Latest news with #DysonFarming
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
06-08-2025
- Science
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Are The New Dyson Omega Nourishing Hair Products Really A Miracle For Frizzy, Heat-Damaged Hair?
Marrying James Dyson's twin passions of technology and farming Omega aims to combat dry hair – the number one problem for women in the Middle East Fact: Dyson, a name that was once instantly associated with home appliances, now counts 50 per cent of its portfolio as beauty. In under a decade, its styling tools (launched in 2016) and hair products, have become synonymous with technology, luxury – and now, perhaps paradoxically, farming. Last year the buzz was about the debut of hair products – the brand's Wiltshire labs had conjured up haircare serums and creams using mushroom cells – Chitosan – as a key ingredient. Key to their success in the Middle East? The fact that they were made to keep frizz at bay, and tested at 80 per cent relative humidity. The half a billion dollars invested in hair care research in 2022 was finally reaping rewards. And this year the world's beauty journalists were whisked off to another secret location – and made to sign iron-clad NDAs – before the latest range of products was unveiled. This time the reveal was in Lincolnshire, where James Dyson's utopian vision of high-tech meets high-yield future of farming is being incubated under the Dyson Farming banner, which has ownership over 36,000 acres – the equivalent of over 20,000 football fields. And the problem the team were asked to solve? In a study done in 2022, one in three people stated their primary hair concern was dryness. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dyson Beauty (@dysonbeauty) 'It's something that women deal with globally,' Justina Mejia Montane, Product Development Director, told us, 'They're constantly on a quest to find a product that is going to be able to deliver on hydration, nourishing benefits, without compromising on texture and the aesthetics of the product.' Someone living in Dubai would still have dry hair. Not due to the humid climate but because of what they are doing to their tresses, from colouring to chemical treatments and intense heat – even brushing and swimming in chlorinated pools. The Middle East also has a higher mineral content in its water, so that dries the hair out even more. It makes the hair heavy. The problem to solve pin-pointed, Dyson's researchers, scientists, chemists, and mechanical engineers got to work. The fact that they had boots on the ground on the farm, provided the breakthrough: the 800,000 sunflowers that grow to over six-feet high over a nine-hectare field. Design Manager Ben Hogan explains, 'It all dovetailed beautifully. Sunflower seed oil was chock full of omega fatty acids, and that is actually an ingredient really beneficial for dry hair.' The team are really keen to differentiate the problem-solving ability of their products too. While Chitosan's specific purpose was style retention – especially for Airwrap owners – Omega is the second chapter of that story, putting the focus on heat protection (something that was raised repeatedly during the Chitosan launch). The two new heroes are the Omega hydrating hair oil, that nourishes and restores brittle hair and a leave-in conditioning spray that transforms from a cream in the bottle to a mist that covers hair quickly and evenly, reducing breakage by over 74 per cent. I can confirm that the new oil is intoxicating to use, and instantly makes the hair look – and feel – shinier, without the added weight and greasiness provided by most in-market products that rely heavily on silicone. Its subtle scent feels functional, yet pleasant. In a nutshell, you might not love it, but you certainly won't dislike it. The upshot? It works. The conditioning spray is even more of a revelation, easy to use, and instantly changing the texture of hair, re-perking it up, once you've mastered how much to use to suit its thickness. It's ideal for the region's climate – and for the local love of regular blow-dries. It certainly seems that Dyson's beauty products are now as transformative as their at-home hair styling tools.
