Biolumic founder and chief scientist Jason Wargent said it was exciting, and mind-blowing, how fast the company had grown.
The Massey University associate professor's research focused on using UV light to boost plant growth and crop yields. Over the past six years he has developed it into a commercial product with business partner, Biolumic chief executive, Warren Bebb.
The city's mayor Grant Smith said Biolumic was an impressive example of what Manawatū companies could accomplish.
Biolumic has grown test crops of lettuce in the UK, Spain and Mexico, and has proven UV treatments can increase crop yields by up to 40 per cent in a variety of conditions.
Warren Bebb said the new research and development centre would help develop tweaks to the treatment to tailor it for tomatoes, strawberries, cucumbers and other highly valuable crops – as well as other applications such as pest control.