Automated indoor horticulture for large scale commercial food production
David Schuit (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
Zoltan Rusak – Mentor (TU Delft - Knowledge and Intelligence Design)
Marina Bos-de Vos – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - DesIgning Value in Ecosystems)
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Abstract
Indoor cultivation by use of climate-cells provides a higher consistency, quality and more reliable method of producing fruits and vegetables in comparison to greenhouse cultivation. These aspects become increasingly important as we face the challenges brought by higher populations and climate change. However, currently the costs of indoor food production are far too high to compete on a commercial scale. In this report the costs and opportunities of indoor farming are analysed and used as basis for designing more costs effective implementations of climate-cells. Cost effective climate-cells can be achieved by producing more within the same system without compromising accessibility to the crops or making use of expensive automation and transportation solutions. This design project led to the development of such a system. The final concept enables a highly efficient method of producing crops on several layers while minimizing cost and complexity of transport and improving the longevity of expensive parts. Necessary further steps for the completion of this concept into an operational indoor climate-cell are left to the company Certhon whom supported this project.