Plant management device, plant management method, and program

Abstract

To provide a plant management apparatus, a plant management method, and a program that enable plants to be harvested at appropriate times in a plant factory where plants are cultivated.SOLUTION: A plant management apparatus may include a determination unit for determining a harvest time for a plant based on prediction information indicating at least one of a predicted market price of the plant and a predicted demand amount for the plant. The plant management apparatus may include an environmental control unit for controlling environmental control equipment for controlling environment within a plant factory in which the plants are cultivated so that the plants can be harvested at the harvest time. The determination unit may determine, as the harvest time for the plant, the time when the predicted market price is highest within a target period.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plant management device, a plant management method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes providing a plant cultivation facility, a plant cultivation method, an LED lighting device for plant cultivation, a shelf board for a plant cultivation shelf, and a plant cultivation shelf that can improve the production amount of plants. [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-122672

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] In a plant factory that cultivates plants, it is desired that the plants be harvested at an appropriate timing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] A plant management device according to an aspect of the present invention may include a determination unit that determines a harvesting time of the plant based on prediction information indicating at least one of a predicted market price of the plant and a predicted demand amount of the plant. The plant management device may include an environment control unit that controls environment control equipment for controlling an environment in a plant factory where the plant is cultivated so that the plant can be harvested at the harvesting time. The determination unit may determine, as the harvesting time of the plant, a time point at which the predicted market price is highest within a target period.

[0005] In the plant management device, the prediction information may indicate at least the predicted market price of the plant. The determination unit may further determine a yield of the plant at the harvesting time based on the prediction information. The environment control unit may control the environment control equipment so that the plant with the yield can be harvested at the harvesting time.

[0006] In any of the aforementioned plant management devices, the forecast information may show the relationship between the forecast market price and the forecast demand. The determination unit may determine the yield by multiplying the forecast demand at the harvest time shown in the forecast information by a predetermined percentage.

[0007] In any of the plant management devices, the plant factory may include a plurality of cultivation shelves for growing the plants. The determination unit may further determine the number of sets of cultivation shelves to which the plants will be harvested at the harvest time, based on the yield.

[0008] In any of the plant management devices, the environmental control equipment may include air conditioning equipment that adjusts at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory. The environmental control unit may control the air conditioning equipment based on temperature and humidity information indicating the relationship between the growing period and temperature and humidity conditions, so that at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory satisfies the temperature and humidity conditions that are appropriate for the harvest time of the plants.

[0009] In any of the aforementioned plant management devices, the temperature and humidity conditions may be predetermined within a range that allows for the maintenance of predetermined quality of the plants.

[0010] In any of the plant management devices, the environmental control equipment may further include a ventilation system that controls at least one of the airflow rate and airflow direction of the wind supplied into the plant factory. The environmental control unit may control the ventilation system such that at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory satisfies the temperature and humidity conditions that are appropriate for the harvest time of the plants.

[0011] In any of the plant management devices, the environmental control equipment may include a light source equipment having a light source that irradiates the plants with artificial light. The environmental control unit may control the light source equipment based on light intensity information indicating the relationship between the growing period and the light intensity conditions, so that the light intensity of the light source satisfies the light intensity conditions that are appropriate for the harvest time of the plants.

[0012] In any of the aforementioned plant management devices, the light intensity conditions may be predetermined within a range that allows for the maintenance of predetermined quality of the plants.

[0013] In any of the plant management devices, the determination unit may, when the prediction information is updated, determine the updated harvest time of the plant based on the updated prediction information. The environmental control unit may further control the environmental control equipment so that the harvest time of the plant matches the updated harvest time.

[0014] In any of the plant management devices, if the prediction information is updated, the determination unit may further determine the yield of the plants after the update based on the updated prediction information. If the yield after the update is greater than the yield before the update, the environmental control unit may control the environmental control equipment so that the growing period of the increased cultivation shelves is shorter than the growing period of the existing controlled cultivation shelves, so that the plants on the existing controlled cultivation shelves and the increased cultivation shelves can be harvested at the same time. If the yield after the update is less than the yield before the update, the environmental control unit may control the environmental control equipment so that the growing period of the reduced cultivation shelves is longer, so that the plants on the reduced cultivation shelves are ready for the next harvest.

