Assessing the feasibility of all-in-one growing sensor and innovative transmission node for vertical farms - driving energy efficiency, productivity and commercial viability

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Vertical Farming(VF) has been branded as the future of Food Production due to the environmental benefits and food security benefits (small geographical footprint, pesticide-free, water reuse, all year round growing) of the growing process. However, the industry is in its infancy and littered with inefficiencies(high energy/labour costs, limited crop choice, high levels of contamination), resulting in poor ROI.The global [vertical farming market][0] size is anticipated to reach $9.96bn by 2025, according to a new report by Grand\_View\_Research, (expanding@ 21.3%-CAGR) over the forecast period. Increased use of Internet of Things(IoT) sensors for producing crops is likely to spur the market demand over the forecast period.Precision, integrated real time data solutions that are robust to the VF environment are critical to elevating the productivity of VF to a level where industrial-scale farms become commercially-viable and attractive to external investment. Ultimately our aim is to develop technology to generate high-value data to be shared (commercially but also via academic publication) with the global VF industry.LST and the project consortium are focused on delivering an IoT precision data solution, compromising of an IP-protected all-in-one floating sensor, robust wireless data network, monitoring interface and BigData platform. The delivery of this solution will have significant impact to the VF industry:* **Cheaper/Smarter Technology*** **Reduction in labour costs:** significant reduction in human intervention* **Improved Productivity/Efficiency**: Data to maximise yields(and prevent disease) whilst ensuring only the precise materials/ingredients/energy are utilised.* **Improved IRR/Profitability:** leading to global adoption of VF.The wider long term benefits to the UK and the ROW include;* **Reduction in imports and associated emissions** **(Economic/Environmental/Social)** * 85% of the UK's Salads?epared Veg is imported(£978m market ITC-Trade; 2018). The project will address the urgent need to reduce our reliance on imports, boost UK internal growing capacity(to meet supermarket demand) and **improve food security** * Offer traditional farmers the option to grow all-year-round, preventing sales being lost over winter to overseas* **Reduction in unsustainable global demand on land and water for arable use(Environmental)** * Agriculture currently uses 70% of all water consumed globally, vertical farming can help prevent water scarcity.* **Improve UK resilience to environmental shocks(Economic/Environmental/Social)** Drought or a lack of water result in 10% crop loss pa in the UK alone, equivalent to £400m(DEFRA;2016). * **Improved Nutritional Offering:** By improving VF's operations/outputs will enable VF research to focus on the growing of new, nutrient rich or dense crops(potatoes, stevia etc), helping move away from just leafy salad/micro-green's[0]: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/vertical-farming-market