Vancouver Sun
05-08-2025
- Science
- Vancouver Sun
We stepped into the sunflower fields of Dyson Farm to learn more about its latest hair-care launch
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. The wide open faces of the sunflowers buzzed with big, chubby bees. As I leaned in to get a closer look at the blooms, I spotted the insects thrumming about as they collected pollen and nectar, some resting amid the task, on the generous expanse of flower face. Originally introduced at the Dyson Farm in Lincolnshire, England, to promote biodiversity and pollination, the stalky, yellow flowers have become a focal point for recent growing innovation at the farm. Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'One of the main challenges to scaling sunflowers to a commercial scale, in the U.K., is climate,' Ben Abell, head of agronomy at Dyson Farming, explains. 'It relies on sunshine and temperature. It really wants average temperature through the growing season, 18 degrees (C), which can be difficult in the U.K.' Sunflowers have generally been bred to thrive in different parts of the European continent where there is warmer weather and more sunshine. But, at this farming operation, the flowers are being bred for heartier genetics that can help them survive, and even thrive, in the cooler climate. As the lead agronomist — or crop doctor — at the acreage, Abell is helping to drive the innovation around this particular plant. 'We'd be one of the larger growers, for sure,' Abell says of the expansive field of shoulder-high flowers we're standing in. 'Generally, sunflowers have been grown for the seed for the bird-food market. We're the first to be growing it for oil in the U.K.' Started in 2012, the Dyson Farming division is now considered to be one of the largest farming businesses in the country. It totals some 146 square kilometres of land across various locations. A 'new' commercial crop for the farming arm of the engineering giant, Dyson Farms is homing in on sunflowers for a specific purpose. And it's called Omega. While barley, potatoes, peas, maize and more are among the more common crops coming from the operation, the sunflower initiative is part of a full-circle ambition to introduce more natural ingredients into its hair-care range. Dyson entered the beauty space with the release of the Supersonic hair dryer in 2016. Since then, the company has released several hair tools, as well as its first foray into hair products, the oyster mushroom-derived Chitosan range of pre- and post-styling creams, in August 2024. The new Omega launch targets two primary hair concerns: heat protection and dryness. While company researchers, formulators and engineers were examining ways to address these common concerns, the Dyson Farming division brought sunflower oil to the table. 'We were, at that time, starting to study the crops,' says Justina Mejia-Montane, senior vice-president of Global Product Innovation at Dyson Beauty. 'As the research was coming in for the sunflower seed oil, we recognized that it's chock full of omega fatty acids, and that actually is an ingredient that is really beneficial for dry hair. So we started playing around with, how do we incorporate this into a formulation?' They first had to develop a cosmetic-grade ingredient that could be used in a mass hair-care product. Then, they had to find the right mix of oils that could nourish strands, without weighing them down. The formulators settled on a mix of seven oils: sunflower, Abyssinian, macadamia, sesame, corn, olive and avocado. Aside from the sunflower seed oil, which is sourced from the Dyson Farm, the other raw oil materials for the blend are primarily sourced form France, Mejia-Montane notes. 'We wanted a blend of different oils that would help to penetrate into the hair,' she says of the selection. 'It was quite a bit of trial-and-error to figure out what was the right combination of the different oils that didn't give you something that was too heavy and that they were all enhancing each other.' In development for about two years, the launch features a leave-in conditioning spray and a hair oil. Rather than rely on silicones, which are a common ingredient in many smoothing hair-care products that can feel heavy or greasy on strands, the Dyson team looked to find nourishing ingredients that boasted the conditioning benefits, along with heat protection. 'The team sought out to be able to find polymers. 'What are some of those polymers that really helped to maintain the curl retention?,' and that's how we uncovered Chitosan,' Mejia-Montane explains. 