Berry Growers Are Bouncing Back: How Nanobubbles Help Improve Strawberry Yields

Lauren Oehme
Aug 12
3 min read

When your livelihood depends on healthy plants and consistent yields, every input counts. For berry growers, irrigation isn’t just about keeping plants alive, it’s a carefully quantified science to deliver the right amount of oxygen, nutrients, and water to maximise the quality and volume of fruit production.

That’s where nanobubble technology is making a real difference; nanobubbles transform irrigation to do triple duty, not just meeting plant water requirements but improving crop yields and plant health, too.

The challenge for berry growers

In recent years, many commercial berry farms have faced challenging operational and market conditions. Unpredictable weather, like extended dry spells or heat followed by heavy rainfall can negatively impact yields and increase the presence of diseases like phytophthora and fusarium. Market pressure – ever-rising costs with an expectation for high quality, blemish free berries at lower prices – is only increasing, with the competitive landscape getting tougher.

With margins tight, growers are looking for technology that delivers measurable yield improvements without increasing costs.

This is where nanobubbles come in…

Nanobubbles are ultra-fine bubbles of gas (in this case, oxygen) less than 200 nanometres in diameter. This extremely small size gives nanobubbles several unique attributes, that can provide benefits for a range of applications, especially in agriculture and horticulture.

Because of their small size and unique properties, they:

Remain suspended in water for longer and deliver oxygen directly to the roots
Improve nutrient uptake and, for in-ground crops, soil health
Support faster, stronger plant growth and resilience
Directly impact negative pathogens and disease pressure, in particular phytophthora and fusarium.

For berry growers, that translates to healthier plants and higher saleable yields, even in challenging seasons – without any additional chemical use or labour input.

Case Study: Windermere Berry Farms, Whanganui

In 2023/24, Windermere Berry Farms installed a Nanobubble Agritech system to integrate directly with their existing irrigation setup. The goal was to improve water efficiency and boost crop performance.

Their results?

Noticeable improvements in plant health and uniformity
Stronger root development and improved nutrient absorption
Better berry quality with fewer disease issues
A measurable increase in saleable yield per hectare

The farm team also reported that the nanobubble system was easy to operate and fit seamlessly into existing infrastructure, with no major rework required.

The significance for berry growers?

Nanobubbles offer more than a quick one-off boost. They provide a chemical-free, labour-free way to:

Consistently deliver oxygen to roots, and more efficiently use water and fertilisers, translating to stronger, healthier and more resilient plants;
Improve water quality, removing biofilm and build-up in irrigation lines and emitters; and
Maintain yields during dry periods or heat stress.

For farms under pressure from both operational and market challenges, nanobubbles are proving to be a reliable way to grow more with less.

Ready to see it in action?

If you’re a berry grower looking to improve yields and crop health, it’s worth seeing nanobubbles in the field. Our technology is already helping growers across New Zealand achieve better results and it could do the same for you.

Get in touch today to discuss how we can retrofit nanobubbles into your irrigation system.