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The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.
LettUs Grow is embarking on a research project with Albotherm, a fellow Bristol-based agri-tech company, to investigate the impact of intuitive shading technology on glasshouse productivity and energy efficiency.
The study will use a combination of Albotherm’s responsive glass coating and LettUs Grow’s farm management software, Ostara, to monitor performance and capture data.
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Industrial Horticulture is at a crossroads – new report urges expansion not decline
Agri-TechE Article
Agri-TechE
Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) within industrial-scale greenhouses could make the UK a significant exporter of horticultural produce within ten years, a review of the sector – published by Defra and produced by Camrosh Ltd and the Institute for Manufacturing Engage, University of Cambridge – has concluded.
The Foresight study, compared the relative gains, costs, feasibility, and scalability of current and future ‘industrial horticulture’, including greenhouses and vertical farms. It comes at a critical time for the sector.
CEA has huge potential to increase UK self-sufficiency. It produces 10 to 20 times the volume of food from the same land footprint as field-grown crops while using less than 10% of the water resources required for open field growing, and there is potential to further improve productivity.
The report proposes that the UK has both the climate and the renewable energy resources to be a major global player in low carbon CEA food production. This vision is supported by reports of a decline in field production in other geographies – for example, an EU report predicts Spanish tomato production will fall by 20% by 2030 – indicating that an expansion of domestic CEA would contribute to food security.
However, the sector runs almost entirely on natural gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) and has been badly hit over the past three years by the increase in fuel prices and by a shortage of labour. This has led to production falling to its lowest level in 30 years, with many producers scaling back out-of-season growing or shutting down permanently.
Dr Bernhard Strauss is Director of Research at technology strategy consultancy Camrosh. In collaboration with IfM Engage, University of Cambridge, he is a co-author on the report. He comments: “The report comes as the CEA sector is at a crossroads on the journey towards net-zero. The UK has a choice: to actively support and build a CEA sector, or risk losing ground and seeing the industry fall into decline.”
The researchers consulted a multi-disciplinary group of experts and stakeholders across the CEA sector, and the authoritative report provides an in-depth analysis of the current situation and the opportunities offered as well as the challenges of a number of alternative and renewable energy supply solutions. In addition, the role of various agri-tech innovations in the sector for reducing energy demand is discussed.
Violas grown in IGS’ hydroponics
Co-locate with renewables to enable sector to scale
Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is a vertical farming technology company that has recently announced a project in Dubai, which aims to replace 1% of the country’s fresh produce imports. Business Development Manager Andrew Haxton says this illustrates the potential of the sector, if CEA is located close to renewable energy production and it is possible to plug in with a private wire and not rely on the grid. “For the energy producer and the grower, this offers much greater price stability, the key is to scale-up.”
Although strongly emphasising the role of alternative energy sources in the transition to net-zero, the report warns that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ and advises that the design of an appropriate energy system is strongly dependent on the energy demand profile of the crop and the production facility.
The study uses ‘Marginal Abatement Cost Curves’ (MACC) analysis to present six alternative scenarios of the future to provide illustrations of the technology roadmap required to transform the sector towards net-zero by 2050.
The MACC visualisation technique enables policymakers and industry to make informed decisions about which technologies and measures are most cost-effective in terms of boosting productivity whilst reducing energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
Technical solutions already here
The technical solutions that would enable CEA to transition to low carbon production are already available today, the authors observe, so the challenge is no longer technical but rather an economic and political issue, coupled with the need to achieve economies of scale.
Future Biogas is one of the largest producers of biomethane in the UK; Business Development Director Dr Becky Wheeler comments: “At a time of climate crisis, there has never been a more urgent need for cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration to decarbonise food production and increase food security. With the right economies of scale, policies and regulatory support, the AD industry could play a significant role in supporting the CEA sector.”
Pea shoots growing in the LettUs Grow aeroponic vertical farm
Joined-up Government policy needed
The report concludes that many energy efficiency measures – such as installing thermal screens, improving monitoring and control systems, and enhanced maintenance – require low investment and could significantly reduce energy consumption in the short term. However, to transition to a low energy, low carbon future requires joined-up government policy and incentives for long-term investment. India Langley of LettUs Grow Ltd agrees: “We need a joined up national policy to make investment in renewable infrastructure easier and far more attractive.
