Agricultural sun protectants: the evolution towards more effective protection

High temperatures and intense solar radiation can cause sunburn on fruit, reduce its marketable quality, and affect crop yield. To minimise this damage, farmers use agricultural sun protectants designed to lower fruit temperature and reduce heat stress.

 

 

Kaolin: the traditional solution

Kaolin is one of the most widely used sun protectants. It works by forming a white film on leaves and fruit that reflects part of the solar radiation.

Advantages

• Reduces fruit surface temperature.
• It is a widely used and well-established solution.

Limitations

• Leaves visible residues on the fruit.
• May require washing before marketing.
• Excessive applications can partially reduce gas exchange and photosynthetic efficiency by limiting stomatal activity.

Soldefend: a new generation of sun protectants

The evolution of agriculture has driven the development of more advanced solutions capable of protecting crops without compromising their appearance or physiology.

In this context, Soldefend, AFEPASA’s sun protectant, was developed to reduce the impact of heat stress by filtering part of the UV, visible and infrared radiation. Its innovative formulation can reduce the internal temperature of the fruit by up to 8 °C, helping to preserve fruit quality.

Moreover, unlike other mineral protectants, Soldefend does not cause staining on fruit, which represents a significant advantage for crops intended for the fresh market.

Key benefits

• Reduces sunburn and heat stress.
• Lowers the internal temperature of the fruit by up to 8 °C.
• Prevents fruit staining.
• Reduces dehydration and improves marketable quality.
• Helps extend post-harvest shelf life.

Sun protection is no longer just about reflecting light

Today, a sun protectant must offer much more than a simple barrier against radiation. It must protect the crop, preserve fruit quality and maintain its market value. In this regard, Soldefend represents an innovative solution that meets the needs of increasingly demanding agriculture.