Climate Tech Accelerator: Brekland
Introducing Brekland
Climate change is increasingly impacting global food production, with billion-dollar catastrophic events becoming more and more frequent. Heat and drought are the most recognized threats, and innovators are rushing to combat these challenges. But there is a long tail of threats that have received less attention. Spring frost—when unseasonal cold weather damages spring buds and blossoms—is a major and growing cause of loss for fruit and nut crops. A frost in April 2017, for example, caused €3.3 billion (~$3.6 billion) in losses across Europe, and another in 2021 caused €2 billion (~$2.4 billion) in losses. As spring frost increases in frequency and severity, farmers are not prepared to meet this challenge. But Brekland is an agricultural technology company building the tools to strengthen farmers’ resilience against climate change.
Brekland is an emerging innovator in the agricultural tech landscape, developing a pioneering technology to shield crops from the devastating effects of spring frost. This technology represents a crucial intervention in the fight to improve agriculture’s resilience to extreme weather and decrease economic loss. The challenge of spring frost has long plagued farmers, causing up to 95% loss in perennial crops (e.g., grapes, fruit and nut trees, coffee).
Existing systems mitigate these risks by managing the air temperatures above crops. These systems protect either by mixing air to prevent cold sinks using wind machines or helicopters, warming air directly with heaters burning wood or paraffin wax, or by spraying water onto crops, all of which have limitations and, some, huge drawbacks. Brekland is taking a different approach by combining precision application and sustainable material chemistry to develop an insulating coating to protect crops. Applied by a mobile sprayer, the insulator offers several benefits, including higher protection levels, better operational flexibility, and lower upfront capital costs than existing frost protection systems. Brekland's solution is a game-changer in our shifting climate, offering hope and resilience against more frequent and more devastating frosts.
BREKLAND'S SOLUTION:
Insulate crops using a spray-on, water-based, biodegradable foam. Foam in general offers excellent thermal insulation and is better than many common insulation products (e.g., mineral wool). Learn more here.
Sweet Farm's collaboration with Brekland underscores a mutual commitment to sustainable agriculture and technological innovation. By providing expert knowledge and technical support, Sweet Farm is instrumental in transitioning Brekland's laboratory breakthroughs to field-ready solutions. This partnership is a powerful amalgamation of agricultural wisdom and technological prowess, aimed at significantly diminishing the impacts of spring frost on global agriculture. The alliance between Sweet Farm and Brekland is a testament to the power of innovative thinking and collaboration in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our food systems today. By developing solutions that mitigate the risks of spring frost, they are not just protecting livelihoods but are also safeguarding the future of global food security. This effort to combat agricultural vulnerabilities showcases a forward-thinking approach to resilience and sustainability in farming.
Brekland successfully deployed their first prototype in vineyards during the April 24, 2024 frost in the Finger Lakes region with field trials in both Hammondsport and Dundee, NY.
