Ratooning for Increased Yield and Reduced Waste

Ratooning is a proven technique that allows one root and stem system to produce multiple harvests.This allows for increased plant yields improved resource efficiency less waste and greatlyimproved unit economics. However ratooning has not been widely adopted in the indoorproduction of leafy greens. This program addresses this gap through research and implementationin the world's largest commercial vertical farm.Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and specifically vertical farming offers a wide range ofcommercial and environmenta. benefits especially for leafy greens. But for every pound of leafygreens produced an approximately equal amount of root and stem biomass is produced and must bedisposed. Disposal has economic and environmental cost and represents waste of inputs: seedslabor light and nutrients.This program builds on the Phase I research into understanding plant response to ratooning. PhaseII proposes research into the bioprocesses and engineering necessary to implement this learninginto commercial vertical farms. The objectives address the need for higher uniformity standardsacross multiple harvests of the same plant including growth harvesting and sanitary standards.Mechanical engineering and automation are key to meeting these standards. The plant successparameters defined in Phase I will now inform the training of machine vision and artificialintelligence for use before and after harvest. Novel processes including the use of UV light anddynamic adjustment of harvest height are planned to maintain sanitary level for each harvestenabling multiple ratoons. Results allow implementation of a high-value ratooning process acrosscommercial vertical farms.