'And I would say that Omega is continuing on that story, because heat protection is something that continues to come up.' With the new Omega products, the company now offers options for hydration, styling, heat protection and style retention. The Chitosan and Omega hair products are formulated to work both with Dyson and other heat-styling tools. Mejia-Montane recommends applying the Omega leave-in spray — which she notes is 'like a cloud of moisture on the hair' — on damp strands post-shower, then following with the Chitosan pre-styling cream for those who have hair that's more resistant to styling techniques. Heat styling would follow, and then a few drops of the Omega oil can be applied to add shine and provide a 'humidity shield,' she notes. The Chitosan post-style serum could then be used to really lock in a style on more stubborn hair. Dryness, a common hair concern that a Dyson study found one-in-three people worldwide deal with, can be caused by a variety of concerns including heat-treating, colouring, the environment, water hardness and more. 'We want to ensure that we're kind of stress-testing it … so that it is able to solve the issue for consumers, no matter where they're living in the world, or if they're travelling as well,' Mejia-Montane says, noting the global testing Dyson carried out with the products before their release. The beauty category, Mejia-Montane notes, has become a strong pillar for the business, which started with a home vacuum cleaner launched in May 1993. In 2022, Dyson invested half-a-billion GBP into hair-care research. That number, executives say, offers an idea of the 'size of the prize' they see within the beauty category. 'Beauty is quite a prominent part of the mix of business of the portfolio now,' Mejia-Montane says. 'We're giving the floor-care business a run for their money. And we're close to 50, 50 at this point. So, we're really getting up there.' Postmedia News was a guest of Dyson in England. The brand neither reviewed nor approved this article. Aharris@
Daily Telegraph
05-08-2025
- Daily Telegraph
Inside Dyson's UK farm where its ‘top secret' new venture is finally revealed
Don't miss out on the headlines from Face & Body. Followed categories will be added to My News. When I scored an invite to find out how Dyson's 'top secret' new product was made, my mind conjured up images of a futuristic factory with robotic staff. So imagine my surprise when I ended up in a muddy field, sporting a pair of Hunter gumboots, somewhere in the middle of England. Unbeknown to me, the British tech-giant – famed the world over for its bagless, cordless vacuums and in more recent years its innovative hair tools – is also one of the UK's biggest farmers, producing potatoes, cereals and strawberries. It also generates energy for thousands of British homes. And it turns out, its farming arm has been busy growing a whole new crop, specifically to go in its newest innovation: the Dyson Omega nourishing range. Comprised (so far) of just two products, a leave-in conditioning spray, and a hydrating hair oil, both contain the 'Dyson Oli blend', made up of seven omega-rich oils to help improve hair health. But the star of that formulation blend is undoubtedly a sunflower oil harvested on Dyson's own farms in Lincolnshire. Of course, the ingredient isn't gleaned from any old sunflower. Dyson Farming trialled over 60 varieties of the iconic yellow flower to identify the breed richest in natural ceramides. SHOPPING: Buy Dyson's most iconic product here Dyson took inside its UK farm where it has been growing a top secret crop that powers its two newest formulations. Picture: The Dyson Omega nourishing range is launching with two hero products. Picture: Now there are over 800,000 sunflowers on the land, many of which are currently surrounding me in a field on a soggy summer's day in north east England. The flower's bright yellow hue goes as far as the eye can see. They're also incredibly tall, with some of towering over my 147cm frame, growing a staggering 6 feet (183cms) in height. Despite the seemingly endless sea of sunshine before me, Dyson said the sunflower crop takes up just 9 hectares of its 36,000 acres of working land – that's about the size of 20,000 football fields or over 100,000 Olympic swimming pools for those who, like me, aren't up to scratch on farming lingo. From farm to formulations But if you're wondering how on earth Dyson even got into agricultural work, let alone its path to growing the core ingredient in its newest hair formulations range, then SNAP. You're in good company. Dyson Farming is growing 800,000 sunflowers that are rich in omega, to fuel the new hair care items. Picture: Dyson Farming was quietly established in 2012, and is now Britain's largest farming business. Its most well-known crop is its strawberries, grown all year round in a 26-acre glasshouse that produces about 1250 tonnes of the fruit. Recently, Dyson trialled a new way to grow the iconic British fruit, using a Hybrid Vertical Growing System that looks suspiciously like a ferris wheel at night with its neon lights. Its engineers have even created a nifty robot (I knew there would be a clever bot involved somewhere) that can pick the strawberries at a rate of about 5 berries per minute, or roughly one berry every 12 seconds. The results were promising, with Dyson stating the farming innovation boosted its yields by 250 per cent while also optimising the quality of the fruit. As a result, Kathleen Pierce, the Global President of Dyson Beauty, said the union between the tech giant's farming arm and its expanding beauty portfolio isn't as strange as some people think. 