“We often think about financial incentives, but an important part of this is planning policy levers around enabling that co-location. It is not uncommon for commercial growers to get planning permission for a new glasshouse but be unable to build because they can’t get planning permission for the solar farm on the field next door.
“There are imbalances in the planning sector that could be addressed to try and tie some of these co-located and valuable opportunities together so that they don’t just get stuck within the system.”
Recommendations from the report include:
Gain economies of scale – efficiencies increase with larger facilities, particularly if co-located close to sources of renewable energy production or when investing in the latest high-tech greenhouse innovations. The UK currently only has 50 large growers with over ten hectares and a further 50 medium-to-large growers. Expanding the land area dedicated to CEA is recommended by independent experts.
Optimise energy usage – Next Generation Growing (NGG) is already the industry standard in the Netherlands, seeing the integration of control systems to maximise plant growth and yield while minimising heat and energy consumption.
Technologies including wireless sensors, vision systems, the Internet of Things, digital twins, AI, and others can provide real-time automated monitoring and continuous adjustment of temperature, humidity, CO2, air circulation, light, nutrient supply, and alerts for symptoms of fungal disease to optimise growing conditions and yields.
Equipment optimisation – the report observes that switching lighting to high efficiency LEDs will reduce energy consumption whilst enabling the potential to ‘tune’ the colour spectrum to maximise photosynthesis and other physiological functions, thereby boosting crop performance.
Geothermal energy in Iceland
Renewable energy sources – a number of alternatives are discussed in the report and the advantages and obstacles assessed. A conclusion is that of greatest value are integrated solutions using more than one energy source, where businesses can also generate their own renewables, or hot-wire from a co-located source. More extensive use of renewable electricity for heat pumps in combination with biogas from anaerobic digesters for heating could be another combination to help move forward on the path to net-zero. However, challenges are often not technical, but rather financial, regulatory, or political to get such approaches off the ground at the necessary scale.
Potential technologies include:
Agrivolatics – growing crops beneath transparent photovoltaic panels, thereby generating energy and food. However, solar power requires battery storage as the requirement is greatest during periods of low irradiation; therefore, the cost and maturity of battery technology is an obstacle at present.
Anaerobic digestion – decomposition of waste organic material or energy crops to create biomethane. This can be used to replace natural gas for CHP units and boilers and supply CO2 for plants. However, AD production needs skilled staff and economies of scale. Where co-location may not be possible, gas could be sleeved throughout the existing network.
Hydrogen – this is a complex proposition and viable only at scale once the required infrastructure and markets have become much more mature.
Heat recovery – transfer of thermal energy using a phase-change fluid or refrigerant gas. Offers matching of cooling/heating, for example to keep a packhouse cool while a greenhouse warm. However, bespoke solutions are often required so the costs for larger installations are high.
Geothermal – used to some extent in other European countries, such as Germany or Austria, after the Netherlands pioneering its use on a large industrial scale for the horticulture sector with an ambition to provide 65% of its CEA energy demands by 2050. It is a relatively mature technology, however the initiation costs are high, and operations would need to be coupled in most instances with other large power users to make it commercially viable
Consider diversification to increase profitability – there is a strongly growing market for high value medicinal plants, such as cannabis, and the plant-based production of vitamins and other active ingredients; however, these will not contribute to food security.
Precision breeding – gene editing technologies could be used to develop new crops that might thrive in cooler growing conditions, which would reduce energy consumption. Although using this technology to find the traits for commercial and environmental success can be a lengthy process, first successful field trials in the UK have already shown very promising results and its potential for the future.
Post Overview
1st February 2024
Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE Article
CEA and Vertical Farming
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Light Science Technologies wins Innovate UK funding for vertical farming sensor
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.
A research network to help bring forth advancements in vertical farming
We have launcheda world-first international Research Network designed to bring together leading minds in crop and data science – as well as multiple engineering disciplines – to drive innovation in vertical farming, a technology that can dramatically improve global food security.
Vertical farm infrastructure enables producers to grow crops regardless of climate, weather or environmental conditions such as soil health. It is a crucial tool in helping the world sustainably feed a growing population, improving food security and reducing food miles while catering to local needs and tastes.
