In response to UK food and energy security challenges, the 'Advanced Crop Dynamic Control' ACDC project, funded by Innovate UK and BBSRC, has delivered a breakthrough in Controlled Environment Agriculture.
Over 2 years, a consortium of UK agri-tech innovators have developed a responsive, scalable indoor farming system that fine-tunes grow lights to plant needs, cutting energy use and production costs.
By integrating FOTENIX's imaging tech, Vertically Urban's tuneable LEDs through Ostara's sophisticated control platform, and with plant science expertise from the the UK Agri-Tech Centre, the ACDC system enables automatic switch between greener production recipes to optimise yield, quality and cost.
Rothamsted Research confirmed that light spectrum impacts not just spinach growth, but also leaf colour, shape and taste.
Now fully operational at LettUs Grow and the UK Agri-Tech Centre's Vertical Farming Development Centre, the ACDC system uses real-time crop health data to control lighting and energy - ensuring optimal growth conditions while reducing resource inputs.
Source: UK Agri-Tech Centre