[0015] A plant management method according to one aspect of the present invention may include a step in which a determination unit determines the harvest time of the plant based on prediction information indicating at least one of the predicted market price of the plant and the predicted demand for the plant. The plant management method may also include a step in which an environmental control unit controls environmental control equipment that controls the environment within the plant factory where the plant is cultivated so that the plant can be harvested at the harvest time.

[0016] A program according to an aspect of the present invention may cause a computer to execute a step of determining a harvesting time of a plant based on prediction information indicating at least one of a predicted market price of the plant and a predicted demand quantity of the plant. The program may cause a computer to execute a step of controlling an environmental control facility that controls an environment in a plant factory where the plant is cultivated so that the plant can be harvested at the harvesting time.

[0017] Note that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the features of the present invention. Also, sub-combinations of these feature groups can also be inventions.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0018] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the overall configuration of a plant management system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of a plant management device. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing an example of prediction information indicating the relationship between a predicted market price and a predicted demand quantity. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of temperature-humidity information indicating the relationship between temperature according to humidity and a growth period. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing an example of light quantity information indicating the relationship between light quantity and a growth period. [Figure 6] It is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for environmental control of a plant based on prediction information. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration. [[ID=**33**]]

**Modes for Carrying Out the Invention**

[0019] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention. However, the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Also, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution means of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block of the overall configuration of the plant management system according to the present embodiment. The plant management system manages the growth state of plants 30 cultivated in the plant factory 10. The plant management system includes a plurality of cultivation shelves 20, a light source facility 40, a nutrient solution supply facility 50, a carbon dioxide supply facility 60, an air conditioning facility 70, a ventilation facility 80, a sensor 90, and a plant management device 100. The light source facility 40, the nutrient solution supply facility 50, the carbon dioxide supply facility 60, the air conditioning facility 70, and the ventilation facility 80 are examples of environmental control facilities.

[0021] The cultivation shelf 20 cultivates plants 30 such as vegetables, fruits, or cut flowers. By shifting the sowing date for each set of one or more cultivation shelves 20, the plants 30 are adjusted so that they can be harvested at different harvest times. Also, the plurality of cultivation shelves 20 are installed in separate spaces 12 for each set of one or more cultivation shelves 20, and the environment in the space 12 is individually controlled by the environmental control facilities, so that the plants 30 can be cultivated in different environmental states for each space 12. The space may be a space with high heat insulation and airtightness. In the present embodiment, the plant management device 100 individually controls the environmental state for each set of cultivation shelves 20. However, the plant management device 100 may individually control the environmental state of each of the plurality of tiers provided in one cultivation shelf 20.

[0022] The light source facility 40 includes a plurality of light sources 42 that irradiate artificial light such as LEDs or incandescent lamps, and irradiates the plants 30 with artificial light from each of the plurality of light sources 42. The plurality of light sources 42 may be arranged to face the cultivation surface of the cultivation shelf 20.

[0023] The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 has a pump 52 and a pipe 54, and supplies nutrient solution containing various fertilizer components such as potassium or calcium to the cultivation shelf 20 via the pump 52 and pipe 54. The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 adjusts the fertilizer concentration as appropriate and supplies the nutrient solution with the adjusted fertilizer concentration to the plants 30. The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 may also supply the nutrient solution to the plants 30 by atomizing the nutrient solution and spraying it onto the root portion of the plants 30. The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 may also function as an irrigation system that supplies water to the growing medium on which the plants 30 are cultivated. The amount of irrigation water supplied to the cultivation shelf 20 may be adjusted by adjusting the amount of nutrient solution supplied from the nutrient solution supply equipment 50 to the cultivation shelf 20.