The Research Network so far spans four continents, bringing together the brightest minds in plant science, data science horticulture, forestry and engineering to continue to broaden the application of vertical farming technology and the range of its applications.
Its aims include maximising and defining optimum conditions to grow regionally important crops, speed breeding, new variety development, establishing best practice to reduce energy and water consumption as well as proving the technology’s capabilities to efficiently grow novel crops.
David Farquhar, CEO of IGS, said: “Formally launching this network of globally linked research institutions is a huge milestone not only for IGS, but also for the wider CEA industry. We are confident that by bringing together diverse mindsets from all regions of the world with such a wealth of experience across key areas such as horticulture, agriculture and forestry, we will be able to continue to broaden the application of our vertical farming machinery.
“IGS has always been an engineering business with the double-helix of crop and data science at our core, so establishing a way to give the research community direct access not only to our technology, but also to a closely-linked network of like-minded institutions is a significant step. The more we understand about vertical farming, its scope, opportunities and limitations, the greater the impact our technology can have on securing a greener, more sustainable future, in close partnership with traditional growing methods.”
Among those to have so far signed up as inaugural members of the IGS Research Network are the James Hutton Institute in Scotland – a long-term research partner with IGS – England’s Nottingham Trent University, the University of Queensland, Australia, and Germany’s University of Applied Science, HSWT. Each member will build an IGS vertical farm on their site, supported by IGS, to allow them to study crop growth and performance in their own geography and environment.
Chris Horne, who will lead the research project for IGS, said: “Our aim with the research network is to continue to drive forward crop science and indoor growing innovation by collaborating with the leading minds across the world, validating the technology across different environments and climates, thus improving even further the growth recipes we’ve already developed.
“The World Resources Institute estimates that we need 56% more food than available today to feed the global population by 2050. This work has never been more important. So far, we have proved that more than 200 varieties of crops can be successfully grown indoors – and we’ve demonstrated that having total control of the growing environment enables us to produce high-quality crops at up to six times the speed of other techniques, such as traditional farming or glass houses.”
Priority themes for research include plant analysis, photobiology, and nutrition, including studying ways to enhance nutritional density with an emphasis on produce freshness, flavour and quality. Researchers will also have the chance to work together and share knowledge across different climates and markets.
IGS’ technology is protected by more than 25 patents that uniquely allow automation of every element of the growing environment, including providing optimal light, airflow, watering and nutrition.
Professor Derek Stewart from the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at the James Hutton Institute said: “Having worked with IGS for several years we know very clearly how the IGS system adds to our research toolbox and is complimentary to other assets like growth chambers and glasshouses. Effectively it gives us 50 lab benches in each tower to enable crop research under very precise control but also at scale. It is also what I call a “time machine” for research, speeding up cycles within projects. We are looking forward to collaborating across the IGS Research Network to accelerate crop science – it will dovetail perfectly with our existing work at the Advanced Plant Growth Centre.”
What our partners said
Professor Chungui Lu from Nottingham Trent University said: “Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is strategically positioned to make substantial investments in vertical farming. With partners from Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), we are establishing a Collaborative Research Centre of Excellence in Vertical Farming for our leading position in this sector around the world and to help foster impactful collaborations.
“We are at the forefront of integrating intelligent technologies to redefine conventional crop cultivation methods. Our current research on Smart Green Grow, including AI-based light and nutrient recipes, can optimise plant growth and significantly improve profitability and ecological sustainability simultaneously. A cornerstone of our innovative approach is the deployment of IGS towers, pivotal in expanding the horizons of our research capabilities. These state-of-the-art vertical farming systems afford us precise control over environmental variables, ensuring consistent and tailored growth conditions for diverse crops.
“What distinguishes our collaboration within the IGS Research Network is the invaluable opportunity it provides to engage with a global community of like-minded researchers and practitioners. This collaboration will facilitate knowledge exchange, and collectively pursues sustainable and efficient farming solutions, impeccably aligned with our mission at the Centre. Moreover, this endeavour grants us a unique platform for teaching and training in the realm of smart vertical farming.”
Professor Paul Gauthier from the University of Queensland, said: ““Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and food Innovation at the University of Queensland is proud to join the IGS Research Network and support the development of innovative solutions for the success of vertical farming as a solution to feed a growing global population. This initiative aligns with our vision on reaching the UN sustainable goals and increase food production by 70% by 2050 through innovations and cutting-edge science.
