Multi chamber continuous cultivation

Abstract

A method of cultivating plants, e.g., medical cannabis, is disclosed. A plurality of cultivation chambers 12-1 to 12-5 are provided, each corresponding to a different respective plant growth stage, an

Description

The present invention relates to methods and associated apparatus for the cultivation of plants. The present invention has particular, but not exclusive, relevance to the cultivation of medical grade cannabis. There are a number of different horticultural methods used for the large scale cultivation of plants including traditional methods involving outdoor growth in fields and more modern methods involving indoor facilities, vertical farming and glass houses. Outdoor growing has the advantage that it makes use of the Earth’s natural resources but is susceptible to extreme weather events of the type that are becoming increasingly common and unpredictable due to climate change. Outdoor growing is also reliant on the seasons which dictate when mature crops may be harvested. Protected horticultural methods indoors or in greenhouses offer increased control and productivity but are typically highly energy consumptive. It has been estimated, for example, that indoor growing typically wastes around 40% of the required light that could be provided by the sun. Key sources of energy consumption in protected horticultural systems include: lighting; heating; dehumidification; and the provision of airflow. Several greenhouse technologies and cultivation strategies have been developed aimed at efficient energy use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction. One greenhouse technology that offers significant energy saving and low CO2 emissions is the closed or semi-closed greenhouse. Unlike traditional greenhouses, closed / semi-closed greenhouses offer enhanced climate control by means of systems that treat the air and regulate the external-to-internal air exchange. Accordingly, a closed / semi-closed greenhouse allows environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and CO2 concentration to be controlled. This provides for improved optimisation of the greenhouse environment, and for decreasing evaporation losses and the entry of insects and fungal spores via ventilation openings in the greenhouse, hence making more efficient use of water and reducing reliance on pesticides. The protection of growing plants from fungal infection is very important for the commercial success of any horticultural endeavour and is particularly vital in the production of plants, such as cannabis, for use in the manufacture of medicines. Botrytis (or ‘grey mould’), for example, is an extremely common fungal disease that can adversely affect cannabis cultivation, whether grown indoors or outdoors. The fungus causing Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea) thrives in humid environments and so is a particular issue in (semi-)closed greenhouse environments, where humidity can build up if not carefully controlled, as the growing plants transpire water. Cannabis buds are particularly prone to Botrytis because they can trap water vapour, which ultimately condenses within the bud, and hence act as a perfect environment for Botrytis to develop where it can be particularly harmful. The rest of the cannabis plant is also susceptible to the mould. Botrytis is catastrophic when it occurs in cannabis crops, particularly when the flower is to be used for medical purposes (e.g., in an inhaler). Lowering humidity using a mechanical Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is the typical approach for controlling humidity related diseases, such as Botrytis, in a (semi-)closed greenhouse. However, such processes are relatively energy intensive and there is significant room for improvement. Plants also need different growing conditions during their lifecycle. In order to achieve this, the typical approach to modify the environment of the location in which the plants are growing. However, current techniques are inefficient. There is, therefore, a need for improved techniques for cultivating plants that at least contribute to improving disease control, whilst minimising the environmental impact of cultivation. The present invention aims to provide one or more methods and / or associated that at least partially meet the above need. In one aspect there is disclosed a method of cultivating plants, the method comprising: providing a plurality of cultivation chambers, each cultivation chamber corresponding to a different respective stage of the plants’ growth, and each cultivation chamber having a respective climatic environment configured for the corresponding stage of the plants’ growth; and moving the plants from a current cultivation chamber of the plurality of cultivation chambers in which the plants are located to a subsequent cultivation chamber of the plurality of cultivation chambers