A project within the ESF Plus - MINT Professionals Program in the Free State of Saxony (InnoTeam)
Project Duration: October 1, 2023 - September 30, 2026
An innovative project from Saxony for the global CEA industry
The project began on October 1, 2023, marking a new era of innovation for us as a company in the field of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). In collaboration with mewedo GmbH & Co. KG and the Technical University of Chemnitz, we are working together for three years on this project. With crucial support from the Saxon Development Bank within the ESF Plus - STEM Professionals Program, this project aims to foster collaboration among Saxon companies, universities, and research institutions in so-called InnoTeams, thus making a significant contribution to the development of the region and beyond.
The challenges of today's agriculture and the role of indoor farming
Agriculture worldwide faces tremendous challenges: the annual loss of fertile land the size of Iceland and the need to produce more food in the next four decades than has been harvested in the last 8,000 years underscore the urgency. Here, indoor agriculture offers a promising solution with its enormous potential. It not only allows for location- and climate-independent food production but also has the potential to make our global food supply more resilient.
The goal
A system that becomes an expert To meet these agricultural challenges, our greenhouses and vertical farms must become smart enough to manage themselves using intelligent technology. Our main goal is to create a kind of virtual twin, a computer model that can accurately predict how plants will grow under various conditions. This model will help us better monitor everything in the greenhouse and make smarter decisions to improve processes. In particular, the project focuses on climate and light control to reduce energy needs and thus improve the profitability and ecological footprint of the farms.
Innovation through cooperation and technology
Together with the Technical University of Chemnitz and mewedo GmbH & Co. KG, we are pooling comprehensive know-how through cooperation with these competent partners.
TU Chemnitz – Chair of Automatic Control and System Dynamics
The TUC is responsible for the conceptual design, drafting, and implementation of optimal control and model-based state monitoring for the GreenResearcher. The working group led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Stefan Streif are experts in modeling (e.g., forecasting, model analysis, parameter estimation, experimental design) of biological and technical processes in the agricultural value chain, data analysis (using Big Data), and control, process optimization, and state estimation/monitoring.
mewedo GmbH & Co. KG
In the project, mewedo is responsible for the conceptual design, implementation, and integration of the Digital Twin software. The team led by founders Michael Maaß and Dr. Christoph Theunert combines years of expertise in software development in both backend and frontend, and the development, implementation, and analysis of algorithms and parameterized models in bioinformatics.
A contribution to sustainable development and the green economy
This project makes an important contribution to green skills and jobs and the green economy by creating forward-looking jobs in the fields of climate protection and environmental sustainability. The use of digital twins and the optimization of fertilizer use not only reduces the consumption of resources such as energy and fertilizer but also actively works on the issue of sustainable energy use in indoor farms.
With the start of this project, we are moving