“With climate change and extreme weather impacting our daily agricultural productions, it is critical to change our approach to research and develop a more collaborative network where data and results could be shared openly. We believe that the success of indoor vertical farming remains through multi-disciplinary collaboration and the IGS Research network is the first step in the right direction.
“Such a network will allow us to develop methodologies to grow crops that won’t be available to grow in the near future due to climate change and biological pressures. But the IGS Research Network is also about finding solutions to support current and future farmers by providing them with vigorous and adapted crops to mitigate the impact of climate change on productivity and create a resilient global food supply.”
Professor Derek Stewart from the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at the James Hutton Institute said: “Having worked with IGS for several years we know very clearly how the IGS system adds to our research toolbox and is complimentary to other assets like growth chambers and glasshouses. Effectively it gives us 50 lab benches in each tower to enable crop research under very precise control but also at scale.
“It is also what I call a “time machine” for research, speeding up cycles within projects. We are looking forward to collaborating across the IGS Research Network to accelerate crop science – it will dovetail perfectly with our existing work at the Advanced Plant Growth Centre.”
Professor Heike Mempel from HSWT said: ““Winning IGS as a partner is a milestone for the further development of HSWT as a key player in the field of vertical farming. In the long term, this will pave the way for the ‘IGS Tower’ to be brought to the HSWT as one of the currently best technologies for vertical farming. As part of the IGS research network and with the HSWT’s Applied Science Center (ASC) for Smart Indoor Farming, which has been active since 2020, we can achieve our goal of establishing ourselves as a contact for vertical farming in Bavaria and far beyond take it to a whole new level.”
Post Overview
This story has been submitted by an Agri-TechE member.
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.
A pioneering project led by LettUs Grow – in collaboration with Fotenix, Rothamsted Research, CHAP, and Vertically Urban – is set to revolutionise the Total Controlled Environment Agriculture (TCEA) landscape in the UK. The Advanced Crop Dynamic Control (ACDC) project aims to develop highly energy-efficient and sustainable indoor farming systems through image-based analysis, AI and software that optimises the growing environment based on plant health and dynamic market environments.
The project’s core objective is to tackle the inefficiencies prevalent in TCEA by leveraging innovative technologies and methodologies – thereby improving energy efficiency.
Energy is one of the largest operational costs for TCEA but it’s not just a question of cost; it’s also one of sustainability. Choosing the right energy source and improving energy efficiency is crucial to reducing emissions.
By combining expertise from diverse fields, the consortium aims to pioneer novel TCEA growing methods that optimise environmental control efficiencies, encompassing lighting, irrigation, and nutrient supply. These improvements seek to address significant contributors to the carbon footprint within TCEA.
An integral aspect of this initiative is the automation of manual operations, coupled with the enhancement of produce safety, consistency, quality, and shelf-life for both retailers and consumers. This will be achieved by dynamically adjusting the growth environment, ushering in a new era of responsive TCEA technology.
Unprecedented in its approach, the project will utilise an integrated spectral imaging system coupled with an AI-based plant screening technology, designed by Fotenix, to measure crop physiological status. Fotenix CEO, Charles Veys, said: “Farms use our cameras to detect pest and disease, so why not use this to follow recipe evolution across economy or premium recipes? This project will fast-track collaboration between key suppliers into an industry-ready package at such a pivotal time for energy and food security.”
This data will inform illumination intensity, composition, and energy management, with a focus on integrating renewable energy sources – all of which will be controlled by the software platform, Ostara – originally developed by LettUs Grow. By prioritising plant health, the project aims to devise greener production recipes using advanced responsive control methodologies.
Adam Waterman, Chief Technical Officer of Ostara said: “It’s exciting to see how Ostara can be used as the gateway linking AI to farming systems. Because Ostara seamlessly plugs into farming controls – interfacing with lighting, irrigation, fertigation and environment systems – when sensors detect plant stress, Ostara has the potential to utilise Fotenix’s AI data to dynamically adjust controls to align plant health with energy-usage”.
Spinach, a high-protein leaf crop, holds a pivotal role in this project. Not only will it serve as a test crop to validate the integrated TCEA technology, but it also represents an alternative protein source poised to unlock new markets.