[0024] The carbon dioxide supply equipment 60 has a tank 62 and a nozzle 64. The tank 62 stores carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide supply equipment 60 supplies the carbon dioxide stored in the tank 62 to each space 12 within the plant factory 10 via the nozzle 64.

[0025] The air conditioning system 70 controls the temperature and humidity of the air inside the plant factory 10 and circulates the controlled air within each space. The ventilation system 80 includes a circulator or fan that supplies air into the plant factory 10. The sensor 90 includes various sensors that measure the environmental conditions around the plants 30 and the growth status of the plants 30. The sensor 90 also includes various sensors that measure the temperature, humidity, light intensity, and carbon dioxide concentration of the stems, leaves, and fruit parts of the plants 30, respectively.

[0026] The plant management device 100 controls the growth state of the plants 30 by controlling the light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80. The plant management device 100 communicates with the light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80 via a wireless or wired network. The plant management device 100 is an example of a growth state estimation device.

[0027] The plant management device 100 may be a computer having a central processing unit (CPU) and memory. The light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80 may each be equipped with a computer having a central processing unit (CPU) and memory.

[0028] The computer may be a personal computer, tablet computer, smartphone, workstation, server computer, or general-purpose computer, or it may be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system is also a computer in a broad sense. The computer may be a dedicated computer designed for environmental control of a plant factory, or it may be dedicated hardware realized by dedicated circuits. The computer may be implemented by a virtual computer environment. When a computer is used, the plant management device 100, light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80 are realized by executing a program on the computer.

[0029] In a plant management system configured in this way, it is desirable to be able to harvest 30 plants of the appropriate yield at the appropriate time, taking into account market prices and demand.

[0030] Figure 2 shows an example of the functional blocks of the plant management device 100. The plant management device 100 comprises an acquisition unit 102, a decision unit 104, an environmental control unit 110, and a storage unit 120. The storage unit 120 stores the program that operates in the plant management device 100. The program is executed on the processor of the plant management device 100, causing the processor to function as the acquisition unit 102, the decision unit 104, and the environmental control unit 110.

[0031] The acquisition unit 102 acquires prediction information showing the relationship between the predicted market price of plants 30 cultivated in the plant factory 10 and the predicted demand for plants 30. The acquisition unit 102 may acquire prediction information from a prediction server that generates prediction information using a learning model that predicts future market prices and demand for plants 30 based on past market prices and demand. The prediction server may predict the predicted market price and predicted demand for each type of plant 30 using a learning model specific to each type of plant 30. The prediction server may generate a trained prediction model by performing machine learning according to a supervised learning algorithm, for example, using daily weather information, event information, etc., as explanatory variables and market price and demand as dependent variables. The algorithm may be any type of algorithm, such as a neural network, support vector machine, multiple regression analysis, or decision tree. The acquisition unit 102 may acquire prediction information from a server provided by an organization that provides market price and demand prediction information.

[0032] The decision unit 104 determines the harvest time of the plants 30 based on the forecast information. The forecast information may be, for example, information showing the relationship between the daily forecast market price (yen) and the forecast demand (t), as shown in Figure 3. The forecast information may be information showing the relationship between the weekly forecast market price (yen) and the forecast demand (t). The forecast information may be information showing the relationship between the daily forecast market price (yen) and the forecast demand (t) for predetermined periods other than days or weeks.

[0033] The decision unit 104 may determine the harvest time T for the plant 30 to be the point in time within the target period when the predicted market price is highest. At least one set of cultivation shelves 20 with the same sowing date is assigned to the target period. The set of cultivation shelves 20 may include multiple cultivation shelves 20 with the same sowing date. The set of cultivation shelves 20 may include multiple cultivation shelves 20 with the same sowing date that are located in a space 12 where the environmental conditions can be individually controlled. For example, for target periods A to H, the decision unit 104 may determine "September 10th," when the predicted market price is highest, as the harvest time T for the plant 30. For target periods I to G, the decision unit 104 may determine "September 12th" as the harvest time T for the plant 30.

