets, and opaque plastic films. However, all of these techniques are based on a common principle: reducing the amount of sunlight entering the greenhouse, which affects productivity. Growers have been adapting to this reality for years, but the real question today is: "Is there a better alternative?"

According to Agriplast, the answer lies in the solar spectrum, and it is Garrasi himself who explains: "The key to overheating in greenhouses is Near IR, or short-wave infrared, solar radiation. This is mainly responsible for the increase in temperature during the day. To counteract this phenomenon, we have developed a new range of films capable of blocking Near IR without significantly altering the rest of the light spectrum. This ensures a better thermal balance."

The innovation is based on a patented glass microsphere technology that offers a higher level of protection than conventional films.

"Traditional films used in hot climates are generally diffuse and contain mineral fillers with a Near IR barrier of up to 25-30%," explains the manager. "Thanks to our patented glass microsphere technology, we have been able to achieve much higher levels of protection while maintaining excellent brightness inside the greenhouse. The results of this technology are the Agri50 and Agri50 Pro, which are the culmination of decades of research."

"In fact, Agri50 and Agri50 Pro are the result of 50 years of research and development," says Garrasi. "Thanks to the formulation with hollow glass microspheres, these films offer superior thermal protection against both maximum and minimum temperatures while maintaining excellent optical performance. Initial field tests have confirmed the effectiveness of these new plastic films, showing significant improvements over existing solutions. The maximum temperature in the greenhouse was 5 to 10°C lower than with conventional films. In addition, we found that the temperature increase was slower and more gradual, while the minimum temperature remained unchanged."

Grower benefits go beyond thermal management
"The benefits of the Agri50 and Agri50 Pro are numerous," says Garrasi. "They reduce overheating, improve temperature control, increase photosynthetic efficiency, reduce water consumption and the need for shading. And that's not all: they also improve crop quality, extend the production cycle and contribute to energy efficiency."

Looking to the future, Garrasi envisions greenhouse cultivation that no longer will involve compromises between productivity and efficiency: "Thanks to our patented glass microsphere technology, these films represent a real breakthrough for greenhouse crops. Today, we can truly say that it is possible to grow anywhere without reducing crop yields."

Agriplast S.p.a. will be exhibiting at GreenTech 2025 in Amsterdam, 10-12 June, at stand 01.501.

For more information:
Agriplast S.p.A.
Via Filippo Bonetta 35
97109 Vittoria (RG) - Italy
+39 0932 997211
enrico.garrasi@agriplast.com
www.agriplast.com