'Farming might seem like an unexpected extension of the Dyson ecosystem, but it's aligned with our core belief in solving problems through engineering and long-term investment,' she told 'Dyson Farming is about transforming how we grow food and ingredients, with technology, data, and sustainability at the centre. 'From using precision irrigation to harvesting at optimal nutrient windows, it allows us to control quality and create traceable supply chains.' As predicted, I did find robots, I just didn't expect to be in a muddy field. Picture: LinkedIn/DysonFarming They pick the strawberries at a rate of a berry every 12 seconds. Picture: LinkedIn/DysonFarming Can confirm, the strawberries are delicious. Picture: Dyson's top secret product revealed Indeed, the company's founder and chief engineer Sir James Dyson first hinted at the two arms joining forces a couple of years ago. 'It may seem odd for someone with a technology company to invest in and be in farming,' he said at the New York launch of the Airstrait in 2023. 'I've done it because I like growing food. 'We've also done the farms because I want to grow things that might make products. But that's as far as I'm going to go.' Two years on, we finally know what Sir Dyson was talking about, and how it helps its legion of loyal beauty customers. 'We've brought together two completely different worlds – farming and beauty – to develop a product that unlocks healthy hair with quality ingredients,' he said. 'Omega is the first Dyson product to feature an ingredient grown on Dyson Farms. 'Engineered for all hair types, it solves the problem of dry, tangled, frizzy hair using high-quality ingredients.' Ms Pierce said it's likely the sunflower crop is the first of many that could take starring roles in future Dyson releases. Kathleen Pierce, the Global President of Dyson Beauty, said the union 'may seem unexpected' to some, but it has been in the works for years. Picture: Supplied There are 800,000 sunflowers that have been secretly grown on Dyson's Lincolnshire farms. Picture: 'By growing sunflower seeds on our Lincolnshire farm, we can optimise the crop for nutrient-rich oil through precision farming methods. This allowed us to ensure not only the efficacy of our ingredients, but also greater sustainability and long-term innovation. 'It's a very Dyson approach, taking control of the end-to-end process to deliver better outcomes for the user. 'The success of our sunflower oil from Dyson Farming has opened the door to new ideas and ingredients. While I can't reveal what's next just yet, I can say that our research and development pipeline is rich with experimentation, and farming plays an increasingly important role in shaping that.' Benefits of the Dyson Omega nourishing range As well as the Dyson Farming Sunflower seed oil, the Dyson Omega nourishing range also contains Olive oil, Abyssinian oil, Corn oil, Avocado oil, Sesame oil and Macadamia oil, each selected for having unique hair-healing properties. Both the Dyson Omega Leave-in Conditioning Spray, and Dyson Omega Hydrating Hair Oil are silicone-free, with claims that include being conditioning and smoothing on strands as well as being able to seal in moisture for softer, more manageable hair. The products also feature heat protection, a first for Dyson, whose hair tools won't damage hair. Picture: Interestingly, the products – priced at $95 and $85 respectively – are also heat protestants, a feature not previously afforded to the first Dyson formulations range, Chitosan, released in August 2024. 'We received incredibly useful feedback from Chitosan users, and one of the clearest insights was that many consumers still rely on tools that expose their hair to extreme heat,' Ms Pierce told 'While our devices are engineered to protect hair, we wanted to support customers who haven't made that switch yet. So with the Omega range, we introduced heat protection up to 230°C. 'It's about meeting users where they are in their journey and helping them protect their hair regardless of the tool they use. At the same time, it complements Dyson technology beautifully, giving users that extra layer of nourishment and defence for healthier-looking hair.' The journalist travelled to London as a guest of Dyson. Originally published as Inside Dyson's UK farm where its 'top secret' new venture is finally revealed
