Researchers Patented Textile to Boost Strawberry Yields

The new 3D fabric, Plant Armor, significantly increased North Carolina strawberry production in field trials.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Botany

Isometric editorial illustration of a textured white agricultural mesh draped over a strawberry plant. — Researchers at North Carolina State University have patented a 3D textile cover, Plant Armor, that increased strawberry yields by 3.56 times in field trials. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should agricultural research prioritize increasing total crop yields over reducing the use of chemical pesticides?

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a 3D textile cover called Plant Armor that increases strawberry yields by 3.56 times. The material protects plants from insects while maintaining necessary airflow and sunlight to accelerate growth.

Why it matters

By providing a consistent warming effect, this technology helps strawberry plants reach the fruiting stage earlier than traditional methods. The fabric is also expected to reduce the need for water and chemical pesticides in agricultural settings.

The Plant Armor Gen 2 fabric, patented under US patent 11,582,968 B2, utilizes a complex, multi-layered 3D structure. Researchers documented these findings in the peer-reviewed paper titled Knitted 3-D, Porous Textile Cover to Enhance Strawberry Fruit Production and Prevent Insect Feeding.

The players

North Carolina State University

This public research university located in Raleigh is the institution that developed and patented the Plant Armor technology.

North Carolina Agricultural Foundation

This organization provided the grant funding identified as AG00463770 to support the research project.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

This federal executive department supported the development of the fabric through project award number 02853.

The details

The fabric is draped directly over strawberry plants to create a physical barrier that prevents insect access while allowing the plant to photosynthesize. This design balances the need for pest protection with the biological requirement for light and gas exchange.

February 21, 2023: US Patent 11,582,968 B2 was officially issued.
September 29, 2026: The research findings were published in a scientific article.

The Big Picture

This study follows the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation's pattern of supporting localized agricultural innovations. The development of Plant Armor marks a paradigm shift in crop protection by replacing traditional chemical treatments with high-tech, reusable textile barriers.

This breakthrough could eventually lower costs for consumers by increasing the efficiency of strawberry production. If adopted at scale, the material offers farmers a practical way to reduce their reliance on water and pesticides.

The takeaway

The use of protective textile structures demonstrates how engineering solutions can directly enhance biological output in agriculture. Farmers and gardeners may find that utilizing such permeable 3D covers creates a more efficient and sustainable growing environment.