Fuente: WIPO "tomato" A protective material comprising a hybrid composite derived from a suspension, including an organic polymer matrix formed upon drying and an inorganic filler system embedded therein. The organic constituents may include biocompatible polymeric materials, while the inorganic filler constituents comprise a plurality of particulates including microparticles and, optionally, submicron particles and/or nanoparticles. When applied to plant surfaces and dried, the protective material forms a conformal coating configured to mitigate heat stress in plants via passive cooling, by reducing solar heat gain, and managing heat transfer between ambient air and plant tissues.