Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DREAM (Dynamic Regulation of photosynthEsis in light-Acclimated organisMs)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-04-01 bis 2023-03-31
Today, the agricultural sector is under increasing pressure to feed a growing global population while minimizing its environmental impact and preserving natural resources. It has become evident that innovative technologies are needed to improve resource management, particularly in ensuring that photosynthetic organisms receive optimal conditions for their health and productivity while avoiding unnecessary resource consumption.
In response to these challenges, the EU-funded project DREAM proposes science-based technologies that aim to study the specific needs of plants and provide cultivation protocols that optimize indoor production. The project focuses on introducing innovation in lighting systems, scientific instruments, and data processing. The ultimate goal is to promote the widespread adoption of controlled environments, such as greenhouses, vertical farms, and indoor gardens, for plant production, enabling more efficient resource utilization and reducing the environmental impact.
Since 2022, the DREAM researchers have been actively studying and harnessing the complex network of processes that regulate photosynthesis. It is now understood that photosynthetic organisms, including plants and algae, respond and adapt to various environmental factors, such as temperature, drought, CO2 concentration, and light quality and quantity, in intricate ways. Recent scientific advancements have shifted the understanding of photosynthesis regulation from a static and simplified view to a more dynamic and complex one.
In response to these challenges, the EU-funded project DREAM proposes science-based technologies that aim to study the specific needs of plants and provide cultivation protocols that optimize indoor production. The project focuses on introducing innovation in lighting systems, scientific instruments, and data processing. The ultimate goal is to promote the widespread adoption of controlled environments, such as greenhouses, vertical farms, and indoor gardens, for plant production, enabling more efficient resource utilization and reducing the environmental impact.
Since 2022, the DREAM researchers have been actively studying and harnessing the complex network of processes that regulate photosynthesis. It is now understood that photosynthetic organisms, including plants and algae, respond and adapt to various environmental factors, such as temperature, drought, CO2 concentration, and light quality and quantity, in intricate ways. Recent scientific advancements have shifted the understanding of photosynthesis regulation from a static and simplified view to a more dynamic and complex one.
During the first year of the DREAM project, significant progress has been made in various scientific activities, contributing to the development of key technologies and protocols for optimizing indoor plant cultivation.
The project has successfully finalized the specifications for the first prototype of remote imaging. Additionally, a prototype for proximal imaging has been built, enabling efficient and accurate monitoring of plant and microalgae responses.
Through characterization of nanoparticles, the project has achieved satisfactory features in reporting oxygen concentration in microalgae, both in terms of its level and lifetime. This development lays the foundation for future advancements in sensing pH and CO2 as well.
The project's efforts in developing a microfluidic device have resulted in multiple generations of microsystems. The latest version has demonstrated compatibility for long-term observation of culture growth, enabling precise data collection in controlled environments.
By acquiring fingerprints of high light stress and initial bode plots of ECS from C. reinhardtii, the project has taken the first steps towards developing kinetic fingerprints. These fingerprints serve as the basis for future protocol development, aimed at reducing water, nutrient, and pesticide demands by 20%.
The project has made progress in defining data formats and proposing a robust database framework. This server will enhance diagnostic capabilities and facilitate information exchange among multiple end-users, enabling effective plant management practices.
The successful validation of the DREAM proximal and remote imaging prototype, capable of acquiring kinetic data with various illumination patterns, represents a significant step towards achieving energy savings of over 30%. These lighting enhancements will contribute to the overall efficiency of indoor plant cultivation. The ongoing research and development within the DREAM project aim to revolutionize indoor cultivation practices, making them more sustainable, resource-efficient, and adaptable to environmental conditions. By leveraging innovative technologies and scientific advancements, the project strives to establish controlled environments as the future of plant production, addressing the pressing challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
The project has successfully finalized the specifications for the first prototype of remote imaging. Additionally, a prototype for proximal imaging has been built, enabling efficient and accurate monitoring of plant and microalgae responses.
Through characterization of nanoparticles, the project has achieved satisfactory features in reporting oxygen concentration in microalgae, both in terms of its level and lifetime. This development lays the foundation for future advancements in sensing pH and CO2 as well.
The project's efforts in developing a microfluidic device have resulted in multiple generations of microsystems. The latest version has demonstrated compatibility for long-term observation of culture growth, enabling precise data collection in controlled environments.
By acquiring fingerprints of high light stress and initial bode plots of ECS from C. reinhardtii, the project has taken the first steps towards developing kinetic fingerprints. These fingerprints serve as the basis for future protocol development, aimed at reducing water, nutrient, and pesticide demands by 20%.
The project has made progress in defining data formats and proposing a robust database framework. This server will enhance diagnostic capabilities and facilitate information exchange among multiple end-users, enabling effective plant management practices.
The successful validation of the DREAM proximal and remote imaging prototype, capable of acquiring kinetic data with various illumination patterns, represents a significant step towards achieving energy savings of over 30%. These lighting enhancements will contribute to the overall efficiency of indoor plant cultivation. The ongoing research and development within the DREAM project aim to revolutionize indoor cultivation practices, making them more sustainable, resource-efficient, and adaptable to environmental conditions. By leveraging innovative technologies and scientific advancements, the project strives to establish controlled environments as the future of plant production, addressing the pressing challenges faced by the agricultural sector.
The DREAM project envisions the development of new sensors and modulated lighting tools to enhance the cultivation of plants and algae. The goal is to improve the understanding of photosynthetic performance and optimize resource usage, such as water, nutrients, and pesticides. By implementing the DREAM farming protocols, end users like farmers, foresters, and gardeners will be able to reduce their environmental impact and move towards more sustainable practices.
The miniaturized device developed by DREAM will utilize modulated illumination to capture and analyze the response of photosynthesis regulation in microalgae and plants. The collected kinetic data will be processed on a server using non-linear system identification and control techniques. The server will benefit from the participation of multiple end users, allowing it to gather kinetic information from various organisms and environmental conditions. This collective data will enable the server to provide selective categorization of physiological status and deliver optimized lighting protocols.
By implementing DREAM's protocols, end users will not only reduce their water, nutrient, pesticide, and energy demands but also receive plant-specific protocols for selective sensing and optimized lighting. The DREAM server will play a crucial role in developing these protocols and will be open to academia and citizens for research purposes even after the project concludes.
In the long term, the DREAM project aims to revolutionize indoor cultivation by creating ideal environments for plant and microalgae growth, minimizing resource waste and protecting against adverse outdoor conditions. The implementation of smart sensing and optimized lighting through DREAM can help boost controlled environment agriculture, making it more sustainable, efficient, and resilient to the effects of climate change.
The miniaturized device developed by DREAM will utilize modulated illumination to capture and analyze the response of photosynthesis regulation in microalgae and plants. The collected kinetic data will be processed on a server using non-linear system identification and control techniques. The server will benefit from the participation of multiple end users, allowing it to gather kinetic information from various organisms and environmental conditions. This collective data will enable the server to provide selective categorization of physiological status and deliver optimized lighting protocols.
By implementing DREAM's protocols, end users will not only reduce their water, nutrient, pesticide, and energy demands but also receive plant-specific protocols for selective sensing and optimized lighting. The DREAM server will play a crucial role in developing these protocols and will be open to academia and citizens for research purposes even after the project concludes.
In the long term, the DREAM project aims to revolutionize indoor cultivation by creating ideal environments for plant and microalgae growth, minimizing resource waste and protecting against adverse outdoor conditions. The implementation of smart sensing and optimized lighting through DREAM can help boost controlled environment agriculture, making it more sustainable, efficient, and resilient to the effects of climate change.