New High-Tech Ideas for Indoor Growing

Market Insights on High-Tech Innovations in Indoor Growing

Indoor growing has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, with new technologies constantly shaping the way crops are cultivated in controlled environments. As thought leaders in the horticultural and agriculture recruiting sectors, M&F Talent highlights the latest high-tech tools that are driving the future of indoor growing. With the rapid advancement of tools and techniques, indoor growers must adopt a forward-thinking mindset when selecting the best cultivation technologies to enhance both efficiency and sustainability. 

Much of this equipment seeks to alleviate the guesswork and labor related to horticulture and cannabis cultivation. To this end, interestingly, a new cultivation technology can influence and shape one’s approach to horticulture in its entirety. As such, there is a creative “give and take” occurring between engineers and growers in the horticulture field. Within this exchange, innovations of the past inform processes of today. Yet, how this exchange will eventually come to fruition with controlled environment agriculture is anyone’s guess. Also, many more “traditional” growers see indoor gardening as an organic process, not a predictable, controlled science.

At M&F Talent, we explore the innovative equipment and software that are reshaping controlled environment agriculture (CEA), offering insights into how these technologies can transform growing operations.

Grow Room Sensors

The implementation of sensor matrices throughout grow rooms are giving modern cultivators a real-time understanding of garden environments. As most experienced indoor growers know, grow room operations are plagued by inconsistencies. These are notoriously difficult to detect in a uniform and intelligible manner. For instance, cultivation mediums retain water in varying capacities in different parts of a room. Also, many indoor gardens have drastically different environmental conditions throughout a room, as well as “dead spots” in air circulation.

To alleviate many of the environmental challenges faced with indoor gardening tech companies have devised both soil meters and atmospheric sensors. These tools are used to detect anomalies in the grow room before they express themselves negatively in plant health. Concerning moisture meters in grow mediums, they give cultivators a real-time understanding of watering needs in their gardens. This data helps growers helping avoid issues with things like over-watering. In a like fashion, individual atmospheric sensors give a reading on environmental conditions throughout a groom room and various part of a garden canopy, which can be proactively rectified to avoid issues with mold and pathogens.

Software for Indoor Growing  

One of the largest tech crazes in commercial CEA growing today has to do with software programs. Because, computers can utilize data metrics to help streamline production. For example, according to the website Fortune, the vertical farming company Bowery “has developed what it says is a proprietary software system with a robust network of sensors that takes in data in real time to determine outcomes like the quality, texture, color, and yield of its plants.” While it is evident that the sort of software being developed by Bowery is beyond the scope of the hobbyist grower, its efficacy for commercial applications is noteworthy. Because, when used in conjunction with sensors, this software can track and catalog many fine nuances of CEA growing. This practice is literally beyond the scope of human capabilities. As such, software programs can provide information on almost every aspect of a garden. In the end, providing the most efficient troubleshooting platforms indoor growing has ever known.

Shelving

Many people don’t necessarily consider shelving to be high-tech. However, the use of shelving units engineered specifically for crop and cannabis cultivation have literally revolutionized indoor growing methods in the past decade. Currently, the practice of “vertical farming” would be non-existent without these forward-looking infrastructures. Its important to note, vertical farming shelf units are engineered to do far more than “hold plants.” The most advanced units have electrical and irrigation components built into the shelves. Similarly, and in tune with vertical farming’s themes of sustainability and efficiency, these shelves integrate with macro-hydroponics systems and are easily reorganized and moved. Finally, certain brands of shelving units are motorized and can shift different parts of the garden canopy throughout the day. This action ensures the maximized usage of available light.

Robotics

It is probably no secret that commercial agriculture businesses have begun implementing robotics to handle some of the more tedious and laborious facets of cultivation, like plant pruning. However, there is also an increasing upsurge in robotics designs for the home-based, hobbyist gardener. To illustrate, the company “FarmBot” has devised a robot that handles most gardening chores for small, raised bed gardens. The design team at FarmBot put together a robot that is mounted a frame which is compatible with square or rectangular garden beds. The hardware of the FarmBot is integrated with a data analytics software. This tech can program the robot to accomplish most garden tasks, including tilling, weeding, planting, watering, and spraying. Yet, this robot gardening technology is still far from mainstream. Moreover, it retails for a hefty $4,000 price tag. Nonetheless, Farmbot presents an interesting tech tool for those gardeners interested in experimenting with the cutting-edge of home cultivation.

High-Tech Ideas for Indoor Growing Summary

As can be seen, indoor growing technology has grown exponentially in its breadth and sophistication. However, its also evident that no technology presents a cure-all for all horticultural processes and operations. That being said, a majority of new advancements in equipment and software are likely more applicable in commercial operations. Yet, this new tech provides a potential “trickle-down” into home-based tech such as the FarmBot. Some of these tools are already available at your local garden supply store. Looking forward, it will be interesting to see how technological innovations will influence gardening practices in the future.

Partner with M&F Talent to Harness the Power of Innovation in CEA

At M&F Talent, we understand the critical role that high-tech tools and equipment play in the future of indoor growing. If you need expert talent to manage and implement these innovations in your CEA operation, we are here to help.

Contact us today to find the right talent and solutions for your growing needs, and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving world of controlled environment agriculture.