Germina, founded in 2020, is a Spin-off of University of Genoa focused on developing its patented adaptive technology for cultivation systems. Its Adaptive Vertical Farm progressively adapts the cultivation environment following the growth of the cultivar, moving the shelves in the vertical space and changing the environment via controlled temperature, humidity and lighting.
In respect to a fixed shelves VF, by minimising the LED distance from the leaves and reducing the volume of air to climatize, Germina solution is capable to reduce energy energy consumption up to 40%, as studies from the Energy Engineering department of University of Genoa demonstrated, while increasing the crop yield up to 80% in the same vertical space as demonstrated by simulations from Mechanical Engineering department University of Genoa and CNR. The department of Agricultural and Food science of University of Bologna is currently testing a prototype of Germina's technology after having studied this technology would translate in a up to 190% increase of ROI@10y over a fixed-shelf equivalent Vertical Farm business endeavor for a 1500 m2 plant. In 2022 Germina financed 2 PhD grants for scientific research of its technology over the next 3 years.
Flytech Srl is an electronic engineering company founded in 2006 as a spin-off of Eltec, an electronic manufacturing company. The company is specialized in the design and production of custom electronics for lighting systems in several contexts. It has an internal R&D department dealing with product design and engineering. The department also takes care of the creation of the testing tools before being shipped to the customer. Flytech also has an assembly department for SMD components with 4 production lines and a department for the assembly of traditional components. The company takes care of the entire electronic supply chain, with 35 employees in 2 production sites for a total of 2400 m2. In collaboration with the University of Bologna, several research have been carried out for the definition of the optimal light characteristics for indoor cultivation (e.g. Vertical farms) of horticultural, aromatic and medicinal species, as well as for the adaptation of crop management practices (irrigation, mineral nutrition and climate management) in indoor cultivation systems, with the main aim of maximizing the resource efficiency.Flytech is a partner in FoodE project, under the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme .
TrolMaster is a leading agriculture technology company specializing in advanced environmental controllers for the horticultural industry. With their extensive experience in horticulture and controller development, they have created a smart and interconnected platform that caters to the diverse needs of growers, from small-scale hobbyists to large industrial operations. Their platform is highly flexible, offering customized solutions for each grower. With remote access applications, customers can effortlessly manage their grow facilities from anywhere, at any time. Their comprehensive system provides automation, control, data collection, monitoring, and optimization, empowering growers to achieve optimal results. Furthermore, their commitment to continuous improvement ensures that their systems are always upgradable, delivering long-term value to customers. TrolMaster listen to growers and design products specifically tailored to their needs.