Guess what? Humans are not the only ones to suffer from sunburn, blistering skin and heat stress. Plants do too and farmers in Australia, Chile and California are now testing sunscreen meant for delicate fruits and veggies. Apples, tomatoes, lychess, kiwis, walnuts, grapes… as the farmers reel from the impact of climate change and global warming, the list is only likely to increase. Even the slightest dis-colouration or blemish knocks down the price of the produce, so it comes as no surprise that farmers are ready to try the sunblock. Plants also perspire like humans; perspiration for us and transpiration for them. The end result; they need more water.
And in these days of shortages, that’s a tough call. Purfresh, a Fremont-based company, worked out this sunscreen using calcium carbonate crystals.Officials hope that his might improve a plant’s water efficiency and thereby help water and energy conversation.
