Woodlight, a French start-up, recently presented his first bioluminescent plantgenetically modified to allow it to produce its own light.
A plant capable of producing light
Ghislain Auclair and Rose-Marie Vesin, a couple of French researchers, presented their first bioluminescent plant at the end of last September. Tens of centimeters high, these genetically modified plants could ultimately revolutionize night-time public lighting.
The idea came to them during a trip to New York, when they realized light pollution and the overconsumption of energy represented by night lighting in one of the largest cities in the UNITED STATES. They thus decided to find an alternative to try to resolve these problems, creating the start-up Woodlight in 2016.
After 8 years of work, the research couple finally succeeded in their objective, namely to create a bioluminescent plant, moving, through various tests and experiments, from luminous plant cells only visible under a microscope to a first prototype of a plant. bioluminescent visible to the naked eye.
These plants are actually genetically modified tobaccoallowing it to produce its own light after injection of an “activator molecule”. The scientists specified that they used this type of plant because it is a model plant, like mice in mammals. However, they also specify that it will soon be possible for them to work on other varietieswhether larger bushes and even trees.
A future use for public lighting?
French researchers have many ambitions for these bioluminescent plants. These could indeed have many exterior applications such as public lighting parks or the interior of buildings, but also a domestic use for simple decorations.
“In parks, it could be bushes or trees that could be used as markers. We can also imagine many applications in interior design, for restaurants and hotels,” assured the couple of researchers.
These plants are also designed not to disrupt the nocturnal ecosystem. These in fact produce a green lightwhich does not disturb the balance of the plant or the surrounding ecosystem, specify the scientists, unlike artificial lights, which are more aggressive. This green light does not bother animals and insects either, which are also strongly affected by urban lights.
Another advantage of this technique is that this can be used for many plant varieties. Woodlight researchers in effect “add” an ability to the plant, stably modifying it so that it produces light on command. The modified plant is also rendered sterilewhich will prevent it from reproducing and spreading into other ecosystems.
Many French municipalities are already interested in this new type of bioluminescent plants, as are large groups, Woodlight also hopes to open its doors abroad in order to distribute this new type of futuristic and more environmentally friendly lighting. The company recently launched a fundraising campaign with its partners, which should allow it to quickly perfect its invention and open up to a potentially immense market.
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