OPTIMAL LED LIGHTING FOR INDOOR AND GREENHOUSE FARMING
Activities of ResCUE-AB in the field of plant growlights is being conducted in collaboration with Flytech srl (Belluno, Italy). Ongoing experimentations mainly target the definition of optimal spectral composition, photoperiod management and light intensity in a range of vegetable crops, herbs and spices. Concurrent research on indoor cultivation of hops and hemp is also addressed. The definition of appropriate crop management protocols (including irrigation, mineral fertilization and climate management) in indoor growing systems (e.g. vertical farms or plant factories with artificial lighting) is being explored, with the main aim of optimizing use efficiency of natural resources. Sustainability assessment also include life cycle analysis (LCA) and cost-benefit studies associated with the different technological options.
Recently, a collaboration with Pellerossa I-Pom farm (BO, Italy) was started to evaluate the effects of additional LED light applied for intensive production of greenhouse truss-tomato. In particular, the experimentation aims to define the optimal light managment for the increase of yield and product quality, also assessing the economic and environmental sustainability concerning the Mediterranean context.
OPTIMAL AEROPONIC AND HYDROPONIC GROWING SYSTEMS FOR VERTICAL FARMING SYSTEMS
Research on Aeroponic and Hydroponic systems are being conducted in collaboration with Dashfrm (Rovereto, Italy). Current experimentations focus on the development and definition of optimal aeroponic and hydroponic systems for vegetable crops, herbs and spices present in the experimental vertical farm of Bologna University, AlmaVFarm. The definition of appropriate crop irrigation management protocols in indoor growing systems is being explored, along with the climate and artificial LED light control applied. Moreover, sustainability and resource use assessment is also considered, analysing the two different growing systems.
Pennisi, G., Blasioli, S., Cellini, A., Maia, L., Crepaldi, A., Braschi, I., Spinelli, F., Nicola, S., Fernández, J.A., Stanghellini, C., Marcelis, L.F., Orsini, F., Gianquinto, G. 2019. Unravelling the role of red:blue LED lights on resource use efficiency and nutritional properties of indoor grown sweet basil. Frontiers in Plant Science, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00305
SIMPLIFIED GROWING SYSTEMS FOR EDIBLE PLANT CULTIVATION IN GREEN ROOFS
The research activities are conducted in collaboration with the Instituto Cidade Jardim (The Garden City Institute), a Brazilian company founded in 2008. Instituto Cidade Jardim aims to offer regenerative solutions to heal the urban environment enabling to cope with urban development challenges for the 21th century. The company designs and produces materials for green roofs, having installed over 80,000 square meters in their first 10 years of work. They also offer online courses and training for students from all over Brazil and Latin America. In 2012 the company invented a brand new green roof solution to bring all the well known benefits of green roofing to those buildings (and also houses, sheds, etc.) without slabs or waterproofing membranes, which also integrated the capability to work in a closed hydroponic loop, fed with reused water - it's water conservative, turns dirt water into biomass or food, and promises to make green roofs more accessible to the developing world. In 2016 the company was granted by the Sustainable Cities - Intelligent Cities award offered by FAPESP and FINEP (Brazilian development agencies) to improve product research and to make innovation ready for the market.
CONTACT DETAILS
Sérgio Rocha Founder | Instituto Cidade Jardim
sergio.rocha@institutocidadejardim.com.br
+55 11 98322-1728
www.institutocidadejardim.com.br
Pennisi, G., Sanyé-Mengual, E., Orsini, F., Crepaldi, A., Nicola, S., Ochoa, J., ... & Gianquinto, G. (2019). Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting. Sustainability, 11(15), 4063.
Pennisi, G., Orsini, F., Blasioli, S., Cellini, A., Crepaldi, A., Braschi, I., ... & Gianquinto, G. (2019). Resource use efficiency of indoor lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivation as affected by red: blue ratio provided by LED lighting. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-11.
