MODULAR FARMING IN

CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS

RICHARD WORSFOLD

DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, OCE INC.

State of the Art Controlled Environment Plant Production CESRF

Space as a Technology Driver

Emerging Technologies

Lighting Systems

Nutrient Management

Atmosphere and Gas Exchange

Advanced Imaging

Communications - ACMGH

Energy Systems

Overview

2

Space as a Technology Driver

3

It can be done here

If it can be done here

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In the Beginning

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Hypobaric Chambers (HBC)

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Small-scale HBCs

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Higher Plant Compartment

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LEDs for Plant Systems in Controlled Environments

OCE Industry Academia Collaboration ProgramBio-economy and clean technologies

Academic PI: Dr. Mike Dixon (U Guelph)Industry Partner: Dr. Al Scott (COM DEV)

June 7, 2012

Advanced Lighting

LED systems

Light Recipes & Plant Physiology

Economical Lighting Solutions

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The Problem

Ontario is the third largest greenhouse producer in North America behind California and Florida.

Due to northerly latitudes, Canadian greenhouses require supplemental lighting for efficient year-round production.

Energy costs are rising Traditional white/yellow

greenhouse lighting is inefficient for plants.

Overhead lighting starves the inner canopy of light.

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The Solution Modern LEDs are now as efficient as

traditional sources, last longer, and can be tuned to emit only photosynthetically active light in wavebands where it is mostly absorbed.

We are using unique OCE-supported research infrastructure with new LED systems to determine crop specific colour balances increasing productivity and influencing physiological variables such as height, branching ratio, leaf size, and bud density (photomorphology)

We can develop compact cool inner-canopy arrays to more efficiently distribute the light.

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Tuned LED System

400 500 600 700

Outcomes

Potential new Ontario business in economical LED systems to efficiently increase food productivity: Overhead LED lighting array Inner canopy LED lighting array Programmable by crop and physiological stage for best

colour balance (germination, growth, fruiting)

Key component of efficient modular Northern Ontario food production systems Food security in isolated communities Significant nutrition and health impacts Reduces dependency on shipped-in food Enhances northern economy with new jobs

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Summary

This project adds commercial sustainability to a major R&D project that could significantly improve the efficiency of greenhouse agriculture in Ontario.

We are discussing with a European company to set up a facility in Ontario to manufacture the lighting systems.

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Gaps Still ExistRequired & Emerging Technologies

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Opportunities

Ion Specific Nutrient Monitoring

In recirculating irrigation

Nutrient imbalances can develop if controlling on bulk electrical conductivity

Diurnal/circadian considerations

Nitrate/Nitrite dynamics

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Atmosphere Management

Carbon dioxide

Temperature

Humidity (VPD)

Trace gases (i.e. ethylene)

Oxygen

Air flow

Miscellaneous

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Plants as Sensors

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- GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein) detects changes in gene expression that can be captured (images) in real-time

-Direct measurements of plant water status in response to environmental stresses with in situ sensors

Plants provide direct feedback to interpret environment control strategies!

Communications and Remote Operation

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Energy Systems

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A lot of batteries

Infrastructure

Who will build the containment structures?

Who will do the systems integration?

Who will install and how?

Who will manage the clusters making up the farm?

Who will be the gardener?

Who will manage, repair and overhaul the installations?

Summary

It can be done!

Emerging lighting, nutrient management, and control systems will enable northern food production

Still fundamental knowledge gaps and training that need to be addressed

Cost (mostly energy) and acceptance are still big hurdles

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Questions?

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SPECIAL THANKS TO DR MIKE DIXON OF

THE U OF GUELPH AND DR AL SCOTT OF

COMDEV FOR THE SLIDES USED IN THIS

PRESENTATION

THANK YOU