[0034] The determination unit 104 may further determine the yield S of the plants 30 at harvest time T based on the prediction information. The determination unit 104 may determine the yield S of the plants 30 by multiplying the predicted demand for the plants 30 at harvest time T, as shown in the prediction information, by a predetermined ratio. The predetermined ratio may be predetermined according to the market size of the plants 30 and the maximum yield of the plants 30 that can be cultivated in the plant factory 10. The determination unit 104 may further determine the number of sets of cultivation shelves 20 to be used to cultivate the plants 30 at harvest time T in order to satisfy the yield S. The yield of plants 30 per set of cultivation shelves 20 may be predetermined from measured values ​​and stored in the storage unit 120.

[0035] The environmental control unit 110 controls at least one of the following: a light source 40, a nutrient solution supply 50, a carbon dioxide supply 60, an air conditioning 70, and a ventilation 80, which control the environment inside the plant factory 10 so that the plants 30 can be harvested at harvest time T. The environmental control unit 110 controls at least one of the following: a light source 40, a nutrient solution supply 50, a carbon dioxide supply 60, an air conditioning 70, and a ventilation 80, so that the plants 30 with a yield S can be harvested at harvest time T.

[0036] The environmental control unit 110 may control the air conditioning equipment 70 based on temperature and humidity information showing the relationship between the growing period and temperature and humidity conditions, so that at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory 10 satisfies the temperature and humidity conditions necessary for harvesting the plants 30 at harvest time T.

[0037] If the plant 30 is a variety such as leaf lettuce, which can have a shorter growing period at higher temperatures, the environmental control unit 110 may control the air conditioning equipment 70 to raise the temperature of the space and bring the harvest of the plant 30 forward if the harvest time T is earlier than the harvestable time scheduled for the current growing period. Alternatively, if the harvest time T is later than the harvestable time scheduled for the current growing period, the environmental control unit 110 may control the air conditioning equipment 70 to lower the temperature of the space and bring the harvest of the plant 30 backward.

[0038] However, if the temperature of the space is made too high, physiological disorders such as tip burn may occur in the plants 30. Therefore, the temperature and humidity conditions may be predetermined within a range that can maintain the predetermined quality of the plants 30. The plant management device 100 may, for example, determine the humidity and temperature corresponding to the growing period so that the plants 30 can be harvested at the harvest time T, based on temperature and humidity information that shows the relationship between temperature and growing period according to humidity, as shown in Figure 4, which is stored in the memory unit 120.

[0039] The environmental control unit 110 may control the ventilation equipment 80 to adjust at least one of the airflow rate (wind speed) and wind direction supplied to the plant factory 10 so that at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory 10 meets the temperature and humidity conditions necessary for harvesting plants 30 at harvest time T.

[0040] The environmental control unit 110 may control the light source equipment 40 based on light intensity information showing the relationship between the growing period and light intensity conditions, so that the light intensity of the light source 42 satisfies the light intensity conditions necessary to harvest the plants 30 at harvest time T.

[0041] If the plant 30 is a variety such as leaf lettuce, which can have a shorter growing period with greater light intensity, the environmental control unit 110 may control the light source equipment 40 to increase the amount of light in the space and bring the plant 30 to harvest earlier if the harvest time T is earlier than the harvestable time scheduled for the current growing period. Alternatively, if the harvest time T is later than the harvestable time scheduled for the current growing period, the environmental control unit 110 may control the light source equipment 40 to decrease the amount of light in the space and bring the plant 30 to harvest later.

[0042] However, if the amount of light in the space is increased too much, physiological disorders such as tip burn may occur in the plants 30. Therefore, the light intensity conditions may be predetermined within a range that can maintain the predetermined quality of the plants 30.

[0043] The plant management device 100 may, for example, determine the amount of light corresponding to the growing period so that the plants 30 can be harvested at harvest time T, based on light intensity information, such as that shown in Figure 5, which is stored in the memory unit 120, that shows the relationship between light intensity and growing period.

