ChronoTherm Sensor Technology to Support Chronoculture

能源价格上涨、气候变化的影响和乌克兰冲突导致粮食短缺，凸显了粮食系统的脆弱性。全年增加国内粮食产量可以改善粮食安全，稳定价格并减少排放。垂直农场可以持续运营，以确保供应并保持货架库存。高效LED的开发降低了资本/运营成本，这为这种农业形式的发展奠定了基础。英国种植者一直在寻找提高产品质量和数量的方法。通过提高全天候光照下的总光合作用，我们将缩短收获时间，减少投入，提高农场盈利能力。然而，许多作物需要一段时间的黑暗，因为植物已经进化到对地球的昼夜循环做出反应。事实上，植物内部有24小时的“生物钟”，使它们能够在外部变化（例如黎明）之前预测日常活动（例如光合作用）。剑桥大学率先开展了植物生物钟研究，并提出了通过协调照明控制与植物内部时钟来提高产量和可持续性的解决方案。该项目将扩展大学和Vertical Future之前开展的工作，其中发现白天不同的光照强度可以增加产量并减少能源使用。我们希望直接测量植物对光照的反应。剑桥大学开发了一种名为ChronoMeasure的研究工具，它可以感知树叶温度（与入射光直接相关），从而使用热电偶在真实的时间内监测昼夜节律。此后，该联盟开发了一种名为ChronoTherm的热成像相机系统，该系统对照明在重置生物钟中的作用产生了研究见解。我们将提高该设备的技术准备水平，以便它可以集成到Vertical Future的DIANA农场管理系统中，对农场环境进行以植物为中心的实时控制。因此，ChronoTherm将成为市场领先者，竞争对手将面临巨大的进入壁垒。该项目的最后一项活动是宣传这些项目的结果，使英国垂直农场主受益。关于垂直农场理想作物条件的已发表数据仍然有限，我们的见解将显著提高园艺领域的生产力。总体而言，新型照明“配方”和ChronoTherm研究的结合有望为垂直农场自动化带来一次飞跃。我们希望看到更高的生产力，更好的可持续性和全年获得健康，廉价的食品为英国消费者。

Rising energy prices, the effects of climate change and the Ukrainian conflict have led to food shortages that highlight poor resilience in the food system. Increasing domestic food production year-round, could improve food security, stabilise prices and reduce emissions. Vertical farms can operate continuously to secure supply and keep shelves stocked. Falling capital/operating costs resulting from the development of efficient LEDs underpin progress for this form of farming.UK Growers are always looking for ways to increase product quality and quantity. By improving total photosynthesis under 24/7 lighting, we will shorten time to harvest, reduce inputs and increase farm profitability. However, many crops need a period of darkness because plants have evolved to respond to the Earth's day-night cycle. In fact, plants have internal 24 hour 'circadian' clocks that allow them to anticipate daily activities (e.g. photosynthesis) in advance of an external change (e.g. dawn).The University of Cambridge has pioneered work on plant circadian clocks and has proposed solutions to improve yield and sustainability by harmonising lighting control with the plant's internal clock. This project will extend previous work carried out by the University and Vertical Future where it was found that varying light intensity during the day could increase yield and reduce energy use.We want to measure plant responses to light directly. Cambridge University developed a research tool called ChronoMeasure that senses leaf temperature (which is directly related to incoming light) to monitor circadian rhythms in real time using thermocouples. The consortium has since progressed to a thermal camera system called ChronoTherm which generates research insights into the role of lighting in resetting the circadian clock. We will improve the device's Technology Readiness Level so it will be ready for integration into Vertical Future's DIANA Farm Management System delivering real-time plant-centric control of the farm environment. As such, ChronoTherm will be market-leading with significant barriers to entry for competitors.The final activity of the project is to publicise the results of these projects to the benefit of UK vertical farmers. Published data on ideal crop conditions in vertical farms remain limited and our insights will significantly improve productivity in the horticultural sector.Overall, the combination of novel lighting 'recipes' and ChronoTherm research are expected to generate a step-change in vertical farm automation. We expect to see higher productivity, better sustainability and year-round access to healthy, inexpensive food for UK consumers.