There is a module for vertical farming. Vertical posts form a grid having rows in both the longitudinal direction and transverse direction. Diagonal support members are installed between posts in a longitudinal direction, along two opposed inner sides of the module, one being along a corridor for passage. In the transverse direction, other diagonal support members are installed without blocking the corridor, and racks are formed in said direction comprising the other diagonal support members, the racks extending vertically for growing plants therein along a height thereof. Floor anchors and corresponding ceiling anchors, located respectively at the bottom and at the top of each one of the posts, are provided to fasten modules on top of each other such that the structure formed by the posts is the load-bearing structure. Catwalks are installed for human passage in the corridor and between adjacent racks.

A growing system is described where plants are grown in containers and the containers are stored in stacks. Above the stacks runs a grid network of tracks on which load handling devices run. The load handling devices take containers from the stacks and deposit then at alternative locations in the stacks or deposit them at stations where goods may be picked out. The containers may be provided with one or more of the following services: power, power control, heating, lighting, cooling, sensing means, data logging means, growing means, water and nutrients.

A method for the automated operation of a greenhouse which has at least one first plant growth room which is operated without artificial lighting and which has at least one second plant growth room which is different from the first plant growth room and which is equipped with artificial light sources for generating artificial light. An associated supply device and an associated greenhouse can be operated automatically.

Horticulture systems and methods are disclosed. The systems include an air handling rack system comprising frame supply and return plenums, an input diffusion assembly physically supported by and fluidically coupled to the frame supply plenum, and a plant support tray assembly physically supported by and fluidically coupled to the frame return plenum. The input diffusion assembly is configured to direct a supply airflow flowing through the frame supply plenum downwardly from an underside thereof. The plant support tray assembly is positioned below the at least one input diffusion assembly to form an environmental cultivation chamber therebetween. The rack system is configured to direct the supply airflow through the environmental cultivation chamber from the input diffusion assembly to the plant support tray assembly past one or more plants positioned on a support side of the plant support tray assembly and into the frame return plenum as a return airflow.

A storing, germinating, propagating and or growing system for living organisms includes: at least one growth medium for germinating, propagating and or growing living organisms; at least one growth tray for receiving the at least one growth medium; and at least one rack for receiving one or more growth trays, wherein the one or more growth trays include an adaptable growth tray. An adaptable growth tray can include an extendable surface for positioning living organisms; and at least one mechanism for moving the tray between a compact configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the surface for placing living organisms extends and contracts with the at least one mechanism moving between compact configuration and expanded configuration respectively.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of autonomous Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) comprising a fully autonomous Growing environment. More specifically, disclosed herein is an apparatus and method in which a plurality of Tray assembly may be stored and manipulated within a Track assembly that is configured within a Rack Assembly through the motivational input of at least one antagonistic pair of Carriage-mounted manipulators. With the Template Frame consisting of a low friction bearing surface to orient within a Track assembly, it may be configured to satisfy various utilities necessary within the farm, such as but not limited to: housing grow media for the cultivation

The present disclosure relates to a module and system for indoor farming. In some embodiments, an indoor farming module includes a container compartment divided into a grow zone and a control zone, wherein a grow zone comprises a chassis with a plurality of horizontal and vertical frame members configured to support a plurality of carts each carrying a tray with a plurality of plants and wherein the control zone includes an air blowing unit integrated so as to direct air between a drop ceiling and a structural ceiling of the indoor farming module and an air conditioning unit configured to condition an atmosphere in the grow zone by producing cool dry air that is blown into a plenum space located between the drop ceiling and a structural ceiling.

A method for operating a greenhouse system with block storage, at least one block storage element and at least one vehicle. Growth conditions for plants are to be improved. To this end, each block storage element has a carrier frame and a plant receptacle, the plant receptacle being detachably engaged with the carrier frame, the block storage having at least one first zone and one second zone, and at least one first carrier frame and at least one second carrier frame, the plant receptacle in the first zone being detachably engaged with the first carrier frame; and the plant receptacle being subsequently transferred into the second zone, the plant receptacle being transferred from the first carrier frame to the second carrier frame within the framework of transferal from the first zone into the second zone, the plant receptacle in the second zone being detachably engaged with the second carrier frame.

A fodder growing apparatus includes an insulated housing having a draining floor, a door-closable open face, and a plurality of vertically-spaced platforms being supported in a position inclined downward between 3° and about 6°. The apparatus further includes pass-through irrigation system including spray nozzles supported over each of the platforms and supplied with water. An illumination system of the apparatus includes an LED equipped lighting assembly supported over each of the platforms. A ventilation system of the apparatus includes forced ventilation means. The apparatus further includes a programmable controller selected to deliver a time-variant program of at least irrigation and lighting, and temperature control means controlling the temperature within the housing.

A modular harvesting bench is provided. The bench comprises a frame for contacting the ground surface, a platform supported by the frame at an elevation above the ground surface, the platform defining a work plane area for receiving harvesting equipment. A portion of the frame and of the platform define parts of a first bench section movable relative to a second bench section between a retracted position and an extended position to extend or retract a footprint of the bench and/or extend or reduce the work plane area.