The company – based on the University’s Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP) – has created a unique AgriTech system that helps to increase productivity and resilience in food crops.

Seeds are "vitalised" with cold plasma, improving their health and delivering up to 25% enhanced crop yields – without the use of pesticides.

As a low energy, low carbon alternative to fossil fuels and chemicals, cold plasma processes are rapidly attracting interest across a variety of sectors in addition to agriculture.

The technology was developed by Dr Felipe Iza and Zayndu was formed in 2019 to commercialise his research with Ralph Weir brought in to head up the company as CEO. The company was launched in LUinc. (the University’s incubator) before graduating to LUSEP’s Advanced Technology Innovation Centre (ATIC) where it continues to thrive.

Zayndu’s SeedCloud system is a powerful tool that enables the company to collaborate with customers worldwide to optimise performance, support and train operators, add new crop protocols, and provide predictive maintenance to guarantee up-time.

The system is already monitoring systems across Europe and North America, enabling expansion into the Gulf and beyond.

Ralph Weir says of the Award: “We are proud to be at the forefront of the Plasma Agriculture revolution. The Award recognises not only our ground-breaking technology and efforts to support food resilience, but the dedication and passion of the entire team.

“Honourable mention goes to our incredible Software Engineer Daniel Miller who has driven the architecture and led the development project. It is right and proper that he was there to receive our Award on the night.”

Review the full list of Award winners.