when the plants have reached the stage of the plants’ growth corresponding to the subsequent chamber; wherein the plurality of cultivation chambers comprise a first flowering cultivation chamber corresponding to a first flowering stage of the plants’ growth, and a second flowering cultivation chamber corresponding to a second flowering stage of the plants’ growth, the second flowering stage being a later stage of the plant’s growth than the first flowering stage. The first flowering cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a first relative humidity, and the second flowering cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a second relative humidity, the second relative humidity being lower than the first relative humidity. The first flowering cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a first spectrum of light, and the second flowering cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a second spectrum of light, the first spectrum of light having a level of blue light that is higher than a second level of blue light for the second spectrum of light. The first flowering cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a light intensity that is substantially the same as a light intensity in the second flowering cultivation chamber. The first flowering cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a daytime temperature that is substantially the same as a daytime temperature in the second flowering cultivation chamber. The first flowering cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a night-time temperature that is substantially the same as a night time temperature in the second flowering cultivation chamber. The climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber may be at least partially controlled using an absorption chiller. A level of humidity of the climatic environment in the at least one cultivation chamber may be at least partially controlled using the absorption chiller. A temperature level of the climatic environment in the at least one cultivation chamber may be at least partially controlled using the absorption chiller. The absorption chiller may be configured to use heat from at least one source of waste heat to generate a cooling effect for cooling air to be introduced or reintroduced to the at least one cultivation chamber for controlling the climatic environment in the at least one cultivation chamber. The climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber may be at least partially controlled using at least one source of waste heat to heat air to be introduced or reintroduced to the at least one cultivation chamber. The climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber may be at least partially controlled by controlling a level of carbon dioxide introduced into air to be introduced or reintroduced to the at least one cultivation chamber. The climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber may be at least partially controlled by controlling at least one of introduction of external air to, or expulsion of internal air from, the at least one cultivation chamber. The climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber may be at least partially controlled by driving treated air beneath the plants in the at least one cultivation chamber for subsequent release through the plants. The treated air may be released through the plants of the at least one cultivation chamber to rise substantially vertically in the at least one cultivation chamber. Movements of the plants from the current cultivation chamber to the subsequent cultivation chamber may be by means of an automated transfer system. The plurality of cultivation chambers may further comprise a vegetative cultivation chamber corresponding to a vegetative stage of the plants’ growth. The vegetative cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a relative humidity that is higher than a relative humidity in the first flowering cultivation chamber. The vegetative cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a light intensity that is lower than a light intensity in the first flowering cultivation chamber. Optionally, a lighting period in the vegetative cultivation chamber may be longer than a lighting period in the first flowering cultivation chamber. The vegetative cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a light intensity that is lower than a light intensity in the first flowering cultivation chamber. The vegetative cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a daytime temperature that is higher than a daytime temperature in the first flowering cultivation chamber. The vegetative cultivation chamber may have a climatic environment characterised by a night-time temperature that is lower than a night-time temperature in the first flowering cultivation chamber. The method may further comprise providing an area for work to be carried out on the