News.com.au
05-08-2025
- News.com.au
Inside Dyson's UK farm where its ‘top secret' new venture is finally revealed
When I scored an invite to find out how Dyson's 'top secret' new product was made, my mind conjured up images of a futuristic factory with robotic staff. So imagine my surprise when I ended up in a muddy field, sporting a pair of Hunter gumboots, somewhere in the middle of England. Unbeknown to me, the British tech-giant – famed the world over for its bagless, cordless vacuums and in more recent years its innovative hair tools – is also one of the UK's biggest farmers, producing potatoes, cereals and strawberries. It also generates energy for thousands of British homes. And it turns out, its farming arm has been busy growing a whole new crop, specifically to go in its newest innovation: the Dyson Omega nourishing range. Comprised (so far) of just two products, a leave-in conditioning spray, and a hydrating hair oil, both contain the 'Dyson Oli blend', made up of seven omega-rich oils to help improve hair health. But the star of that formulation blend is undoubtedly a sunflower oil harvested on Dyson's own farms in Lincolnshire. Of course, the ingredient isn't gleaned from any old sunflower. Dyson Farming trialled over 60 varieties of the iconic yellow flower to identify the breed richest in natural ceramides. Now there are over 800,000 sunflowers on the land, many of which are currently surrounding me in a field on a soggy summer's day in north east England. The flower's bright yellow hue goes as far as the eye can see. They're also incredibly tall, with some of towering over my 147cm frame, growing a staggering 6 feet (183cms) in height. Despite the seemingly endless sea of sunshine before me, Dyson said the sunflower crop takes up just 9 hectares of its 36,000 acres of working land – that's about the size of 20,000 football fields or over 100,000 Olympic swimming pools for those who, like me, aren't up to scratch on farming lingo. From farm to formulations But if you're wondering how on earth Dyson even got into agricultural work, let alone its path to growing the core ingredient in its newest hair formulations range, then SNAP. You're in good company. Dyson Farming was quietly established in 2012, and is now Britain's largest farming business. Its most well-known crop is its strawberries, grown all year round in a 26-acre glasshouse that produces about 1250 tonnes of the fruit. Recently, Dyson trialled a new way to grow the iconic British fruit, using a Hybrid Vertical Growing System that looks suspiciously like a ferris wheel at night with its neon lights. Its engineers have even created a nifty robot (I knew there would be a clever bot involved somewhere) that can pick the strawberries at a rate of about 5 berries per minute, or roughly one berry every 12 seconds. The results were promising, with Dyson stating the farming innovation boosted its yields by 250 per cent while also optimising the quality of the fruit. As a result, Kathleen Pierce, the Global President of Dyson Beauty, said the union between the tech giant's farming arm and its expanding beauty portfolio isn't as strange as some people think. 'Farming might seem like an unexpected extension of the Dyson ecosystem, but it's aligned with our core belief in solving problems through engineering and long-term investment,' she told 'Dyson Farming is about transforming how we grow food and ingredients, with technology, data, and sustainability at the centre. 'From using precision irrigation to harvesting at optimal nutrient windows, it allows us to control quality and create traceable supply chains.' Dyson's top secret product revealed Indeed, the company's founder and chief engineer Sir James Dyson first hinted at the two arms joining forces a couple of years ago. 'It may seem odd for someone with a technology company to invest in and be in farming,' he said at the New York launch of the Airstrait in 2023. 'I've done it because I like growing food. 'We've also done the farms because I want to grow things that might make products. But that's as far as I'm going to go.' Two years on, we finally know what Sir Dyson was talking about, and how it helps its legion of loyal beauty customers. 'We've brought together two completely different worlds – farming and beauty – to develop a product that unlocks healthy hair with quality ingredients,' he said. 'Omega is the first Dyson product to feature an ingredient grown on Dyson Farms. 'Engineered for all hair types, it solves the problem of dry, tangled, frizzy hair using high-quality ingredients.' Ms Pierce said it's likely the sunflower crop is the first of many that could take starring roles in future Dyson releases. 