Quantum Dot Glass: a breakthrough for sustainable greenhouse farming

UbiQD has revealed promising results from a USDA-funded greenhouse study conducted at the University of California, Davis, demonstrating that their luminescent quantum dot (QD) laminated glass can significantly boost crop growth, nutrient uptake, and energy efficiency in controlled-environment agriculture (CEA)

Published in Materials Today Sustainability, the study marks a pioneering use of quantum dot-integrated structural glass in agriculture.

The research compared two greenhouses during a winter lettuce growing cycle—one fitted with UbiQD’s spectrum-optimised QD-glass and the other using standard glass. The results showed a remarkable 37.8% increase in fresh biomass, with plants almost 40% heavier, suggesting a substantial rise in edible yield. Leaf area and root length also grew by 38%, enhancing photosynthesis, water, and nutrient absorption, which in turn improved plant resilience and shelf life.

One of the study’s key outcomes was a 41% rise in light-use efficiency, indicating plants converted sunlight into biomass more effectively under the QD-glass. Nutrient levels of essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were also higher, enhancing the nutritional quality of the crops. Furthermore, the glass improved the red-to-blue light ratio by 61%, without sacrificing the total amount of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), optimising light quality for growth.

“For glass greenhouse farmers looking to boost output while reducing energy inputs, this is a breakthrough,” said Hunter McDaniel, CEO of UbiQD. “These results prove that the sun can be engineered passively through QD-infused glass to deliver more productive, resilient, and sustainable food systems.”

As the global food system faces challenges including climate change, resource scarcity, and growing demand, this spectral engineering technology offers a timely solution. The study concludes that UbiGro glass could be a key step towards climate-smart greenhouses that marry photonics and sustainable agriculture, enabling year-round production especially in colder or energy-limited regions.