plants, wherein plants requiring work may be moved into the area from a corresponding cultivation chamber and back into the corresponding cultivation chamber, or into a different cultivation chamber, after work on the plants has been completed. In one aspect there is disclosed apparatus for cultivating plants, the apparatus comprising: a greenhouse environment comprising a plurality of cultivation chambers, each cultivation chamber corresponding to a different respective stage of the plants’ growth; means for controlling a respective climatic environment in each cultivation chamber to configure the climatic environment to the corresponding stage of the plants’ growth; and means for moving the plants from a current cultivation chamber of the plurality of cultivation chambers in which the plants are located to a subsequent cultivation chamber of the plurality of cultivation chambers when the plants have reached the stage of the plants’ growth corresponding to the subsequent chamber; wherein the plurality of cultivation chambers comprise a first flowering cultivation chamber corresponding to a first flowering stage of the plants’ growth, and a second flowering cultivation chamber corresponding to a second flowering stage of the plants’ growth, the second flowering stage being a later stage of the plant’s growth than the first flowering stage. In one aspect there is disclosed a method of cultivating plants, the method comprising: providing a plurality of cultivation chambers, each cultivation chamber corresponding to a different respective stage of the plants’ growth, and each cultivation chamber having a respective climatic environment configured for the corresponding stage of the plants’ growth; wherein the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber is at least partially controlled using an absorption chiller. In one aspect there is disclosed apparatus for cultivating plants, the apparatus comprising: a greenhouse environment comprising a plurality of cultivation chambers, each cultivation chamber corresponding to a different respective stage of the plants’ growth; and means for controlling a respective climatic environment in each cultivation chamber to configure the climatic environment to the corresponding stage of the plants’ growth; wherein the means for controlling comprises at least one an absorption chiller for at least partially controlling the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates schematically, in plan, a greenhouse environment for the cultivation of plants; and Figure 2 illustrates schematically, in cross-section, the greenhouse environment of Figure 1. Overview A methodology for cultivating plants, and in particular cannabis plants, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 illustrates schematically, in plan, a greenhouse / glasshouse environment for the cultivation of plants. Figure 2 illustrates schematically, in cross-section, the greenhouse environment of Figure 1. As seen in Figure 1 the greenhouse environment comprises, in this example, a semiclosed greenhouse (although those skilled in the art will appreciate that a closed greenhouse could potentially be used) 10 that is subdivided into a number of different sections / cultivation chambers 12-1 to 12-5, each chamber 12 respectively corresponding to a different cultivation stage for the plants 14 that are being grown. Each chamber 12 or zone effectively represents a different stage of plant development with the plants typically being grown in one or more chambers representing respective sets of vegetative conditions / characteristics until the plants are substantial enough to sustain flowering - at which stage they are moved to one or more chambers representing respective sets of flowering conditions / characteristics. In the illustrated example there are five different chambers for corresponding cultivation stages / phases: a nursery chamber 12-1; a pre-vegetative chamber 12-2; a vegetative chamber 12-3; an early flowering chamber 12-4; and a late flowering chamber 12-5. It will nevertheless be appreciated that, depending on the plant type and / or specific cultivation requirements, there may be fewer (or more) than five chambers / cultivation stages. It will also be appreciated that the greenhouse may use a different (e.g., closed) greenhouse technology with a corresponding multiplicity of chambers. In particular, it can be beneficial to provide one or more additional chambers to subdivide the final flowering stages into three (or more stages) each with its own dedicated set of environmental set points (e.g., reducing relative humidity (RH) from one flowering stage to the next). Having the last flowering stage I latest flowering stages characterised by a particularly low relative humidity (e.g., no greater than 60% RH in the final stage) is particularly beneficial. The climate in each chamber is carefully controlled to maintain a