An automatic vertical farming system may include a frame defining at least one growth area and configured to support a plurality of vertical plant growth structures within the at least one growth area. The system may include at least one light, at least one liquid conduit, and at least one gas conduit. The system may include at least one robot disposed on a top side of the frame and movably supported by the frame. The at least one robot may include at least one tool configured to manipulate the plurality of vertical plant growth structures. The system may include a control system including at least one processor configured to automatically control illumination by the at least one light, liquid flow through the at least one liquid conduit, gas flow through the at least one gas conduit, and operation of the at least one robot.

The disclosed container defines (i) an “interior” configured to interact with a fluid and/or developing plants, and (ii) an “exterior” that at least partially defines a perimeter around the interior. The disclosed container may further include stacking features/elements which allow one container to be stacked/nested one upon the other. The disclosed container may further include features/elements which enable one container to be connected adjacent to the other. The disclosed container may further include (i) features/elements for delivering fluid, (ii) features/elements for draining fluid, and (iii) features/elements for supporting developing plants that are conducive to their growing within the disclosed container.

The disclosed container defines (i) an “interior” configured to interact with a fluid and/or developing plants, and (ii) an “exterior” that at least partially defines a perimeter around the interior. The disclosed container may further include stacking features/elements which allow one container to be stacked/nested one upon the other. The disclosed container may further include features/elements which enable one container to be connected adjacent to the other. The disclosed container may further include (i) features/elements for delivering fluid, (ii) features/elements for draining fluid, and (iii) features/elements for supporting developing plants that are conducive to their growing within the disclosed container.

The present invention is an aquaponic assembly, comprising at least one tank, wherein the tank is sized to contain a predetermined quantity and species of fish; a radial flow settler connected to the at least one tank, wherein the radial flow settler receives a liquid from the at least one tank, wherein the liquid contains fish excrement and the radial flow settler sorts solid excrement from the liquid; a mineralization system is connected to the radial flow settler, wherein the liquid from the radial flow settler undergoes a mineralization process to adjust the composition of the liquid; a series of liquid beds connected to the mineralization system, wherein the liquid passes through the series of liquid beds; and a plurality of substrates positioned within the liquid beds.

Growing devices, systems and methods for promoting growth of seedlings may include at least one energy output device; at least one growing environment that includes a first growing environment; a nutrient solution container within the first growing environment, the nutrient solution container for supporting seedlings during growth; at least one growth assist device (GAD) associated with the first growing environment; and a controller. The controller may generate consumption data regarding operation of the at least one GAD and generation data regarding operation of the at least one energy output device. The controller may determine, based on at least one predetermined constraint, as well as consumption data and generation data, a consumption-generation plan and may control energy output to at least one GAD based on the determined consumption-generation plan. The controller may control energy generation, by at least one energy output device, based on the determined consumption-generation plan.

Growing devices, systems and methods for promoting growth of seedlings may include at least one energy output device; at least one growing environment that includes a first growing environment; a nutrient solution container within the first growing environment, the nutrient solution container for supporting seedlings during growth; at least one growth assist device (GAD) associated with the first growing environment; and a controller. The controller may generate consumption data regarding operation of the at least one GAD and generation data regarding operation of the at least one energy output device. The controller may determine, based on at least one predetermined constraint, as well as consumption data and generation data, a consumption-generation plan and may control energy output to at least one GAD based on the determined consumption-generation plan. The controller may control energy generation, by at least one energy output device, based on the determined consumption-generation plan.

A vertical farm system including a rack having a grow channel and a source of moisture/nutrients, the moisture/nutrients being deliverable to the rack. The system includes malleable material inserts in the grow channel. The malleable material inserts have an edge area, a first insert receivable within the grow channel so as to abut a second insert to form an abutting pair of edges, and a spacing component receivable between the pair of inserts, the spacing component and the abutting edge areas forming an opening extending about the spacing component, the source of moisture/nutrients communicable to the opening. In one aspect, the malleable material insert may have a slot with abutting pair of edges. A rod component is receivable between the abutting pair of edges, the rod and the abutting edges forming an opening extending about the rod component, and the source of moisture/nutrients being communicable to the opening.

A vertical farm system including a rack having a grow channel and a source of moisture/nutrients, the moisture/nutrients being deliverable to the rack. The system includes malleable material inserts in the grow channel. The malleable material inserts have an edge area, a first insert receivable within the grow channel so as to abut a second insert to form an abutting pair of edges, and a spacing component receivable between the pair of inserts, the spacing component and the abutting edge areas forming an opening extending about the spacing component, the source of moisture/nutrients communicable to the opening. In one aspect, the malleable material insert may have a slot with abutting pair of edges. A rod component is receivable between the abutting pair of edges, the rod and the abutting edges forming an opening extending about the rod component, and the source of moisture/nutrients being communicable to the opening.

Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines. The conveyance mechanisms may include a return transfer mechanism that creates a return or u-shaped path for each grow line.

Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines. The conveyance mechanisms may include a return transfer mechanism that creates a return or u-shaped path for each grow line.