Key Takeaways:
- New Cultivation Methods: The “inBerry” project explores a data-driven approach to indoor vertical farming, aiming to enhance efficiency.
- Sustainability: The project focuses on reducing environmental impacts while maintaining crop yields.
- Technological Integration: New sensor technologies are being introduced to improve the quality and precision of indoor berry cultivation.
- Expanding Applications: The project could broaden indoor vertical farming to include a wider range of crops.
Addressing Strawberry Production Challenges
Strawberries remain a popular fruit in Germany, but recent harvests have been declining. In 2024, the strawberry harvest is expected to be around 70,000 tonnes, the lowest since 1995, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). This represents a 24 percent drop from the 2023 harvest. The decline is attributed to a reduction in the area used for strawberry cultivation and crop losses due to severe weather events.
In light of these challenges, the inBerry project is exploring indoor vertical farming as a solution. This method, a form of controlled environment agriculture, offers a resource-efficient and space-saving alternative to traditional farming. Uwe Schwittek of OGA Nordbaden eG noted, “Our task is to meet market demand while addressing the need for climate-neutral production. This is why we are looking at future-oriented processes like indoor vertical farming.”
Increasing Indoor Cultivation Efficiency
Until now, indoor vertical farming has been primarily used for lettuce and herbs. The “inBerry” project aims to extend this to berries by developing data-driven production methods in collaboration with vGreens Holding GmbH. The project will use advanced optical sensors to monitor and improve the quality of crops such as strawberries.
“By integrating sensor technologies, we are working on data-based systems to enhance the efficiency of indoor cultivation,” said Volkmar Keuter of Fraunhofer UMSICHT.
Looking Ahead
The “inBerry” project is expected to run for several years, beginning with strawberries and expanding to other fruits. By using data-driven technologies, the project could help address environmental challenges in agriculture while providing a more sustainable method of growing crops year-round in controlled environments.