respective set of climatic conditions in that chamber, based on a set of set points that are defined to provide optimum (or near-optimum) growth conditions for the corresponding cultivation stage. The controllable environmental conditions in a given chamber 12 may include, for example, temperature, humidity, lighting, carbon dioxide (CO2) level and / or the like. A climate corridor 16 is provided adjacent one end of each of the chambers (e.g., located inside the greenhouse at an outside gable) for providing climate control functionality to each chamber. Specifically, the climate corridor 16 provides a region into which air from a given chamber 12 can flow for treatment (e.g., dehumidification, humidification, cooling, heating, CO2 introduction, introduction of external airfor mixing with internal air and / or the like) before reintroduction into that chamber 12. For example, as seen in Figure 1, the climate corridor 16 may be partitioned into a plurality of antechambers along its length, each antechamber forming the respective region into which the air from the corresponding cultivation chamber can flow for treatment. In operation the growing plants 14 are moved as they mature, at appropriate timings during their growth, from one chamber to the next as illustrated by the arrows labelled A. To reduce the stress placed on the plants 14 during this chamber-to-chamber transfer, and to minimise human interaction (which also has the potential to introduce pests / infection), plants 14 are advanced from one cultivation chamber to another by means of an appropriate transfer system (e.g., an automated container system or the like - e.g., comprising push and pull robots, and mechanical wheels / rollers, configured for moving containerised sets of plants around the greenhouse / glasshouse) that transfers the plants 14 gently, via a communication corridor 18 that links each of the chambers 12 at an end opposite the climate corridor 16. Movement typically takes place at night. This differs from conventional techniques in which the plants remain static, in the same chamber, and the climate is adjusted to their requirements which requires the presence of all the equipment required to achieve all required climatic conditions, for every chamber. Moreover, the climate conditions have to be regularly changed which can be energy intensive. Beneficially, using the methodology described in this document, greater efficiency is achieved because each chamber is only required to achieve, and maintain, a single set of climatic conditions. To allow human interaction with the plants 14 when needed (e.g., for purposes of pruning or harvesting) a separate harvest and plant work area 20 is provided in which the environment is controlled to minimise the risk of pests such as insects and infection (e.g., from fungal spores) reaching the plants 14. Thus, plants 14 can be moved into the harvest and plant work area 20 from one of the cultivation chambers 12 for plant work (arrow A’) or harvesting (arrow A”), and from the harvest and plant work area 20 back into an appropriate cultivation chamber 12 once any work has been completed (arrow A’”). It will be appreciated that whilst Figure 1 shows work in the harvest and plant work area 20 occurring at the end of the vegetative stage for illustrative purposes, work may be carried out in this area at any point depending on the needs of the growing plants and any other requirements. During movements of the plants, appropriate biocidal treatment may be applied on exit from / entry to a chamber 12 and / or exit from I entry to the harvest and plant work area 20. Beneficially, therefore, one batch of fully matured flowering plants 14 can be removed from the final chamber 12-5 for harvesting, and then replaced by another batch of near mature plants 14 from the penultimate chamber 12-4, at regular intervals thereby providing a near constant supply of fully grown plants 14. As seen in Figure 2, one or more absorption chillers 22 are arranged for providing cooling 24 (primarily for the purposes of dehumidification) of air in the climate corridor 16. Each absorption chiller 22 may, for example, comprise a respective condensing radiator, or the like, for providing cooling and / or dehumidification of air the in climate corridor 16. Similarly, one or more heat sources 26 are arranged for providing heating 28 in the climate corridor 16 and for providing the heat required by the absorption chiller 22 for separation of the refrigerant mixture (e.g., separation ofwaterfrom lithium bromide or ammonia) in the generator of the absorption chiller 22. For example, one or more heating radiators may be provided - i.e. that are heated by a corresponding heat source 26. Beneficially the heat source 26, in this example, is a source of waste heat (e.g., heated coolant, such as water, from a data centre, power generation facility, and / or the like). One or