Innovative technology to tackle reforestation challenges
Forests are an extremely important resource in numerous ways, especially because they contribute to maintaining clean air and water. Yet, under conditions of climate change, forests or plantations may need assisted or artificial regeneration. The EU-funded ZEPHYR(opens in new window) (Zero-impact innovative technology in forest plant production) project set out to ensure seedlings indoor production continuously over time. Overall, the goal was to develop new technologies allowing rapid production of high-quality seedlings of timber and other species, ready to be planted. Project partners developed a zero-impact solar-powered cultivation chamber and key components. These were a rotating set of trays under an array of LED lamps to ensure an optimal spectrum for photosynthesis, a robotic arm equipped with a camera and wireless microsensors that monitor growth conditions. The highly automated growth chamber requires less water, soil, energy and space. Plants grow in individual pots that contain optimal amounts of soil substrate. It relies on only 3 overhead lamps, compared to 10 needed by similar systems. Conditions in the chamber can be monitored remotely thanks to the wireless microsensors and camera inspection. Furthermore, the chamber's rotating system provides normal environmental conditions with respect to light, temperature and humidity that are the same for each plant. Existing chambers and greenhouses cannot guarantee such uniform conditions. Due to its innovations, the ZEPHYR system produces plantlets that are of a consistent quality, whose strong roots are needed in order to survive when transplanted. ZEPHYR will offer numerous environmental and economic advantages, and reduce pressure on primary sources for the needed plants.
