Obiettivo Today, reducing energy consumption and utilization of natural resources whilst maintaining high productivity is a necessary step to accomplish both sustainable agricultural and the supply of an increasingly worldwide food demand. For these reasons, improving precision and automation in horticulture farming are the main future challenges. In this context, the project focuses on the development of an automated hydroponic cultivation system driven by the plant “itself” able to optimize the request of light, water and nutrients. The aim is to develop an automated system able to detect the needs of the plants by the interpretation of the electrical signals generated by the plants under specific stresses. For these purpose the project main objectives are to:• Develop a self-driven dynamic and manageable hydroponic system able to modify the flow and the nutrients compositions supply by monitoring the plant status.• Study and optimise light quality and quantity demand by using pulse width modulated-high brightness-light emitting diodes lights (PWM-HB-LEDs) capable of pulsing at high frequency, to investigate the different light spectra required and the optimum values of frequency/duty in the cycle of the flashes. By performing these tasks the project is expected to: i) develop an auto-piloted hydroponic set-up able to interpret and process the plant electrical signals for a crop growing system based on plant’s need, thus able to avoid water and nutrients waste; ii) give new insights on mechanisms influenced by intermittent/alternate nutrient supply using a Flood-Drain-Flow (FDF) hydroponic system to improve adaptation, increase salt stress resistance or modulate plant features; iii) determine the optimal pulsing RGB-light regime supply (in terms of frequency and duty) to reduce energy consumption whilst optimizing plant growth and modulating specific plant traits; iv) build a flexible and modular hydroponic set-up to be scaled-up for automated plant factories. Campo scientifico engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensorsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssystem softwareoperating systemsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringcontrol systemsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolorsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbotany Programma(i) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Argomento(i) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Invito a presentare proposte H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinatore UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE Contribution nette de l'UE € 168 277,20 Indirizzo Piazza San Marco 4 50121 Florence Italia Mostra sulla mappa Regione Centro (IT) Toscana Firenze Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 168 277,20