'By growing sunflower seeds on our Lincolnshire farm, we can optimise the crop for nutrient-rich oil through precision farming methods. This allowed us to ensure not only the efficacy of our ingredients, but also greater sustainability and long-term innovation. 'It's a very Dyson approach, taking control of the end-to-end process to deliver better outcomes for the user. 'The success of our sunflower oil from Dyson Farming has opened the door to new ideas and ingredients. While I can't reveal what's next just yet, I can say that our research and development pipeline is rich with experimentation, and farming plays an increasingly important role in shaping that.' Benefits of the Dyson Omega nourishing range As well as the Dyson Farming Sunflower seed oil, the Dyson Omega nourishing range also contains Olive oil, Abyssinian oil, Corn oil, Avocado oil, Sesame oil and Macadamia oil, each selected for having unique hair-healing properties. Both the Dyson Omega Leave-in Conditioning Spray, and Dyson Omega Hydrating Hair Oil are silicone-free, with claims that include being conditioning and smoothing on strands as well as being able to seal in moisture for softer, more manageable hair. Interestingly, the products – priced at $95 and $85 respectively – are also heat protestants, a feature not previously afforded to the first Dyson formulations range, Chitosan, released in August 2024. 'We received incredibly useful feedback from Chitosan users, and one of the clearest insights was that many consumers still rely on tools that expose their hair to extreme heat,' Ms Pierce told 'While our devices are engineered to protect hair, we wanted to support customers who haven't made that switch yet. So with the Omega range, we introduced heat protection up to 230°C. 'It's about meeting users where they are in their journey and helping them protect their hair regardless of the tool they use. At the same time, it complements Dyson technology beautifully, giving users that extra layer of nourishment and defence for healthier-looking hair.'
Telegraph
25-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Ferris wheel' plan to grow millions more strawberries
Dyson has developed a 16ft-high rotating ' Ferris wheel ' to grow millions more strawberries every year. The rotating vertical growing system, housed in the company's 26-acre greenhouse in Lincolnshire, is tended to by robots wielding pruning shears and distributing 'insect predators'. Sir James Dyson, the inventor and company's founder, said he had been motivated by concerns over Britain's food security and disappointment in the quality of fruit on offer in the UK. He said: 'I believe Britain should grow its own food – it's important from a food security perspective and also in terms of quality. 'I have always been disappointed by the low-quality, tasteless fruit that is imported from overseas with all the associated food miles.' He said Dyson Farming had been working since 2021 on using heat and CO2 from its anaerobic digesters to create the perfect conditions for growing strawberries all year round. Dyson's Lincolnshire greenhouse is home to 1.2 million strawberry plants, which currently produce over 1,250 tonnes of strawberries. Sir James believes his new 'Ferris wheel' will increase yields by two and a half times. Two aluminium rigs, each larger than two double-decker buses placed end-to-end, rotate the trays of strawberry plants to ensure they receive optimal sunlight, while an irrigation and drainage system ensures root health. Robots select and pick fruit when it is ripe using vision sensing, physical manipulation and robotic shears, while other robots glide on rails next to the plants, shining UV light on them at night to prevent mould growth and ensure the health of the crop. Year-round production is afforded by Dyson's nearby anaerobic digesters, which use micro-organisms to break down crops fed in from the surrounding fields to produce gas that drives a generator. The waste then goes back onto the land as organic fertiliser to increase crop yields. Robert Kyle, a Dyson engineer, said the 6,000 strawberry plants in the trial had been 'extremely happy' in their 'Ferris wheel', and produced 'wonderfully sweet fruit'. He added: 'It has been a painstaking labour of love over the past 12 months.' The Dyson family established Dyson Farming in 2012. It has since grown into one of the largest farming businesses in the UK, extending to 36,000 acres across Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Sir James said he had been inspired to invest in farming after working on Norfolk farms as a child. He added: 'It's important that we not only produce high-quality food for the UK, but that we do it in harmony with the environment, be it improving the soil, encouraging pollinators with our wildflower field margins, or putting measures in place to increase Red Listed bird species on our land.'