[0044] Temperature and humidity information and light intensity information may be pre-generated based on statistical data obtained by actually measuring the temperature and humidity conditions or light intensity conditions while changing them for each of the 30 plant varieties, and stored in the memory unit 120.

[0045] A gentle breeze is effective in suppressing tip burn. Therefore, the environmental control unit 110 may adjust at least one of the airflow rate and wind speed supplied to the plants 30 by controlling the air supply equipment 80 to satisfy predetermined airflow conditions in order to suppress the occurrence of tip burn, according to at least one of the temperature and humidity conditions and the light intensity conditions.

[0046] Here, the accuracy of the prediction information may increase as the time until the prediction time decreases. Therefore, the acquisition unit 102 may periodically acquire updated prediction information from the prediction server. When the prediction information is updated, the decision unit 104 may determine the updated harvest time of the plants 30 based on the updated prediction information. The environmental control unit 110 further controls at least one of the light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80 so that the plants 30 can be harvested at the updated harvest time.

[0047] If the prediction information is updated, the determination unit 104 may determine the updated harvest time and yield of the plants 30 based on the updated prediction information. The environmental control unit 110 may further control at least one of the light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80 for each set of controlled cultivation shelves 20 so that the harvest time of the plants 30 matches the updated harvest time and the plants 30 are harvested according to the updated yield.

[0048] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for environmental control of 30 plants based on predictive information.

[0049] The acquisition unit 102 acquires prediction information corresponding to the type of target plant 30 from the prediction server (S100). Based on the prediction information, the decision unit 104 determines the point in time when the predicted market price will be highest within the target period as the harvest time T for the plant 30 during the target period, and further determines the yield S based on the predicted demand for harvest time T (S102). The decision unit 104 determines the number of sets of cultivation shelves 20 that will satisfy the yield S (S104). The decision unit 104 determines the growing period of the plant 30 from the present time so that it can be harvested during harvest time T (S106).

[0050] The environmental control unit 110 determines the environmental conditions that satisfy the growth period (S108). Based on the determined environmental conditions, the environmental control unit 110 controls the environmental control equipment (S110).

[0051] Next, if the acquisition unit 102 has not acquired the updated prediction information from the prediction server (indicated as "N" in S112), the environmental control unit 110 maintains the current environmental conditions and controls the environmental control equipment.

[0052] On the other hand, if the acquisition unit 102 acquires updated prediction information from the prediction server (Y in S112), the determination unit 104 re-determines the harvest time T' and yield S' based on the updated prediction information (S114). If the harvest time T' is earlier than the harvest time T, the environmental control unit 110 may control the air conditioning equipment 70 to raise the temperature of the space and bring forward the harvest time of the plants 30. Alternatively, if the harvest time T' is later than the harvest time T, the environmental control unit 110 may control the air conditioning equipment 70 to lower the temperature of the space and bring forward the harvest time of the plants 30. If the harvest time T' is earlier than the harvest time T, the environmental control unit 110 may control the light source equipment 40 to increase the amount of light in the space and bring forward the harvest time of the plants 30. Alternatively, if the harvest time T' is later than the harvest time T, the environmental control unit 110 may control the light source equipment 40 to decrease the amount of light in the space and bring forward the harvest time of the plants 30.

[0053] If the yield S' is greater than the yield S, the environmental control unit 110 may control the environmental control equipment so that the growing period of the additional cultivation shelves 20 is shorter than the growing period of the existing controlled cultivation shelves 20, so that the plants 30 can be harvested at the same time from both the existing controlled cultivation shelves 20 and the additional cultivation shelves 20.

[0054] If the yield S' is less than the yield S, the environmental control unit 110 may control the environmental control equipment so that the growing period of the reduced number of cultivation shelves 20 is longer, preferably the longest possible growing period, so that the plants 30 on the reduced number of cultivation shelves 20 are ready for the next harvest.