The project’s impact will be rigorously assessed by evaluating changes in crop yield against operational benchmarks, considering cost-benefit analyses and comparing outcomes against existing industry standards.
Dr Harry Langford, Innovation Network Lead at CHAP said: “Systems-level integration of novel technologies capitalises on the UK’s strengths in TCEA and delivers turn-key solutions with global market appeal, so it is excellent to have been able to secure funding for this exciting project. As well as collaborating on development work, CHAP will conduct demonstration trials within our Vertical Farming Development Centre, to engage and exchange knowledge with the sector around the operational efficiencies achieved, and the potential to deliver on Net Zero.”
The consortium spearheading this initiative, comprises LettUs Grow, alongside two technology companies—Fotenix and Vertically Urban. Collaborating with them are notable research institutes: CHAP (a Research Technology Organisation), and Rothamsted Research (an academic partner).
Commenting on this collaboration, the consortium’s partners expressed their enthusiasm for the project’s potential to significantly reshape sustainable agriculture practices in the UK. They emphasised their commitment to driving innovation that not only addresses food security challenges but also contributes to a more environmentally conscious and economically viable future for TCEA.
“Vertically Urban is thrilled to be collaborating with leading CEA technology companies in the UK, and I am eagerly anticipating the outcomes of our endeavours” expressed Dr. Phoebe Sutton, Plant Scientist at Vertically Urban.
She elaborated, stating, “This project will unlock the efficient versatility of our Tunable luminaires by integrating seamlessly with the intelligent control features offered by Ostara and Fotenix. This synergy will result in substantial advancements in both energy efficiency and yield for an important crop.”
“Rothamsted Research is looking forward to working with partners to develop energy efficient , sustainable indoor farming systems. The integration of image-based analysis and AI to optimise the growing environment will help to optimise the growing conditions, whilst reducing the energy requirements, crucial to lowering UK emissions. Further, linking metabolite data from the plants will allow an integrated evaluation of the plants health and nutritional status.” said Dr Jane Ward, Principal Research Scientist at Rothamsted Research.
Innovate UK’s support underscores the critical importance of such initiatives in fostering innovation and resilience in the face of complex global challenges.
Post Overview
This story has been submitted by an Agri-TechE member.
The global vertical farming industry in 2022 was worth nearly $4.2 bn and is projected to exceed $27 bn by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights, 2023). It has made significant technological advancements and inspired new thinking about the future of food production for increasingly urban populations. It has attracted significant private and public investment and has secured major capital investment to build and run extensive state-of-the-art production facilities.
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.
“GigaFarm” capable of replacing 1% of UAE food imports set for construction in Dubai Food Tech Valley
Food Tech Valley has signed an agreement at COP28 with ReFarmTM to start construction on a 900,000 sq. ft. game-changing “GigaFarm”. The innovative waste-to-value farm will be capable of recycling more than 50,000 tonnes of food waste and growing two billion plants each year.
ReFarmTM was established in the UAE by SSK Enterprise and Christof Global Impact (CGI) as a group of companies with a focus on projects with circularity and clean technologies. The brand chose vertical farming technology developed by infrastructure supplier Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) and is set to start construction in mid-2024 at Dubai’s Food Tech Valley, a master development launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and being led by major Dubai property developer, Wasl. ReFarmTM has engaged its lead bank to arrange support from UK Export Finance within the UK Government’s Department for Business & Trade.
The views expressed in this Member News article are the author's own and do not necessarily represent those of Agri-TechE.
At LettUs Grow, a large portion of our work is dedicated to exploring the potential of controlled environment agriculture beyond growing herbs, salads and leafy greens. By using aeroponic technology at key stages of plant development, particularly during propagation phases, we can potentially increase the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of the growth cycles for many different plants. During this set of trials, we explore propagating strawberries in an aeroponic indoor farm.
HotHouse Therapeutics uses a plant factory to mass produce rare medicinal drugs
Some of the most potent drugs known to mankind are produced by plants, but issues such as accessing source material from rare plants and modifying the complex chemicals have meant they have been largely abandoned by the drug discovery industry. This challenge has been overcome by technology from HotHouse Therapeutics (a spin-out from the laboratory of Professor Anne Osbourn OBE FRS at the John Innes Centre) which enables any naturally occurring medicinal compound to be reproduced by a host plant, creating a high value crop for Controlled Environment Agriculture.
