A startup from Novosibirsk is entering the international market. Soon the technology will be sold to Arabian agronomists. Until then, the scientists continue experimenting with strawberries in the basement of the campus.
The experimental greenhouse is as clean as an operation room. Special sensors monitor the humidity and the temperature levels. This is where the scientists conduct their experiments with strawberries. Some of the plants are grown in traditional soil, and the rest are grown in accordance with aeroponics.
“This is what the roots look like. As there is no soil, there are no pests either. Just the clean white roots hanging in the air”, shares Mr. Ivan Lapshin, the agronomist.
An automated system delivers all the substances required for plant growth. The agronomist uses switches on the machine: strawberries have much better conditions for growing on the shelves than in the open field.
The first crops grown according to the new technology are 20% taller than the regular ones. The result is due not only to aeroponics, the climate as well as the lighting strength and the length of the artificial light day have been carefully calculated.
The innovators are planning to give access to the technology to a wide audience so that anyone could grow fresh vegetables, berries and greenery in any free room all year round. The shelves are fully automated so no agronomist is required to assist them.
“We would like that people in Magadan have fresh strawberries in winter. And that they don’t fly from Egypt or Lebanon but have a proper flavor and freshness”, noted Mr. Timofey Pavlov, agronomist.
Soon the scientists will start mass production of their vertical farms. The technology raised big interest with representatives of the United Arab Emirates, where vertical farming is most pertinent. The scientists are preparing the equipment for delivery.
Source: www.nsktv.ru