Tech & innovation messaging for any faults. Manual labour is only required on-site for planting, harvesting and packaging of crops- and the required skill levels are very low.
Low water usage Being a totally closed growing system with controlled transpiration losses, Vertical Farm Systems use only around 10 % of the water required for traditional open eld farming and around 20 % less than conventional hydroponics. Water from transpiration is harvested and re-used and spent nutrient water is also processed for re-use.
Reduced washing & processing Vertical Farm Systems growing environments are tted with strong bio-security procedures to eliminate pest and disease attacks. Total elimination of the need for foliar sprays, pesticides and herbicides in cropping systems results in produce that does not require holding times or expensive and product damaging washing or post-harvest processing.
Reduced transport costs Vertical Farm Systems can be established in any geographic location with suitable power and water supplies. Strategic positioning of facilities close to the point of sale or in distribution hubs dramatically decreases the time from harvest to consumer and also reduces costs for refrigerated storage and transport.
3. Increased growing area For the same oor area, Vertical Farm Systems multi-level design provides nearly 8 times more growing area than single level hydroponic or greenhouse systems. �is compact design enables cost-effective farming installations in industrial estates, urban warehouses and other low cost and t ypically under-ut i lis e d environments not previously associated with high-quality high-margin agricultural activities. biologically active organic plant nutrients. �e systems can produce market grade produce of several crops within just 21 days.
5. Wide range of crops Vertical Farm Systems has a wide range of crops that are able to be grown in their systems. �e crop growth is controlled by a comprehensive computer database that manages and maintains the optimum growing conditions for each speci c crop variety being grown. Examples of Suitable crops include:
· Baby Spinach
· Baby Rocket
· Loose leaf Lettuce
· Endives
· Tatsoi
· Basil VFS has an ongoing program of database development for new crop varieties. Additional crops are being progressively developed and added to the database, based on speci c requests from clients and these are uploaded to existing machines already in operation as part of the customer support program.
6. Fully integrated technology Pro tability in commercial horticulture requires the ability to cost-effectively and consistently provide plants with optimum growing conditions from germination through to harvest. Vertical Farm Systems monitors and controls the levels of air, water and nutrition to provide optimum growing requirements with a fully integrated computer management system.
Optimum air quality Temperature and humidity levels are closely monitored and maintained in an optimum range for each crop being grown. In warehouse installations the addition of CO ² is an optional addition that further increases crop growth and yield rates.
OPTIMUM NUTRIENT AND MINERAL Quality Essential for maximum plant growth and the nutritional wellbeing of consumers, Vertical Farm Systems use specially formulated and biologically active nutrients in all the crop cycles. Levels of nutrition available to the plants is constantly managed and adjusted to optimum levels relative to the growth stage of each crop.
�roughout a crop cycle, Vertical Farm Systems provide up to 82 organic minerals and enzymes to ensure healthy plant growth and promote maximum uptake of minerals essential for maximum nutrition and avour of the end product.
Optimum water quality All fresh water into Vertical Farm System installations has particulate, uoride and heavy metal contaminants removed and is sterilised before entering the system.
Optimum light quality High-intensity low-energy LED lighting has been speci cally developed and are used for maximum growth rates, high reliability and cost-effective operation. �e duration and intensity of the speci c parts of the light spectrum that plants use during different stages of their growth is carefully programmed into the computer management system. �is ground-breaking technology has dramatic effects on plant growth rates and yields.
4. Maximum crop yield Irrespective of external conditions, Vertical Farm Systems can reliably provide more crop rotations per year than open eld agriculture and other farming practices. Crop cycles are also faster due to the systems ' controlled temperature, humidity, daylight hours optimisation and the use of bioponic
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FARMERS [ 71 ] REVIEW AFRICA
July- August 2017