Martin Stocks, co-founder of HotHouse Therapeutics, says: “We imminently expect to close our seed funding round of more than £2.5m from a consortium of UK venture capital investors.
“The endgame for HotHouse Therapeutics will be the generation of novel plant-produced drugs, probably made in specifically engineered plant lines. Such lines will require secure, contained facilities to grow the biomass needed for drug production.
“We are considering the potential of hydroponics and vertical farming in the manufacture of our products. We are interested in engaging potential partners in this space and accessing development funding to explore routes to viable and sustainable production systems.”
Wednesday 8th November, 9:30 am – 6:30 pm Rowley Mile Conference Centre, Newmarket
Surviving and thriving under increasingly extreme and unpredictable challenges is the theme of the 2023 REAP conference. To build a productive, profitable and sustainable agri-food industry, we must move away from the comfort zone and become open to the new opportunities that exist when we ‘stretch’. Be a part of that future – bring yourself and your ideas to REAP.
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Looking forward to Agri-TechE Week 2023
Agri-TechE Article
Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE Week creates a unique opportunity to meet the people behind the latest science and innovations and to visit those on-farm that are adopting cutting-edge technology.
The week aims to showcase exciting developments in agri-techthrough a dynamic mix of events, workshops, farm visits and, of course, the Agri-TechE REAP conference.
Many crop growing regions are expected to experience reduced rainfall and prolonged droughts, which can have serious implications for agriculture productivity. In this event researchers will explore various mechanisms to predict and mitigate these impacts on food security.
This free in-person event is hosted by the University of Essex, and looks at innovations that may offer a lifeline to this sector.
This interactive event discusses learning points from three EU funded integrated pest management projects. It will signpost the tools and information that are available and discuss the results of field based demonstrations.
This free in-person event is hosted by ADAS RSK at the Over Community Centre, Cambridge, CB24 5NW.
Commercially-driven scientists discuss how they have spun out new companies from their research in areas such as plant-based therapeutics, made-to-order disease resistance and biofortification.
This event at The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, NR4 7UG, explores the success of its Entrepreneur-in-Residence Programme and includes interactive displays.
REAP conference 2023: Adaptation through innovation; beyond the comfort zone
Can agriculture improve its resilience to increasingly frequent ‘extreme’ events and what is the role of science and innovation in creating opportunity out of challenge?
Expert speakers drawn from farming and policy, ground-breaking scientists and technology visionaries discuss at Agri-TechE ’s REAP conference 2023 at the Rowley Mile Conference Centre, Newmarket, CB8 0TF.
The first European field trial of genome-edited wheat at Rothamsted Research showed a significant reduction of asparagine, with no effects on yield or nitrogen content of the grain. This is one of the breakthroughs that will benefit from the new Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act that will enable the development and marketing of gene edited crops in England.
This free event hosted at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, reviews the technology and its potential.
Explore first-hand how technology is at the root of vegetable consumption
Farming and fresh produce company, Fredrick Hiam Foods Ltd, has introduced automation technologies in its field operations and factory. There will be a chance to see Robotti demonstrated by Autonomous Agri Solutions and a Laser Weed Sprayer demonstrated by VCS Agronomy and the parsnip processor Wyma in the packing shed.
This event is hosted by Royal Norfolk Agricultural Associationand takes place at Fredrick Hiam Foods Ltd, Brick Kiln Farm IP27 OSE
Novel crops offer resilience and new market opportunities, but how do you grow and harvest them and what are the market opportunities? Niab’s Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping aims to answer these types of questions.
This lively event brings together a diverse range of speakers to talk about the value chains and products.
A hybrid event taking place at Niab Park Farm, Cambridge CB24 9NZ.
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UK researchers use aeroponics to boost B12 in pea shoots
Research Digest
Agri-TechE
A team of UK researchers has harnessed aeroponic indoor farming to biofortify pea shoots with Vitamin B12, offering a sustainable and nutritious dietary solution in line with the Eat Lancet Planetary Health Diet and WWF Eat4Life recommendations.
Biofortification involves enhancing the nutritional content of crops, increasing the levels of specific vitamins or nutrients beyond the amount typically found in that plant. This approach offers substantial potential in addressing malnutrition, particularly in regions where access to nutrient-rich foods is limited.
