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Home plant factories

Assistant Prof. Watcharra ChintakovidPh.D. Bioenergy ScienceMahidol University Kanchanaburi Campus

Dr. Netiya KaraketPh.D. BiotechnologyMahidol University Kanchanaburi Campus

Module 1: Birth of flavors – the importance of pre-harvesting technology on yields and crop quality

C04 – Home plant factories

A simple model to set up your own plant factory at home. The homemade plant culturing model that you

are about to modify at home, how to be taking care (feeding, watering, handling, transplanting, etc.)

of your indoor plant care business at home.

Session 1 Presentation of selected design idea of plant factory assignment (WCH KS NK)

Session 2 Home plant factory & Recall major components of PFAL (WCH)

Session 3 Live virtual demonstration of building up a home plant factory (NK and WCH)

Watcharra ChintakovidAssistant Professor, Ph.D.

E-mail: watcharra.chi@mahidol.edu

Division of Agricultural Science, Mahidol University Kanchanaburi CampusChair of M.Sc. Food resources and ecosystem sustainabilityAssistant to the Vice President for Kanchanaburi Campus of Mahidol University

Netiya Karaket, Ph.D.

E-mail: Netiya.kar@mahidol.edu

Division of Agricultural Science, Mahidol University Kanchanaburi Campus

Session 1

Presentation of

selected design idea of plant factory

assignment

Joan Macud Rana Tariq Husain

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Siti Zuraida binti SelamatMmelegi Molatlhegi

Dayang Hajah Lailatul Nabilah binti Awang Haji SurhanLizwe Petros Chindu

• Consumer’s preference i.e lettuce.

• Level of requirement i.e organic product.

• Standards prescriptions i.e free from

chemical residue, clean from contaminants,

good grade (grade 1), fresh, large and of

good value.

• Interval of product delivery requirements

i.e forthnightly.

• Quantity required per given time i.e 100kg.

• Demand/Market price i.e P6.00 per head.

• Terms of delivery eg. Fast delivery.

• How much to pay for the product i.e price,

reasonable price versus production costs.

• Type of crop preferred by consumer’s i.e guided by

market survey.

• Strategy to make customers prefer the crop i.e lettuce

that is healthy, nutritious and safe for human health.

Organic products of good size, shape, texture, nutrients

composition versus the price.

• What resources available: structural component such

as plant factory to control pests, microclimate and crop

quality improvement strategy i.e irrigation system, bio

fertilizers (vermicompost).

• Consideration of the budget for structural erection

versus economy of business trading viability.

• Collaboration and complimenting other aspects from

others i.e scientific, engineering and mathematics.

• Supply i.e Assurance to continuity of product flow to

the market at required intervals-sustainability

Consumer (Retailer) Producer (Farmer)

Siti Zuraida binti SelamatKey Partners

1. Suppliers of raw and

additional materials

2. Design supplier

3. Retailers and resellers

Key Activities

1. Procurement of raw and

additional materials.

2. Production process of

fresh Oyster mushrooms.

3. Marketing the produce.

4. Services

Value Proposition

Product:

(Product quality assurance)

1. Fresh oyster mushrooms.

Service:

1. Reliable oyster mushroom

supplier

Customer relationships

Personal Aids:

1. Direct messages and

social media.

2. Direct conversation.

3. Website.

Customer Segments

1. Middle-end traders.

2. Hotels.

3. Housewives.

Key Resources

1. Machinery and production

equipment.

2. Product quality assurance

(branded product).

3. Human resources.

4. Financial resources.

Channels

Direct:

1. Via social media

2. Delivery order

3. Word of mouth

Indirect:

1. Retailers

2. Resellers

Cost Structure

Variable costs:

1. Production, marketing and labor costs.

Fixed costs:

1. Wi-Fi, electricity, water costs and cooking utensils

Revenue streams

1. Sales to customers.

2. Sales to end consumers.

3. Service sales.

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS FOR OYSTER MUSHROOM PRODUCTION Mmelegi Molatlhegi

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Gilda De Jesus

Gilda De Jesus

Dayang Hajah Lailatul Nabilah binti Awang Haji SurhanAnabella G. Valdez

Rina Bawar

John Raymund D. Torres

Mohamed Ansar

Chembakassery

PFAL for lettuce serving Korean platter

PFAL for strawberry

M. Faryaz Hotee

Island Agro in Maldives

Container plant factory for Mauritius

Good jobs!

