RMIT has launched the ARC Research Hub for Intelligent Energy Efficiency in Future Protected Cropping (E2Crop Hub), which aims to advance sustainable protected cropping through intelligent, renewable and energy efficient greenhouse solutions for future agriculture.
The E2Crop Hub is an Australian Research Council supported initiative that seeks to develop solutions in renewable energy, plant quality enhancement, and greenhouse monitoring and analysis to help realise the potential of protected cropping.
“The world urgently needs smarter and more sustainable ways to grow food,” said Professor Tianyi Ma, Director E2Crop Hub. “Protected cropping — including high-tech greenhouses and vertical farming — will play a critical role in future food production.”
“But these systems are energy intensive. To scale sustainably, the future of agriculture must be a future of intelligent and energy efficient innovation.”
“That is the challenge that sits at the heart of the E2Crop Hub, and it is one we at the hub are uniquely positioned to address.”
Three research themes at the heart of the hub. The first theme is renewable energy, focused on tackling the high energy demand associated with controlling greenhouse microclimates, including lighting, temperature, humidity and CO2 levels. The hub aims to develop intelligent, energy efficient systems that adjust these factors in response to real-time environmental changes.
The second theme is plant optimisation, aimed at enhancing crop yield and nutrition in controlled environments. By tailoring nutrients and CO2 levels, and making precise microclimate adjustments, this theme seeks to refine greenhouse conditions to improve the effectiveness of crop cultivation.
The final theme is intelligent cropping, which brings together artificial intelligence, the internet of things and big data to support responsive and self-regulating greenhouse ecosystems. Real-time monitoring and predictive analytics form the basis of this approach, with the aim of improving plant performance while minimising resource use.
The hub is led by RMIT University and includes researchers from three other Australian universities.
Working with 12 industry partners over a five-year research program, the hub will focus on developing advanced energy technologies to support self-sustained and affordable greenhouses powered by renewable energy, as well as new automated decision-making tools for farmers.
“The E2Crop Hub brings together leading research capabilities from RMIT University, The Australian National University, Western Sydney University and The University of New South Wales,” said Ma.
“This expertise is paired together with innovative industry leaders such as Innofocus Photonics Technology, South East Water, ClearVue Technologies, Vecor Technologies, GreenPlus, Protected Cropping Australia, Evident Australia, and many more.”
The five-year project is supported by $25 million in total commitments – $5 million in ARC funding, matched by $5 million from industry partners, which include organisations from the materials, energy, photonics, advanced manufacturing and protected cropping sectors.