Smart coating will protect greenhouses from heatwaves

Farmers growing fruit and vegetables will be able to protect greenhouses from heatwaves using a new technology that adapts to the sun’s rays.

The smart coating for polytunnels is being developed by Albotherm, a Bristol-based company, backed by a £1.5m investment from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ farming innovation programme.

Polytunnels are used to produce most of the UK’s home-grown strawberries and raspberries, as well as other high-value crops including leafy greens and tomatoes. But only 15% of fresh fruit and 53% of vegetables consumed in the UK is grown here.

Efforts to increase self-sufficiency are likely to be hindered by the climate crisis, with summer temperatures expected to include more 40C heatwaves. Greenhouse yields could fall by 17% by 2080, says Albotherm.

Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, is expected to announce a £70m investment in new technologies for farming, with plans to invest at least £200m by 2030.

Photograph by Getty