Development of a transformative UV-LED-based platform for horticultural applications

BrezaWorks Inc（BW）是一家加拿大公司，专门开发一种自给自足的室内农业种植系统“The Airbox”，目标是包括大麻在内的高价值作物生产者。通过与瑞尔森大学的研究人员合作，BW通过NSERC-Engage赠款开发了一种用于Airbox垂直农业应用的创新UV-LED灯具-特别是大麻，并已开始开发大麻特定的最佳生长协议和参数。UV-LED灯具将专门用于加速种植大麻（以及可能的其他作物），提高产量，抗病性，并在BW-AirBox种植平台中增加所需植物产品的水平。当前版本的Airbox UV-LED灯具的主要问题之一是它不能最佳地散热，这导致了它的失败。此外，生长装置的结构部件，即用于容纳植物的生长塔和生长盆，对UV光敏感，导致过早降解和增加的更换成本。此外，虽然紫外线LED照明的新用途预计将改善大麻生长的许多方面，但科学上对其对大麻生长和健康的确切影响知之甚少。因此，该CRD的最终目标是双重的，并且具有机械和植物方面：1）重新设计UV-LED灯具以解决现有的热挑战，并开发与UV照明兼容的Airbox组件;和2）为了确定紫外线照射对大麻生长和健康的影响，并利用这些信息来开发最佳的操作条件和种植配方，用于紫外线空气箱中的大麻生产。BW的这个项目的成果将是一个新开发的UV-LED固定装置，生长塔和生长盆，沿着紫外线对大麻生长和大麻素生产的具体影响的知识。该CRD将整合机械和植物专业知识，提供一个全面的解决方案，解决机器和工厂的问题。共有8名总部合格人员将受益于这一独特的多学科培训环境。

BrezaWorks Inc (BW) is a Canadian company specializing in developing a self-contained indoor agricultural grow system, "The Airbox", targeting high-value crop producers, including Cannabis. In collaboration with researchers from Ryerson University, BW have developed an innovative UV-LED light fixture for Airbox vertical farming applications - particularly Cannabis - through NSERC-Engage grants and have begun to develop Cannabis-specific optimal growing protocols and parameters. The UV-LED fixture will be specifically used to grow Cannabis (and potentially other crops) at accelerated rates, with improved yields, disease resistance, and with increased levels of desired plant products in the BW-AirBox grow platform. One of the main problems of the current version of the developed Airbox UV-LED fixture is that it does not dissipate heat optimally, which leads to its failure. Furthermore, the structural components of the growing set-up, namely the grow towers and growing pots used to house the plants, are sensitive to UV light, resulting in premature degradation and increased replacement costs. In addition, while the novel use of UV-LED lighting is predicted to improve many aspects of Cannabis growth, little is known, scientifically, about its precise impacts on Cannabis growth and health. The ultimate goal of this CRD are therefore twofold, and have both mechanical and botanical aspects: 1) To redesign the UV-LED fixture to solve the existing thermal challenge and develop Airbox components that are compatible with UV lighting; and 2) To determine the impact of UV lighting on Cannabis growth and health, and use this information to develop optimal operating conditions and growing recipes for Cannabis production in the UV-Airbox. The outcomes of this project for BW will be a newly developed UV-LED fixture, grow towers, and grow pots, along with the knowledge of the specific impact of UV on Cannabis growth and cannabinoid production. This CRD will integrate both mechanical and botanical expertise to deliver a holistic solution that addresses both the machine and the plant. A total of 8 HQPs will benefit from this unique and multidisciplinary training environment.