How technology is changing indoor farming?

Agriculture is one of the oldest enterprises. It is the backbone of many nations. Technology has become crucial in contemporary agriculture as a result of the requirement to produce more food with fewer resources. Their usage in agriculture is not a new idea, but developments have made it more economical and accessible. The adoption of technology by the agriculture industry in recent years has fueled a change in the way indoor farming is carried out, resulting in higher production, sustainability, and efficiency.

 

Reduced impact of outdoor weather, permitting the year-round supply of fresh veggies from indoor farming. However, the growing desire for fresh meals with superior nutritional content fuels the market's expansion. In addition, according to a research report by Astute Analytica, the Global Indoor Farming Market growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1% over the projection period from 2023 to 2031.

 

Let's examine some cutting-edge ways that technology is transforming indoor farming and determining the direction of food production.

 

Plenty Process

 

Plenty's Compton farm manages the full production process, from seed to packaging. The plants are transported by robots and conveyor belts. Under the supervision of a team of personnel wearing personal protective equipment to maintain hygienic standards. 

Plenty has its very own exclusive lighting system to mimic the nourishing light of the sun. People wasn't allowed to directly record its luminous setup out of prudence. They had to video via a window that was filtered, which warps the spectrum.

 

Dosing System

 

Utilizing an automated dosing system to provide fertilizers to the plants and keep track of the nutrient solution is a typical strategy in vertical farming. The reservoir's fertilizer contents, EC and Ph levels, and water temperature are all continuously monitored by automatic dosing systems.

 

When necessary, the dosing cycle is restarted after real-time pH and EC measurements are taken from inside the reservoir via probes. Growers can control the nutrient solution more easily with an automated dosing system. They don't have to spend as much time adjusting EC, Ph, temperatures, and nutrients.

 

Sterilization Systems

 

Sanitation is required to ensure compliance with international standards for food safety and to ensure the best possible growth of plants. Indoor farming employs strict sterilization and disinfection procedures to guarantee the year-round production of pesticide-free crops. Several techniques can be used to sterilize objects. But the most popular ones include ozone sanitation, chemical disinfection, and UV-C sterilization.

 

Systems for LED Lighting

 

Traditional lighting sources have been replaced by very energy-efficient LED lights in indoor farming. This enables growers to replicate sunlight and modify the duration, intensity, and wavelengths needed for different crops.

 

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering

Crop development has been transformed by developments in biotechnology and genetic engineering. It has also increased agricultural sustainability. Genetically altered crops that are robust to diseases, pests, and extreme environmental conditions are now possible to create. In addition, biotechnology has made it possible to create ecologically benign substitutes for conventional chemical pesticides and fertilizers. These developments help indoor farming be more productive and have a smaller negative environmental impact.