For the first time, researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FME) at Brno University of Technology (BUT), together with their industry partners, will present a fully functional device capable of treating seeds without the use of chemicals at the Země živitelka agricultural fair in České Budějovice. The pilot-scale unit, housed in a shipping container, uses high temperatures to reduce pathogens and offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical seed treatment. Until now, the team of researchers and industry representatives had presented the technology only through animations. This year, they are bringing a fully operational unit to the fair.

The technology can eliminate harmful fungi, bacteria and pests from the surface of seeds without the use of chemical agents. At the same time, the precisely controlled process maintains high seed germination rates and vitality. Because it relies on physical processes, the technology leaves no chemical residues in the seeds and places no chemical burden on the soil, making it suitable for both organic and conventional agriculture.

The technology is the result of a three-year collaboration between FME BUT and the companies Zemědělský výzkum Troubsko and SEED SERVICE. The project received financial support from the Czech Ministry of Agriculture under the ZEMĚ programme.

“We want to demonstrate that thermal sanitation is a fully viable alternative to chemical treatment and reach growers, breeders and distributors looking for a more environmentally friendly solution that also meets increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. We will be happy to explain the principle, effectiveness and practical benefits of the method to anyone interested—particularly the fact that it is a clean, sustainable process that leaves no residues and meets strict seed-quality requirements,” says researcher Pavel Skryja from the Institute of Process Engineering at FME BUT in Brno.

In developing the device, the research team was responding, among other factors, to increasingly stringent legislation governing the use of chemical products in agriculture.

From Animation to a Fully Functional Pilot-Scale Unit

This year’s Země živitelka represents an important milestone for the project. Until now, the team had only been able to present the technology to the public through animations. The researchers have now developed and built a fully functional pilot-scale unit, which they will bring to the exhibition for the first time and demonstrate in operation to visitors.

“The technology is integrated into a shipping-container unit with two access points, making it mobile. This means we can show visitors to the agricultural fair exactly how the unit works,” explains researcher Jiří Bojanovský, also from the Institute of Process Engineering. The equipment is designed to contribute to more stable yields and healthier crops.

In the future, the principle of thermal sanitation could be applied to more than seed treatment alone. The researchers also envisage potential applications in areas such as cereal processing in the food industry.

The fully functional pilot-scale unit will be on display at the Země živitelka agricultural fair from 20 to 25 August at the SEED Servis stand between Pavilions Z and T.