Vitamin B12: A Nutritional Powerhouse
In a project funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), scientists from the John Innes Centre, LettUs Grow, and the Quadram Institute have targeted Vitamin B12 as a key nutrient for biofortification. By utilising LettUs Grow’s cutting-edge ultrasonic aeroponic technology, they have successfully grown B12-fortified pea shoots, providing the recommended daily dose in a single portion.
Traditionally, Vitamin B12 is primarily obtained from animal sources, and its deficiency can lead to severe and irreversible damage. As the global trend moves toward plant-based diets for both human and planetary health, biofortification offers a vital alternative source of this essential nutrient.
Prof. Martin Warren, Chief Scientific Officer at the Quadram Institute, emphasises: “This is a really exciting development in providing an adequate intake of Vitamin B12 to enhance overall health and well-being as B12 plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including red blood cell formation, nerve function, and DNA synthesis.”
Unlocking Nutritional Potential
Biofortified crops integrated into common foods align with dietary habits, making it easier to adopt sustainable dietary changes. Unlike synthetic vitamin supplements, these crops offer a broader range of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, supporting overall health.
Prof. Warren continues: “While Vitamin B12 supplements are available, some people may find it more convenient and natural to obtain essential nutrients directly from whole foods. Fortified plants hold the potential to provide a more integrated way to meet nutritional requirements.”
Sustainable Agriculture with LettUs Grow’s Indoor Farming
As the world seeks to transition to sustainable and eco-friendly diets rich in plant-based foods, biofortification presents a compelling solution. For instance, a standard salad bag grown through this method could contain as much B12 as two portions of beef, making it easier for individuals to adopt sustainable dietary changes.
However, achieving the sustainable growth of biofortified crops on a scale to feed the growing population remains a challenge.
The scientists at John Innes Centre, Quadram Institute and LettUs Grow believe the answer lies in aeroponic indoor farming. The controlled environment ensures year-round growth, efficient resource use, and eliminates traditional farming risks like pests, diseases, and unpredictable weather.
Indoor farming, encompassing greenhouses and vertical farms, plays a vital role in biofortification. It creates the ideal growth environment for crops and, through aeroponics, allows precise nutrient delivery, to optimise crop nutritional profiles.
LettUs Grow’s distinctive aeroponic system operates with high-frequency sound waves (exceeding 20,000 Hz) to convert water into a fine mist, effectively delivering both water and nutrients to crops with unparalleled precision. This precision empowers the research team to fine-tune the nutritional profiles of the biofortified crops.
A Revolution in Nutrition
Lilly Manzoni, Head of Research and Development at LettUs Grow said: “Something that’s really exciting about this project in particular is that it is the first time the enhanced yield potential of aeroponics has been combined with the nutrition enhancement of B12 fortification in a way that can be scaled up to commercial volumes. This potential to scale the innovation is crucial for accessibility of the end product and getting it out at a level that could hopefully positively impact public health.”
Prof. Antony Dodd, Head of Cell and Developmental Biology at the John Innes Centre, states: “By combining expertise in plant sciences, human nutrition, and horticultural engineering, we are developing new approaches to address nutritional deficiencies at a relatively low cost.”
This project showcases the power of collaboration between academia and industry to drive positive change in people’s diets. Biofortification coupled with indoor farming has the potential to combat malnutrition, promote sustainable diets, and contribute to a healthier, nourished world.
Post Overview
25th September 2023
Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE Article
CEA and Vertical Farming
Crops, Varieties, Breeds, Rotations
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Gardin’s new device gives rapid insights into plant physiology
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GrowPura increasing the productivity and profitability of vertical farming
Meet the Network
Agri-TechE
GrowPura Limited has developed the world’s first automated, moving conveyor system for vertical farming that operates in a patented ‘Clean Room’ environment. The company will be discussing the benefits of the system in the 2023 Innovation Hub at the Royal Norfolk Show.
The GrowPura® technology maximises the use of space and reduces input costs. Plants are grown in a vertical hydroponic system with multilevel stacked trays. These move within a bio-hall and are continuously monitored to ensure each tray receives optimum light for growth.
Reducing inputs
As 95% of the water used is recycled it uses a fraction of the water required for field irrigated crops with no runoff.
