Disruptive Innovation
2025 AWARD WINNER
BioLumic uses light to unlock the potential inside seeds. The company applies specific wavelengths of light to seeds while they're being stored. This activates natural genetic traits such as increased yield, better nutrition and improved nutrient efficiency, without any genetic modification or chemicals.
The science itself isn't new – plants have used light as a signalling mechanism for 500 million years. BioLumic's innovation was realising the same mechanism works on dormant seeds and then developing ‘Light Recipes’ – precise combinations of light that activate beneficial traits.
The benefits are significant. While traditional breeding and biotech traits take 10+ years and $100 million to commercialise, BioLumic can develop traits in one to three years at 90% lower cost. The technology works across 12 crop species (including corn, rice and soybean) with over 200 traits already validated.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, BioLumic is working with Fonterra to enhance ryegrass for dairy. Early results show increases in lipid composition of 2-3%, which could reduce methane emissions by at least 12%.
The company was founded in Aotearoa New Zealand and is now scaling globally. BioLumic calculates that as the technology spreads across major crops worldwide, it could ultimately prevent one gigaton of greenhouse gas emissions.