Session 2

Home plant factory &

Recall major components of PFAL

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Plant factory

Plant Factories are divided into the following two types:

Fully artificial light-type

Sunlight-typeThese plant factories primarily depend on sunlight to grow

vegetables in greenhouses, while using artificial light as an

auxiliary light source and air-conditioning (ventilation, cooling) technologies in the summer or heating during winter

These plant factories grow

vegetables in a closed environment without the utilization of sunlight. http://www.kingpengintl.com/intelligent-

greenhouse/home-plant-factory.html

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/vertical-farms

http://urbanfarmthailand.com/grobot_mini_plant_factory/

“HOME”Plant factory

http://jssd.jp/en/portfolio-item/design-development-of-joint-vegetable-garden/http://urbanfarmthailand.com/grobot_mini_plant_factory/

http://www.kingpengintl.com/intelligent-greenhouse/home-plant-factory.html

“HOME”Plant factory

Chiba University Kashiwa no ha campus

“HOME”Plant factory “HOME”Plant factory

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Where do you want to place your home plant factory?

1 Thermally well insulated, nearly

airtight wall

2. Multi-tier system with lighting

devices

3. Air conditioners and fans

4. CO2 supply unit

5. Nutrient solution supply unit

6. Environmental control unit

Prof. Toyoki Kozai

6 major components of PFAL

Hardware Software

Ventilation less structure

Multi-tier system

Lighting devices

Hydroponic system

Air condition and fans

CO2 supply unit

Sensors

Lighting control

Fan control

EC and pH control

Pump control

Output devices

Hardware Software

Ventilation less structure

Multi-tier system

Lighting devices

Hydroponic system

Air condition and fans

CO2 supply unit

Sensors

Lighting control

Fan control

EC and pH control

Pump control

Output devices

Lighting devices

Which parameter should we take into consideration?

Light intensity

Light spectrum

Light direction

Light duration

Energy use efficiency

Price

Availability

Dimension

Light intensity measurement

Lux (lux/klux)

PPF (umol m-2 s-1)

PAR (W m-2)

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Light spectrum measurement

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=13368

https://physicsmuseum.uq.edu.au/prism-spectrometer

Temperature control

Franco et al. (2014)

Kozai et al. (2019)

Temperature measurement

Nutrient solution supply unit

What you need to build up hydroponics system?

1. A reservoir tank to contain the nutrient solution

2. Nutrient pump

3. Tubes or pipes to distribute water from the nutrient

pump to the growing gutter

4. Growing gutter with channels for plants to grow in

5. Baskets to contain plants and growing media

6. Return system (tubing, channel) to guide the used

nutrient solution back to the reservoir

7. EC and pH meter

NFT (Nutrient Film Technique)

https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/how-to-assemble-a-homemade-hydroponic-system

Slope is necessary to return the nutrient solution to the reservoir by gravity and to create film.

PROS AND CONS OF THE NFT

PROS:

• Easy to inspect roots• Low water and nutrient consumption

• Environmentally friendly – minimize the risk of contaminating localized groundwater• Plant roots can maintain a uniform pH and EC

CONS:• Flow of nutrient solution stops or pump failure cause

death of crops in a few hours, especially in hot weather• The channels can become blocked by roots of

vigorous-growing plants

DFT (Deep Flow Technique)

PROS AND CONS OF THE DFT

PROS

• Low cost and easy to build up the structure.• Nutrient abundance for plants is present.

• The overflow tube ensures that flooding in the containers is not possible. • Avoid the problems of electricity cut to ensure availability

of nutrient solution

CONS• Instances of unstable pH levels and EC• Overflow may risk to leakage

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Session 3

Live virtual demonstration of

building up a home plant factory

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