Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: Setting a New Standard

Our project proposes the design of a novel greenhouse structure which maximises the incidence of natural light on the crop.

The climate within the structure is managed by HVAC principles to deliver a climate around the crop which is very close to an outdoor climate in air temperature and humidity. The climate management process allows a very precise degree of control.

The system is designed with sustainability and the need to minimise carbon emissions as core principles. Energy management systems are designed to be compatible with renewable sources.

The system proposed therefore creates the opportunity to cultivate a number of crops under protection -- with the associated benefits for hygiene, productivity and resource efficiency -- which might otherwise preferentially be cultivated outdoors.

The system is applicable to a wide range of crops, including leafy salads such as lettuce, herbs, alliums, root crops such as radish or beetroot, pharmaceutical crops, and crops in propagation.