Greenhouse innovation EstoniaEstonia Year Founded: 1998 Organization type: nonprofit/ngo/citizen sector Project Stage: Idea Eco Products Sustainable agriculture Project SummaryElevator Pitch Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences. Searching the literature so far gives no marks about the unsearched innovative effects of growing plants under far red filter, when part of far red light is removed; effects may be followed: higher content of Calcium, less pests and diseases, longer storability and transportability, better taste. About Project Problem: What problem is this project trying to address? Ca deficiency in greenhouse vegetable crops is a serious disease, which can not be improved only by increasing Ca content in nutrient solution, because Ca moves within the plant by water flow of transpiration and does not reallocate from older plants parts to younger. Ca deficiency is a big problem for lettuce and tomato growers, where up to 50% of production can be infected, therefore are farmers waiting for creative solutions. Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific! 1. Vegetables will contain more calcium; because of plants grown under far red filter do not grow so fast, which leads to: plants will get enough calcium for growth. 2. Less diseases and insect attacks on plants. In plant nutrition, calcium is often referred to as the plants first line of defence. Increased calcium levels in leaf tissue can greatly decrease the pathogens ability to invade the leaf. Adequate levels of calcium in plants also aid in the plant’s ability to isolate an infection. 3. Plant which is growing in those conditions will contain more calcium, i.e. the storability is better. If plants contain more calcium then it results in strong cell walls, which does not allow leakage of cell liquids. 4. Less bitter plants. Impact: How does it Work Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities. This solution is a revolution for greenhouse vegetable growers. In pilot experiment, where I only was looking at Ca content and Ca deficiency in lettuce in 2001 it was concluded that far red filter helps to reduce markable the Ca deficiency in chervil. But this far red filer results higher Ca levels in plants, which has in my mind (new innovative ideas) broader effect on plants health, as it reduces all pests and diseases existence on plants as described before and improves storability and transportability, improves the taste (probably the taste will be softer), and last but not least it gives big economic impact for farmers, who get products in high quality, less work for technical workers to remove products below standard. Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years. To date there is only one pilot experiment carried through to see the effect of Ca content and Ca deficiency in lettuce. All other ideas, what far red filer could improve, like less pests and diseases on plants, longer storability, better transportability and better, softer taste are not tried out jet. There should be built far red filter plastic greenhouses, and in those greenhouses the scattered radiation will penetrate deeper inside of lettuce than direct beam. Therefore spectral filter will affect also leaf orientation. Lettuce leaf position will be more upright in control plants compared to plants grown under a far-red absorbing film. The color of lettuce plants is also more beautiful under far red filer. The taste will be better, less bitter compounds found in plants. Broader effect on plants health, as it reduces all pests and diseases existence on plants, improves storability. Sustainability Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability? This idea has very good financial sustainability, because of less or no insects and diseases damaged products will give higher yield and higher income to farmers. Consumers win is better chemical content, better taste and longer storability. Hoping that some investors hear about this wonderful innovative idea, and they could support my innovative project. Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches? There are lots of scientists together with farmers worldwide, who knows about the problem. The solution is not known to them unfortunately, therefore this idea deserves to be announced to the whole world to enable to farmers to produce healthy plants without or with less diseases and pests on them and get healthier products to the market. As Ca content, storability, taste and color will be better, the consumers from whole planet will benefit from it. Team Founding Story I was studnig as Ph. D. student at Agricultural University of Norway and my theme was Ca deficiency in chervil. As I was reading much of this subject I did know that reducing growth rate will reduce Ca deficinecy in plants. Once in 1998 I heard a lecture about far red filter from persenters from Japan in Norway and they postulated that under far red filter plants stay compact, and from there I got the Aha that if plants say compact that means they will contain also more Ca. That was goot for my pilot experiment in 2001. Afterwords in 2010 I was reading more scientific journals and I realised how many other effects will arise if we could increase the content of Ca in plants. This was the other Aha. About YouAbout YouFirst NameMargit Last NameOlle Twitter URLFacebook URLAbout Your OrganizationOrganization NameOrganization CountryCountry where this project is creating social impactHas the organization received awards or honors? Please tell us about themNutrients For AllWhere do you ensure the availability of nutrients?Healthy environments., Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.If you had greater capacity, which additional sectors would you like your solution to target - either through expansion, partnership, or thought exchange?Healthy environments, Nutrient-rich farming, Full nourishment foods, Human wellness and vitality.How specifically would this added capacity help you improve the quality, efficiency, or sustainability of your existing product or service? Printer-friendly versionDownload PDF