[0055] Figure 7 shows an example of a computer 1200 that may embody an aspect of this embodiment in whole or in part. A program installed on the computer 1200 can cause the computer 1200 to function as an operation associated with an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, or as one or more "parts" of said apparatus. Alternatively, the program can cause the computer 1200 to execute said operation or said one or more "parts". The program can cause the computer 1200 to execute a process or a stage of said process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to execute a particular operation associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0056] The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212 and RAM 1214, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes a communication interface 1222 and input / output units, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The computer 1200 also includes a ROM 1230. The CPU 1212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1230 and RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit.

[0057] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. A hard disk drive may store programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The ROM 1230 stores boot programs and / or programs that depend on the computer 1200's hardware, such as a boot program executed by the computer 1200 upon activation. Programs are provided via computer-readable storage media such as a CR-ROM, USB memory, or IC card, or via a network. Programs are installed in RAM 1214, which is also an example of computer-readable storage media, or in ROM 1230, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described within these programs is read by the computer 1200, resulting in coordination between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be configured to implement information operations or processing in accordance with the use of the computer 1200.

[0058] For example, when communication is performed between a computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded into RAM 1214 and, based on the processing described in the communication program, instruct the communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads the transmission data stored in the transmission buffer area provided in RAM 1214 or a storage medium such as a USB memory, sends the read transmission data to the network, or writes the received data received from the network to a receive buffer area or the like provided on the storage medium.

[0059] Furthermore, the CPU 1212 may read all or necessary parts of a file or database stored on an external storage medium such as a USB memory stick into the RAM 1214, and perform various types of processing on the data in the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may then write the processed data back to the external storage medium.

[0060] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the storage medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgments, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the program instruction sequence, and write the results back to the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may also retrieve information in files, databases, etc., within the storage medium. For example, if multiple entries are stored in the storage medium, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, the CPU 1212 may search among the multiple entries for an entry that matches the condition for which the attribute value of the first attribute is specified, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in that entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0061] The programs or software modules described above may be stored on or near computer 1200 in a computer-readable storage medium. Alternatively, a storage medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided within a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the programs to computer 1200 via the network.

[0062] Computer-readable media may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that can be executed by a suitable device. As a result, computer-readable media having instructions stored therein will comprise a product containing instructions that can be executed to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy disks (registered trademark), diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray (RTM) disk, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0063] Computer-readable instructions may include either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages. Source code or object code may include conventional procedural programming languages. These conventional procedural programming languages ​​may include assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, Java®, C++, etc., and the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. Computer-readable instructions may be provided locally or via a wide area network (WAN), such as a local area network (LAN) or the internet, to the processor or programmable circuit of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device. The processor or programmable circuit may execute computer-readable instructions to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0064] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It will be clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0065] It should be noted that the execution order of operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not explicitly stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that these can be implemented in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operation flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using phrases such as "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the operations in that order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10 Plant factory 20 cultivation rack 30 plants 40 Light source equipment 42 Light source 50 Nutrient solution supply equipment 52 pumps 54 pipes 60 Carbon dioxide supply facilities 62 tanks 64 nozzles 70 Air conditioning equipment 80. Ventilation equipment 90 sensors 100 Plant management equipment 102 Acquisition Department 104 Decision Section 110 Environmental Control Unit 120 Storage section 1200 Computers 1210 Host Controller 1212 CPU 1214 RAM 1220 Input / Output Controller 1222 Communication Interface 1230 ROM

Claims

1. A determination unit that determines the harvest time of the plant based on forecast information indicating at least one of the predicted market price of the plant and the predicted demand for the plant, An environmental control unit controls environmental control equipment that controls the environment within a plant factory, including multiple cultivation shelves for growing the plants, so that the plants can be harvested at the aforementioned harvest time. Equipped with, When the prediction information is updated, the determination unit further determines the harvest time of the plant after the update and the yield of the plant at the harvest time based on the updated prediction information. The plant management device includes an environmental control unit that, when the yield after the update is greater than the yield before the update, controls the environmental control equipment so that the growing period of the increased cultivation shelves is shorter than the growing period of the existing controlled cultivation shelves, thereby adjusting so that the plants can be harvested at the same post-update harvest time for both the existing controlled cultivation shelves and the increased cultivation shelves.

