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商。BW与瑞尔森大学的研究人员合作，通过NSERC-Engage赠款，为Airbox垂直农业应用(特别是大麻)开发了一种创新的UV-LED照明灯具，并已开始开发特定于大麻的最佳生长方案和参数。UV-LED灯具将专门用于加速种植大麻(以及可能的其他作物)，从而提高产量、抗病能力，并在BW-Airbox种植平台中增加所需植物产品的水平。目前开发的Airbox UV-LED灯具的主要问题之一是没有优化散热，这导致了它的失败。此外，生长装置的结构组件，即用于种植植物的生长塔和生长盆，对紫外线很敏感，导致过早降解和增加更换费用。此外，虽然UV-LED照明的新用途预计将改善大麻生长的许多方面，但从科学上讲，人们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，并具有机械和植物学方面：1)重新设计UV-LED灯具，以解决现有的热挑战，并开发与紫外线照明兼容的Airbox组件；2)确定UV照明对大麻生长和健康的影响，并利用这些信息制定在UV-Airbox中生产大麻的最佳操作条件和种植配方。BW的这一项目的成果将是新开发的UV-LED灯具、种植塔和种植花盆，以及关于紫外线对大麻生长和大麻类化合物生产的具体影响的知识。该CRD将整合机械和植物学专业知识，提供同时满足机器和工厂的整体解决方案。共有8名总部工作人员将从这一独特的多学科培训环境中受益。

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.