ACDC: Advanced Crop Dynamic Control for sustainable leaf protein production in vertical farms

该项目通过提供改变游戏规则的解决方案，将低效的TCEA**（全面控制环境农业）操作转变为可持续的、**节能的作物种植系统**，解决了英国在气候危机中面临的粮食安全挑战。通过合作整合创新技术，该项目将展示新颖的、响应性强的TCEA种植方法，以优化环境控制的效率，包括照明、灌溉和养分供应，以减少造成高碳足迹的最大贡献者。该解决方案还将通过动态改变生长环境，使人工操作自动化，并为零售商/消费者提高产品的安全性/一致性/质量/保质期。该创新项目将首次使用**测量作物生理状态**，使用**集成光谱成像系统**测量，以**告知照明强度/成分**，以及能源管理（包括可再生能源整合）；最终利用植物健康发展**绿色生产配方**使用先进的**响应式控制**方法。项目的影响将通过**作物产量变化与运营影响**（成本/效益基准）进行衡量，并与现有技术水平进行比较。确定的关键作物是高蛋白叶作物菠菜，不仅是验证这种综合TCEA技术的试验作物，而且是开拓新市场的替代蛋白质作物。该项目由LettusGrow领导的一个非常有能力的财团提供，其中包括另外两家技术公司：Fotenix和vertical Urban，一个RTO: CHAP，一个学术合作伙伴：洛桑研究中心和一个垂直农场种植者：完美新鲜。

This project addresses UK food security challenges amidst a climate crisis by offering a game-changing solution to **transform inefficient TCEA** (total controlled environment agriculture) operations into sustainable, **energy-efficient crop growing systems**. By collaborating to integrate innovative technologies, the project will characterise and demonstrate novel, responsive TCEA growing methods to optimise the efficiencies of environmental control including lighting, irrigation and nutrient supply to reduce the largest contributors responsible for high carbon footprint. The solution will also automate manual operations and improve the safety/consistency/quality/shelf-life of produce for retailers/consumers, by dynamically altering the growth environment.This innovative project will, for the first time, use the **measurement of crop physiological status**, measured using an **integrated spectral imaging system**, to **inform the illumination intensity/composition**, as well as the energy management (including renewables integration); ultimately using plant health to develop **greener production recipes** using advanced **responsive control** methodologies. The project's impact will be measured by changes to **crop yield versus operational impact** benchmarked over cost/benefit and compared to the existing state of the art. The key crop identified is the high-protein leaf crop Spinach, not only as a test crop to validate this integrated TCEA technology, but as an alternative protein crop to unlock new markets.The project is delivered by a highly competent consortium led by LettusGrow and including another two technology companies: Fotenix and Vertically Urban, an RTO: CHAP, an academic partner: Rothamsted Research and a vertical farm grower: Perfectly Fresh.