From 12 to 15 April, researchers from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at BUT will showcase the results of several years of development of a technology that provides an alternative to chemical seed dressing by replacing it with a physical process. The method can eliminate pathogens without leaving chemical residues in the seed or placing a burden on the soil.

Among other things, the technology responds to increasingly strict legislation governing the use of chemical products in agriculture. Compared with conventional methods, it offers a solution that is sustainable in the long term and environmentally friendly.

“We want to show that thermal sanitisation is a fully fledged alternative to chemical treatment and to reach growers, breeders and distributors looking for greener solutions that are also compliant with current legislation. We will be happy to explain the principle, effectiveness and practical benefits of the method — above all, 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.

At the trade fair, the technology will be presented through an animation of the entire process. “We want to give visitors a clear explanation of the principle, effectiveness and practical benefits of the method, while also gathering feedback from growers and seed processors,” adds researcher Jiří Bojanovský, also from the Institute of Process Engineering. Visitors will be able to learn about the new technology in Hall G1 at the stands of Zemědělský výzkum and SEED SERVICE, the companies that collaborated with BUT researchers on its development.

The development of thermal sanitisation at BUT has progressed from laboratory trials to a functional pilot-scale unit. The researchers hope to present the unit in person at the Země živitelka exhibition in August. In the future, the technology could be applied not only in the seed sector, but also, for example, in grain processing in the food industry.