Plasma technology within the agri-tech sector is a sustainable, chemical-free tool with the potential to improve crop production, plant health and fertiliser systems. Already widely applied in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and electronics, plasma is now being investigated for its potential to deliver environmental and economic benefits across agriculture.
Plasma is often referred to as the fourth state of matter — a charged, energetic state formed when gases like air are exposed to an electric field. When gas is energised to a certain point, electrons are stripped from atoms, resulting in a mix of free electrons and ions. This makes plasma electrically conductive and responsive to magnetic fields. Natural examples of plasma include lightning and the Northern and Southern Lights.
In agriculture, these can be used to treat seeds, reduce pathogens, promote plant growth or even synthesise nitrogen fertiliser. Most notably, plasma-activated water (PAW) and on-farm plasma-based fertiliser systems are emerging as viable alternatives to conventional seed treatments, pesticides and nitrogen fertilisers.
The UK Agri-Tech Centre is currently supporting innovation in this space through research, business engagement and technology demonstration, working with companies and consortia aiming to bring plasma closer to widespread on-farm application.
Plasma in practice
While plasma technology remains in the early stages of adoption within agriculture, interest is growing. Cold plasma, generated at low temperatures, is being explored for its ability to enhance plant growth and resilience. By treating seeds and crops with cold plasma, farmers can potentially reduce the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
PAW, created by exposing water and ambient air to cold plasma, has shown promise as a natural, residue-free treatment for seeds and crops. Its antimicrobial properties can support disease control, while its ability to stimulate seed germination and root growth positions it as a potential alternative to chemical inputs.
Similarly, new systems for producing fertiliser directly on farm using plasma and slurry are being explored as part of a shift towards circular, lower-emission production methods. These technologies align with wider ambitions to reduce reliance on imported fertilisers and improve the sustainability of nutrient management.
Industry innovation
The potential for plasma in agriculture is being actively explored by several UK-based organisations, some of which are working in collaboration with the UK Agri-Tech Centre and Innovate UK.
- Plasma for fertiliser: Debye Ltd, is working with the UK Agri-Tech Centre on the Electric Nitrogen™ project to refine a process that mimics the natural phenomenon of lightning to capture nitrogen in the form of nitrates. By designing a modular system that uses renewable electricity to fix nitrogen from the air, Debye can create near-zero carbon nitric acid and combine it with minerals to produce low emission fertilisers tailored to the end user’s needs on-site. The aim is to revolutionise the production of nitrogen fertilisers by enabling farmers to locally produce zero-carbon nitrogen fertilisers using only air, water and renewable electricity. This innovative approach aims to replace the traditional Haber-Bosch process, which is heavily reliant on fossil fuels.
- Plasma for seed priming: A UK start-up based in Loughborough, has developed a proprietary plasma seed priming technology that replaces chemical treatment with a clean-air process. The company’s ActivatedAir system uses low-temperature plasma to improve germination rates and plant vigour. Supported by multiple rounds of Innovate UK funding and private investment, there is a focus on controlled environment agriculture, where its technology has been shown to increase crop productivity by up to 20% in some trials.
- Plasma for horticulture: The NTPlus and NTPlus2 projects are led by Agua DB, an expert in ion exchange technology in collaboration with the UK Agri-Tech Centre. The aim is to develop a modular, integrated solution for nutrient recovery from wastewater and address technical barriers to commercialisation. The cutting-edge NTPlus technology generates high nitrate irrigation water, low nitrate drinking water and transforms potash into sulphate of potash, boosting crop resilience to drought, stress, disease and pests. Agua DB’s approach addresses the “Nitrate Timebomb” by recovering nitrates that would otherwise leach into aquifers, turning them into a valuable resource for farmers. This process not only improves water quality but also promotes efficient irrigation practices and greenhouse growing, making agriculture more sustainable and resilient to climate change. NTPlus2 extends the process to recover nutrients, including phosphates, at wastewater treatment plant where the novel use of plasma will be trialled as a method of disrupting persistent organics, including herbicides and pesticides, as well as generating additional green nitrate in the product.
Looking ahead
As pressures mount to reduce synthetic input use, lower emissions, and improve soil health, plasma technology offers a potential route to achieving more sustainable and circular agricultural systems. However, to move from promise to practice, greater focus will be required on technical optimisation, integration with existing farm infrastructure and clearer regulation.
Despite these opportunities, several technical, economic and regulatory challenges remain. Plasma systems are often energy-intensive and many have yet to be proven at scale in real-world agricultural settings. Further work is needed to understand the biological interactions, refine delivery mechanisms and build robust, science-led regulatory frameworks to support commercialisation.
With targeted research, continued innovation and support from industry networks, plasma-based solutions could play a valuable role in enhancing the resilience and sustainability of UK agriculture in the years to come.