All aspects of the environment – atmosphere, irrigation, level of lighting, humidity and temperature – can be calibrated to the crop to maximise production efficiency.
The system also uses less energy than conventional vertical farming systems. For example, it uses 50% less LED lighting and requires 50-75% less space. This results in significantly higher output compared to static hydroponic vertical farming methods.
Clean Room environment
All operations – propagation, growing and packing – take place within the clean room environment which uses filtered air and integrated barrier controls to remove the need for pesticides or washing. This means that crops have a longer shelf life once harvested.
The GrowPura® technology improves the economics and reduces the environmental impact of vertical farming while improving the quality of food produced.
The patented technology is available for licensing and turnkey solutions for vertical farming companies.
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From micro-herbs to menthol and morphine: how far will vertical farms go?
Agri-TechE Blog
Agri-TechE
Crops grown in large-scale vertical farm facilities are beginning to enter commercial food chains with the promise of continuity and consistency of supply, reduced food miles and the need for fewer inputs.
But these benefits come at a price.
Tightly-managed, high-care growing environments are expensive to build and run, so these facilities need to grow high-margin produce – ideally in high volume – to generate the necessary returns on investment.
With ambitious expansion plans and increasing global acreage in many of these facilities, this month we are exploring the opportunity for vertical farms and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) to diversify into non-food crops.
Beyond baby-leaf salad
Innovative research spanning a range of crop species has demonstrated the feasibility of using vertical farming to produce field crops such as cereals, legumes, fruit and even seed potatoes.
However, while it might be possible to grow food crops in such systems, the question remains about the commercial reality of producing them at scale in such facilities. Are there untapped alternatives that are easier to grow and where the returns could be even higher?
Harnessing plant metabolism
Plants naturally make a suite of chemicals that are unrelated to their nutritional properties but still hugely valuable to humans. Plant-derived drugs, for example, represent 5.5% of the global pharmaceutical industry, with their sales revenue over £18 billion.
Flavourings extracted from plants including saffron from crocuses, vanillin from orchids and essential oils from herbs such as evening primrose all command a price premium over their synthetic – or fake – counterparts.
With a move away from a dependence on petrochemicals, there is an increasing focus on using sustainable alternatives for speciality chemicals, such as artificial flavour and fragrance molecules, as well as intermediates in manufacturing processes. Many of these are difficult – or impossible – to make synthetically.
So, what better production system for these complex materials than from the plants themselves?
Biofactories for non-food
Some plant chemicals are unique to individual species that are difficult to grow in broadacre because of their precise growing needs, their vulnerability to pests, or a lack of suitable agronomy. But under the right – and consistent – growing conditions these plants can flourish.
Thanks to a number of state-of-the-art facilities across the world, vertical farming at scale is now a viable solution for the widespread commercial production of high value molecules in planta. The controlled environment ensures stringent growing conditions and accommodates high-care needs. With the added benefit of automation and robotics to increase efficiency and minimise contamination.
Generating these kinds of compounds in a controlled environment would maximise outputs and ensure consistency. This would overcome a major barrier to their outdoor production and comfort regulators about the quality of the resulting material. Moreover, VF allows for nuances in growing conditions, where small changes can alter – and improve – the nature of material produced.
Next steps
Discussions between vertical growers and food retailers are underway, with bagged salad and herb producers competing with broadacre growers and importers – and potentially between themselves – for market share.
We think it’s time for serious discussions in the cosmetics industry, ingredient suppliers, perfumiers and specialist chemical companies, as well as in the pharmaceutical sector, to consider larger scale production of high value chemicals in a controlled environment.
There will undoubtedly always be a place for baby-leaf salad and micro-herbs in vertical farms, but plants are so much more than just food. We now have the technology to harness – and even enhance – this wealth of potential in a truly controlled way.
Members are invited to join our interactive BlogChat online session on 25th April 2-3pm, where we’ll be discussing this topic in more detail. Please contact info@agri-tech-e.co.uk if you’d like to join and we will send the meeting info.
LettUs Grow Ltd.
Agri-TechE 
Intelligent Growth Solutions
Schneider Electric
Agri-TechE 
Agri-TechE 
promise of continuity and consistency of supply, reduced food miles and the need for fewer inputs.