2. The aforementioned forecast information indicates at least the predicted market price of the plant, The plant management device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the time when the predicted market price is highest within the target period as the harvest time for the plant.

3. The plant management device according to claim 1, wherein the forecast information shows the relationship between the forecast market price and the forecast demand.

4. The plant management device according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit determines the yield by multiplying the predicted demand shown in the prediction information at the harvest time by a predetermined ratio.

5. The plant management device according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit further determines the number of sets of cultivation shelves to be harvested at the harvest time based on the yield.

6. The aforementioned environmental control equipment includes air conditioning equipment that adjusts at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory. The plant management device according to claim 1, wherein the environmental control unit controls the air conditioning equipment based on temperature and humidity information indicating the relationship between the growing period and temperature and humidity conditions, such that at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory satisfies the temperature and humidity conditions that match the harvest time of the plants.

7. The plant management device according to claim 6, wherein the temperature and humidity conditions are predetermined within a range that can maintain the predetermined quality of the plants.

8. The environmental control equipment further includes a ventilation system that controls at least one of the airflow rate and airflow direction of the wind supplied into the plant factory. The plant management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the environmental control unit controls the air supply equipment so that at least one of the temperature and humidity inside the plant factory satisfies the temperature and humidity conditions that are suitable for the harvesting time of the plants.

9. The environmental control equipment includes a light source equipment having a light source that irradiates the plants with artificial light, The plant management device according to claim 1, wherein the environmental control unit controls the light source equipment based on light intensity information indicating the relationship between the growing period and light intensity conditions, so that the light intensity of the light source satisfies the light intensity conditions that are suitable for the harvest time of the plant.

10. The plant management device according to claim 9, wherein the light intensity conditions are predetermined within a range that can maintain the predetermined quality of the plants.

11. The plant management device according to claim 1, wherein the environmental control unit controls the environmental control equipment so that, if the yield after renewal is less than the yield before renewal, the growing period of the reduced number of cultivation shelves is longer, and the plants on the reduced number of cultivation shelves are adjusted to match the next harvest time which is later than the harvest time after renewal.

12. The determination unit determines the harvest time of the plant based on forecast information indicating at least one of the predicted market price of the plant and the predicted demand for the plant. The environmental control unit controls environmental control equipment that controls the environment within the plant factory where the plants are cultivated so that the plants can be harvested at the harvest time. Equipped with, The aforementioned determination step, if the prediction information is updated, further determines the harvest time and yield of the plant after renewal based on the updated prediction information. The aforementioned control step involves controlling the environmental control equipment so that, if the yield after renewal is greater than the yield before renewal, the growing period of the increased cultivation shelves is shorter than the growing period of the existing controlled cultivation shelves, thereby adjusting so that the plants can be harvested at the same post-renewal harvest time in both the existing controlled cultivation shelves and the increased cultivation shelves.

13. A step of determining the harvest time of the plants based on forecast information indicating at least one of the predicted market price of the plants cultivated in the plant factory and the predicted demand for the plants, A step of controlling environmental control equipment that controls the environment within a plant factory where the plants are cultivated so that the plants can be harvested at the aforementioned harvest time. Have the computer run it, The aforementioned determination step, if the prediction information is updated, further determines the harvest time and yield of the plant after renewal based on the updated prediction information. The control step is a program that, if the yield after the update is greater than the yield before the update, controls the environmental control equipment so that the growing period of the increased cultivation shelves is shorter than the growing period of the existing controlled cultivation shelves, thereby adjusting so that the plants can be harvested at the same post-update harvest time in both the existing controlled cultivation shelves and the increased cultivation shelves.

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