more computer controlled vents 30 are provided in the roof of the greenhouse 10 for the controlled release of air from within the chambers 12. Similarly, one or more computer controlled air inlets 32 are provided in the climate corridor 16 to allow external air to be mixed with internal air in the climate corridor 16. Fogging apparatus 34 is also provided for temperature and humidity control. Referring to Figure 2 in particular, it will be appreciated that the configuration of heating, cooling (dehumidification) and fogging units shown is purely exemplary and may vary depending on requirements. The vent(s) 30 and air inlet(s) 32 are provided with protective meshes or filters to protect against the ingress of unwanted insect pests I fungal spores as external air enters the greenhouse environment and internal air is expelled through insect nets and filters as required. Each chamber 12 includes lighting 36 that provides a respective emission spectrum and light intensity tailored to the environmental requirements of that chamber. Beneficially, for example, the spectrum of light used in the last flowering stage (or later flowering stages) is particularly low in blue light (lower than in the preceding chamber(s) - e.g., no greater than about 6% blue light) which provides enhanced yields and improves energy efficiency. In this example, the lighting comprises high efficiency light-emitting-diode (LED) based lighting exclusively. Nevertheless, it will be appreciated that while exclusive use of LED lighting is particularly beneficial other (e.g. conventional lighting such as high pressure sodium vapor (HPS) lights) may be used, potentially in combination with LED lights. One or more sources of CO2 37 are also provided to allow the introduction of CO2 to a required level. Extraction fans 38 are provided near the base of the climate corridor 16 for drawing treated air from the climate corridor 16 into perforated conduits 40 arranged beneath the plants 14 for delivering circulating air to the chambers 12 in a manner that results in a substantially vertical air flow in each chamber 12 through the plants 14 as indicated by the arrows labelled ‘B’. Air that is not vented via the roof vents 30 circulates from the upper region of the greenhouse back towards the climate corridor 16 where it re-enters the climate corridor 16 by means of a return vent 42. The return vent 42 is configured to manage, under the control of the computer, the entry of the returning air into the climate corridor 42. The recirculating air that enters the climate corridor 16 may then be subject to appropriate treatment in the climate corridor 16, as described above, before reintroduction to the chamber 12. The treatment that takes place in the climate corridor 16 may, for example, involve the air being subject to cooling and / or moisture removal (dehumidification), by the absorption chiller 22 (e.g., cooling to - or beyond - the dew point for the purposes of removing moisture and hence providing dehumidification). The treatment may, alternatively or additionally, involve mixing the circulating (cooled I dehumidified) air with external air, fogging, and / or (re)heating the air. It has been found that by careful control of the temperature provided via the absorption chiller(s), the efficacy (efficiency and / or effectiveness) of the absorption chiller(s) / condensing radiator(s) can be optimised, and the ability to achieve the required relative humidity setpoint(s) can also be improved. For example, controlling the temperature provided via the absorption chiller(s) / condensing radiator(s), to the air in the climate corridor 16, to 7°C or lower has been found to improve efficacy I RH control significantly. Controlling the temperature to 5°C or lower provides even further improvement. It will be appreciated that such climate control may be performed using any appropriate combination of cooling using the absorption chiller 22, appropriate mixing of circulating (cooled I dehumidified) air with external air, fogging, and / or (re)heating of the air. Hence, heating or cooling of the air can be achieved depending on requirements. Moreover, a decrease in humidity (dehumidification) or increase in humidity (humidification) can be achieved depending on requirements. It will be appreciated that, in some cases, sufficient cooling can be achieved without using the cooling (condensing) radiator of an absorption chiller. High pressure fogging may, for example, be used for providing cooling for the veg and early flower chambers where low humidities are not required, and no cooling radiator is required, beneficially reducing the energy requirements forthat environment. In summary, therefore, the overall system allows absorption chiller driven cooling and dehumidification to be used, in combination with vertical airflow at lower than ambient temperature, to provide for improved plant cultivation in an