Rapid deployment plant-science research modules

Both global food supply and horticultural innovation have been disrupted massively by the recent impacts of Covid-19 with future resilience now a very real concern. Traditional food supply networks require lengthy supply chains and multiple stakeholders to bring fresh produce to our plates from all over the world, with each element in the chain adding to the level of risk. Shorter supply chains reduce this risk and improve food security and sovereignty.

This project proposes the design and build of a world-first rapid deployment, aeroponic vertical farming module within a 40ft shipping container. To date, the only commercially available container farms have used hydroponic technology. LettUs Grow's innovative, patent-pending aeroponic technology offers all of the improvements of aeroponics (increased crop growth rates, reduced pest impacts, improved control of nutrient dosing) with the simplicity of hydroponics to improve the profitability of small-scale growing facilities. By installing a system within a container, installation times can be reduced from multiple months to less than 24 hours, enabling rapid deployment when it is needed. The ability to deploy at such speed, has extensive benefits across the food production industry and also the wider bioscience and horticultural research industries.

The project's key objectives are to:

1. Provide a detailed design and procurement plan for the module
2. Prototype the module and build a demonstrator
3. Perform growing tests to baseline performance against existing indoor farming systems
4. Test a new lease-to-buy model with clients to gain market feedback
5. Provide excess fresh produce to the local Bristol community

The main areas of focus for the project are:

1. Maintaining a safe working environment in line with government guidance for Covid-19 for the production and operation of the container farm
2. Integration of existing technologies into a bespoke designed container
3. Ease of deployment to reduce procurement and installation time compared to existing solutions

This project represents a global first as it will be the first controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system that integrates LettUs Grow's unique yield-boosting aeroponic technology into a container farm module that can be deployed and installed in less than a day compared to the current delivery timelines that can span multiple months.