New British research into fruit and vegetable growing aims to combat the threats posed by climate change.
Plant Factory Cornwall will use artificial lighting powered by solar energy to create the best possible conditions for fruit and vegetables to flourish. Researchers at the University of Plymouth say farmers could diversify their crops and restaurants even start growing their own veg using futuristic indoor production.
The LED lights, placed in a multi-tier production unit, can be individually programmed to automatically change lighting to give a precise light recipe for each species.
The project, led by Professor of Plant PhysiologyMick Fullerand Post-Doctoral Research FellowDr Hail Rihan, aligns with commitments in the Government’s 25-year environment plan to ensure that food is produced sustainably and profitably.
Their research comes amid a record dry spell left farmers battling drought conditions, with Cornish producers hit especially hard.
Fuller said: “The positive health benefits of fruit and vegetables are well known, as is the need to double food production in order to meet the demands of a growing population. But how do you do that when climate change, as we have seen this summer, means we cannot rely on having the right conditions for crops to thrive every year? That is where facilities like the Plant Factory come in.
“We can use artificial LED lighting to create the optimum conditions for individual species to flourish. But we can also explore ways to work with farmers and businesses in Cornwall and further afield, to enable them to meet the demands placed on them whatever the weather and reduce the need for food imports. Regional outputs of fruit, vegetables and salads could be boosted, along with quality aspects such as taste, texture and appearance. It would be a win-win situation.”
Funded by Agri-Tech Cornwall’s £10 million initiative, researchers hope their research will also help Cornish growers to improve supply.
Fuller added: “In recent years, so many farmers have used redundant buildings or land to diversify away from farming. But this could offer them an affordable way to diversify back into crop production. It could also mean restaurants have a plant factory on their premises, so they can grow what they want all year round. There really is no limit to the size or scale of these facilities.”
