Food security across the globe has drastically been threatened by pervasive factors including climate change, scarcity of agricultural resources and human population growth. Vertical farming (VF) is an innovative plant production system that can potentially counteract these issues by improving food production without further aggravating land use. However, among other concerns, VF development is constrained by high labour costs. This study will explore the feasibility of insect pollination in VF systems to potentially decrease these labour costs and produce high-quality products. In this study, Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), will be used as a potential pollinating agents in two different experiments.
DURATION OF THESIS: NOVEMBER 2024 - JANUARY 2025
CONTACT: Agata Morelli (agata.morelli2@unibo.it)
Today, the agricultural industry faces serious challenges such as population growth, climate change, labor shortages, and the risk of pandemic diseases. The population is expected to reach 10 billion in 2050 and agricultural production will continue to increase; in addition, the average age of farmers is rising, resulting in an increased demand for new labor. The future concept of agriculture involves smarter, more efficient and more environmentally sustainable farms with sensors, machines, artificial intelligence tools and robots. Robotics can play an essential role in meeting agricultural production needs in the near future and could help increase operational safety, improve soil health and increase yields, as well as solve the labor problem.
The thesis will focus on researching the advancement of the state of the art in agricultural robots for horticultural crops, designing and studying new cultivation forms to facilitate fruit detection and thus better sensor vision. It will also research and experiment with algorithms that enable specific cameras to detect size, color, weight and position of targets.
THESIS DURATION: JUNE 2024 - DECEMBER 2024
CONTACT: Gaia Moretti (gaia.moretti6@unibo.it)
In recent years, low-THC Cannabis sativa has gained recognition for its therapeutic applications, demonstrating significant potential in treating various medical conditions and showing potential as a cash-crop. However, to maximize the yield and quality of cannabis crops, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the mechanisms that regulate its biological cycle, including the flower induction phase.
In this context, the proposed thesis aims to explore and optimize the greenhouse cultivation process of Cannabis sativa through the use of diverse light treatments. Specifically, during this experiment, the focus will be on the application of different LED light treatments with red, blue, and far-red wavelengths, with the main goal of investigating their effects on flower induction. Special emphasis will be placed on the potential reduction of the time required for the transition from the vegetative to the flowering phase.
The experiment will be conducted in a greenhouse using supplementary LED lighting, and light treatments will be applied starting from the day of the transition to a 12:12 light/dark photoperiod, monitoring the response of Cannabis sativa to each combination of wavelengths. Various metrics will be measured, including the flowering induction time, plant morphology, and other key parameters.
THESIS DURATION: November 2024 - January 2024
CONTACT: Fabio Perotti (fabio.perotti2@unibo.it)
Plants represent a valuable repository of phytochemical compounds, many of which exhibit bioactive properties utilized in diverse industries such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Given the considerable interest in exploiting these botanical resources for pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes, there is a burgeoning research interest in optimizing their cultivation within controlled environments.
Indoor cultivation systems offer a controlled environment shielded from external meteorological fluctuations. Through precise environmental control, continuous monitoring, and microclimate regulation, these systems facilitate the attainment of higher and more consistent yields across seasons.
The thesis will focus on advancing the state of the art regarding innovative species that can be cultivated indoors, analyzing their various cultivation requirements as well as their potential applications and uses.
THESIS DURATION: To be arranged within a timeframe spanning from May to October
CONTACT: Teresa Piovano (teresa.piovano2@unibo.it)