energy efficient manner. The vertical flow of air has the additional advantage that it helps avoid condensation that would react to fungal activity such as Botrytis or powdery mildew. Typical operation may involve, for example, the air entering the climate corridor 16 being cooled, by means of the absorption chiller (e.g., using a heat exchanger to take heat out of the circulating air) to remove water and provide dehumidification. Air is reheated to a temperature that is lower than the ambient temperature setpoint for the corresponding chamber 12 and CO2 37 is introduced to a required concentration (as defined by an appropriate setpoint). The treated air is driven underneath the crop 14 by means of the fan(s) 38 and conduit 40. The treated air is then released in a manner that allows it to rise substantially vertically (arrows B) through the crops to reduce the possibility of condensation and hence negate the possibility of Botrytis proliferation. A climate computer controls the release of air through roof vent(s) 30 and / or reintroduction via the return vent(s) 42 into the climate corridor 16, with variable introduction of external air via the inlet(s) 32. The use of absorption chilling is particularly beneficial over the conventional mechanical cooling techniques prevalent in the industry. The use of such chilling has the potential to provide significant energy efficiency gains and, when combined with a low carbon energy source such as waste hot water, can increase the energy efficiency of the facility substantially. Application of absorption chiller-based dehumidification is particularly beneficial when applied to the final stage flower, in combination with a low level of blue light, and can boost yields and inhibit Botrytis at what is a particularly vulnerable stage of the plant’s cultivation cycle. Appropriate control of the environmental conditions in the vegetative chamber 12-3 and later chambers (especially in the flowering chambers 12-4 and 12-5) is particularly beneficial in the context of avoiding fungal infections such as Botrytis. For example, moving from a (relatively) high humidity (e.g., around 70%) in the first flowering chamber (early flowering chamber 12-4) to a (relatively) low humidity (e.g., around 60% or low) in the last flowering chamber (late flowering chamber 12-5) is particularly effective for controlling undesirable fungal growth. Combining the (relatively) high humidity in the in the first flowering chamber with lighting exhibiting a standard level of blue light (e.g., around 10% to 15%), and combining the (relatively) low humidity in the in the last flowering chamber with lighting exhibiting a low level of blue light (e.g., 6% or lower). Appropriate control of the intensity of light in the different chambers (e.g., increasing the intensity between the vegetative and flowering chambers) can also provide benefits. Typically (e.g., for cannabis), the plants 14 will spend a total of between six and twelve weeks (typically eight weeks) in the flowering chambers 12-4 and 12-5 divided equally between the two chambers (in the case of more flowering stage chambers the time in each chamber will be adjusted accordingly). The plants 14 will typically be moved to the late flowering chamber when vertical growth has ceased. A particularly beneficial set of setpoints for the vegetative chamber 12-3 and flowering chambers 12-4 and 12-5 is provided below in Table 1, by way of example only. Vegetative Chamber (lighting 18h / day) Early Flowering Chamber (lighting 12h / day) Late Flowering Chamber (lighting 12h / day) Temperature Day °C 25 26 26 Temperature Night °C 25 22 22 RH (%) 80 70 <60 Light Intensity (pmol m-2s-1) <500 - 600 800 -1000 800 -1000+ Light Frequency %blue 10-15% 10-15% No more than about 6% Table 1 - typical environmental setpoints for later chambers It will nevertheless be appreciated that, whilst these setpoints are particularly beneficial, any suitable set of setpoints may be used depending on the type of plants 5 being cultivated, the type of fungal growth being targeted and / or specific requirements for the characteristics of the final crop. Moreover, it will be appreciated that each of the different sets of setpoints for each chamber illustrated in Table 1 can potentially be used independently in a corresponding chamber, without using the other illustrated sets of setpoints in other chambers. Similarly, the individual setpoints of each set can 10 be used independently to provide some benefit without necessarily using all the illustrated setpoints. A detailed embodiment has been described above. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a number of modifications and alternatives can be made to the above embodiments whilst still benefiting from the inventions embodied therein. 15 Various other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and will not be described in further detail here.

