Light Science Technologies Holdings PLC (AIM:LST) CEO Simon Deacon talked with Proactive about the company's momentum heading into 2026, highlighting growth across its AgTech and Passive Fire Protection divisions.
Deacon discussed the company's extended agreement with Gavita and Agrolux, which now runs until December 2026, enabling LST to support international projects with its turnkey lighting, sensing and environmental control solutions.
He noted: “We also provide a different range of lighting, but also sensors and our climate computer as well. So it’s really drawn some real international inquiries.” The collaboration has helped expand the quoted pipeline from £10 million to approximately £24 million in a short span.
Deacon attributed increasing international demand to changing climate conditions, prompting more investment in glasshouses, hybrid polytunnels and vertical farming. A recent project in Poland and traction across Europe underscore LST’s growing market share, with roughly 75-80% of the pipeline now based in Europe.
He also discussed SensorGROW, a SaaS-based environmental monitoring platform that enables growers to automate and enhance their farming conditions, with AI capabilities expected to evolve as data accumulates.
Looking ahead, the company expects strong growth in 2026, supported by a broader quoted pipeline worth around £65 million across its divisions.
Proactive: Simon, good to speak with you this morning. Can you give us an overview of the agreements and outline the impact on your global reach?
Simon Deacon: The agreement is an extension. We've been working with Gavita and Agrolux, which is part of Gavita International, for seven to eight months. What we've seen with them, being an international company for a long time, is real traction in the lighting sector.
We've seen the ability to partner with them to support them and provide a turnkey solution — in products that they don't provide. They are a very strong partner in lighting products, but we also provide a different range of lighting, sensors, and our climate computer. So it's drawn some real international inquiries. We're very excited about extending this partnership to December 2026.
Proactive: Simon, demand is growing internationally. Can you tell us what's driving that?
Simon Deacon: Climate and weather patterns globally are making it harder to grow outdoors. We're seeing refurbishment of old glasshouses and the construction of new ones. There’s also strong interest in hybrid polytunnels. In the last six months, vertical farming has returned to the market.
Our quoted pipeline with the Gavita and Agrolux partnership has increased from £10 million to around £24 million in a short space of time. We're impressed and expect it to grow further.
Proactive: Simon, it looks like LST has been agile in its approach to addressing these needs. Could you talk to us about some of the solutions you've already delivered?
Simon Deacon: We’ve completed a lighting project in Poland for a glasshouse. We're seeing many similar projects across Europe. I’d say around 75–80% of our quoted pipeline is in Europe. That traction has really helped grow this division, and I expect to see that come through in 2026.
Proactive: As you continue to develop your products, what capabilities do you hope to add?
Simon Deacon: We offer a turnkey solution — not just lighting in a box. We provide everything needed to install the solution in new or existing glasshouses — cables, connectivity, and the environmental computer to control conditions.
With SensorGROW, offered through a SaaS model, you can detect what's happening in the environment and control it. The lighting helps with growth in the winter months, and the sensors control the rest of the environment. They tell the grower what actions are needed. Over time, we’ll bring in AI as we gather more data.
Proactive: Finally, what impact will this development have on the group?
Simon Deacon: It has a big impact. We see AgTech as a medium to long-term part of our vision. Our quoted pipeline across the group — including passive fire protection (PFP) and contract electronics — is around £65 million.
There’s been a slowdown in the contract electronics side, which we expected. But AgTech and the passive fire division are really growing for 2026. We’re also seeing gross margins increase, which is very encouraging.
Proactive: Simon, I'm sure we'll be chatting again soon. Thank you very much for speaking with us today.