Torquay & District
Medical Society

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) has taken a massive leap forward with the commercialization of LEDs.

The high conversion rate of electrical power to light and low heat output means arrays of LEDs can be used efficiently in grow rooms coupled to hydroponic systems.

Companies now exist which grow and supply bagged salads to ASDA all grown indoors under controlled conditions 365 days a year.

The narrow wavebands of LED lights also means that plants can be stimulated to produce certain bio-active compounds in a controlled manner - enabling the establishment of Agri-Pharmacy labs and companies.

Mick Fuller is Professor of Plant Physiology in the School of Biological & Marine Science, University of Plymouth, and although mostly retired he is still actively engaged in research.

His research seeks to optimize LED light arrays for controlled environment growth of plants both for food in Plant Factories and for pharmaceutical purposes.

They have recent exciting results with plant extracts in the control of Mantle Cell Lymphoma in Cell Culture and hope to move on soon to Phase 1 Clinical Trials.

Other projects include the optimization of plant growth to control the expression of Terpenes and Cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa in conjunction with Home Office License holder Phytome Life Sciences based in Cornwall.

Mick was formerly the Head of the Graduate School at the University of Plymouth, Chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education and Member of the Steering Committee for Graduate Education of the European Universities Association and before that was a Lecturer and Head of Department of Agriculture and Food at Seale-Hayne College, Newton Abbot.

He was Honorary Visiting Professor at the Leslie Research Institute, Australia and the Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USA, and was a Member the Plant Biotechnology Research Group (BPRG), King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia and a Master at the De Tao Academy in Shanghai.