Claims

1. A method of cultivating plants, the method comprising:providing a greenhouse comprising plurality of cultivation chambers, each cultivation chamber corresponding to a different respective stage of the plants’ growth, and each cultivation chamber having a respective climatic environment configured for the corresponding stage of the plants’ growth, the climatic environment in each cultivation chamber being individually controllable by respectively treating air flowing from that cultivation chamber, in a corresponding region of the greenhouse external to that cultivation chamber, for subsequent reintroduction to that cultivation chamber, and by controlling the flow of air to be treated out of that cultivation chamber and the flow of treated air into that cultivation chamber;wherein the climatic environment in that cultivation chamber is at least partially controlled, using an absorption chiller, to be different to the climatic environment in at least one other cultivation chamber, the absorption chiller being configured to treat the air flowing from that cultivation chamber into the corresponding region of the greenhouse.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the corresponding region of the greenhouse external to that cultivation chamber comprises an antechamber that forms part of a climate corridor that is provided adjacent to the plurality of cultivation chambers.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flow of air to be treated out of that cultivation chamber is controlled by means of at least one controllable vent.

4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the flow of treated air into that cultivation chamber is controllable by means of at least one conduit arranged for conveying treated air beneath the plants in that cultivation chamber for release through the plants.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the flow of treated air into that cultivation chamber is further controllable by means of at least one fan configured to drive the treated air through the at least one conduit.

6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein treating the air from that at least one cultivation chamber in the corresponding region of the greenhouse comprises controlling the temperature provided via the absorption chiller to be 7°C or lower.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein treating the air from that at least one cultivation chamber in the corresponding region of the greenhouse comprises controlling the temperature provided via the absorption chiller to be 5°C or lower.

8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein a level of humidity of the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber is at least partially controllable to increase and / or decrease the level of humidity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the level of humidity of the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber is at least partially controllable using the absorption chiller.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the level of humidity of the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber is at least partially controllable using fogging apparatus.

11. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the absorption chiller is configured to use heat from at least one source of waste heat to generate a cooling effect for cooling air to be introduced or reintroduced to at least one cultivation chamber for controlling the climatic environment in that at least one cultivation chamber.

12. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber is at least partially controllable using at least one source of waste heat to heat air to be introduced or reintroduced to that at least one cultivation chamber.

13. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber is at least partially controllable by controlling a level of carbon dioxide introduced into air to be introduced or reintroduced to that at least one cultivation chamber.

14. The method of any preceding claim further comprising:moving the plants from a current cultivation chamber of the plurality of cultivation chambers in which the plants are located to a subsequent cultivation chamber of the plurality of cultivation chambers when the plants have reached the stage of the plants’ growth corresponding to the subsequent chamber.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein movements of the plants from the current cultivation chamber to the subsequent cultivation chamber is by means of an automated transfer system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the automated transfer system comprises at least one push and / or pull robot configured for moving containerised sets of plants on mechanical wheels and / or rollers around the greenhouse.

17. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising providing an area for work to be carried out on the plants, wherein plants requiring work are moved into the area from a corresponding cultivation chamber and back into the corresponding cultivation chamber, or into a different cultivation chamber, after work on the plants has been completed.

18. Apparatus for cultivating plants, the apparatus comprising:a greenhouse environment comprising:a plurality of cultivation chambers, each cultivation chamber corresponding to a different respective stage of the plants’ growth; and,for each cultivation chamber, a corresponding region of the greenhouse external to that at least one cultivation chamber for use in treating air flowing from that at least one cultivation chamber, for subsequent reintroduction to that at least one cultivation chamber; andmeans for individually controlling a respective climatic environment in each cultivation chamber, to configure the climatic environment to the corresponding stage of the plants’ growth, by respectively treating air flowing from each cultivation chamber, into the corresponding region of the greenhouse external to that cultivation chamber, for subsequent reintroduction to that cultivation chamber, and for controlling the flowof air to be treated out of that cultivation chamber and the flow of treated air into that cultivation chamber;wherein the means for controlling comprises at least one absorption chiller for at least partially controlling the climatic environment in at least one cultivation chamber to be different to the climatic environment in at least one other cultivation chamber by treating air of that at least one cultivation chamber, the absorption chiller being configured to treat the air flowing from that cultivation chamber into the corresponding region of the greenhouse.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the corresponding region of the greenhouse external to each cultivation chamber comprises an antechamber that forms part of a climate corridor that is provided adjacent to the plurality of cultivation chambers.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 or claim 19, further comprising at least one controllable vent for respectively controlling the flow of air to be treated out of each cultivation chamber.

21. The apparatus of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one conduit configured for respectively conveying treated air beneath the plants in each cultivation chamber for release through the plants.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising at least one fan for respectively controlling and driving the flow of treated air into each cultivation chamber.

23. The apparatus of any of claims 18 to 22, wherein the absorption chiller is configured to provide a temperature of 7°C or lower to the air from at least one cultivation chamber, in the corresponding region of the greenhouse.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the absorption chiller is configured to provide a temperature of 5°C or lower to the air from that at least one cultivation chamber.18

Images