Italy: Vertical farm plant research lab launched in Milan
The plant research lab is the starting point for Travaglini FarmTech to develop turnkey vertical farming solutions to help food processors improve product consistency and simplify supply chain dynamics. The Italian vertical farm research lab will focus primarily on the production of leafy greens. The lab was developed on significant learnings and experience gained from Philips Lighting’s innovative GrowWise Center in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The lab will be operated by Planet Farms, a new vertical farming operation established by Luca Travaglini and Daniele Benatoff. The combination of expertise of the three groups has resulted in a solution that will continue the vertical farming learning process.
“Travaglini FarmTech is going beyond crop cultivation to investigate the optimum factors for processing and packaging crops grown in a vertical farm,” said Roel Janssen, Global Director City Farming at Philips Lighting. “This is an important project for Philips Lighting because this vertical farm focuses on a new market segment, the food processing segment in Italy, where open field farming and taste are king. It shows how rapidly vertical farming is growing and evolving. It’s a thrilling time to be involved in vertical farming, and we are excited to help shape its future.”
“With vertical farming we are looking to answer many of the questions that the food industry is facing today and that will only become clearer and more pressing in the coming years,” said Travaglini. We can grow and process consistent, high-quality produce in one location in a vertical farm that can be close to retailers and consumers. It is a matter of continuing to push the boundaries to deliver great products to consumers in a sustainable way.”
First vertical farm research lab of its kind in Italy
The new vertical farming research lab will be located at an existing building next to Travaglini’s headquarters in Milan, Italy and is planning its grand opening in July 2018. Travaglini manufactures drying, smoking and aging systems, as well as industrial automation for the meat, cheese and fish industry. The high-tech farming facility has fully-automated irrigation, climate control and logistics systems. Sensors will measure data to manage, steer and improve the process. The facility includes a germination room for planting seeds, three multi-layer cultivation rooms with a total growing surface of 60 square meters, a processing room for washing and cutting the produce and a packaging room.
The lighting will be provided by Philips GreenPower LED production module Dynamic, which allows Travaglini to individually adjust the LED colors and light intensities. This module offers the flexibility to adapt light recipes between crops and crop stages, to influence crop characteristics like vitamin levels, nitrate levels and shelf life. The GreenPower LED production module dynamic comes with the option to integrate a lighting control system with a climate or logistics computer.
Philips Lighting, Travaglini FarmTech and Planet Farms will be present at the Ipack-Ima exhibition May 29th till June 1st to showcase the results of their partnership.
For more information:
Philips
www.philips.com/horti