Vertical farming facility with cultivation compartments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vertical farming facility (20) with a first facility wall (22), wherein a plurality of cultivation compartments (C) for cultivating plants (2') therein are connected to the first facility wall (22), wherein each cultivation compartment (C) comprises a light source and a nutrient source.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title

[0003] Vertical farming facility with cultivation compartments

[0004] Background

[0005] The present invention relates to a system for transporting a robot head in a vertical farming facility, wherein plants can be cultivated. Traditionally, plants are grown by farmers by way of field cultivation. For this purpose, specific atmospheric conditions are indispensable for successful cultivation. In particular, the soil must be rich in humus and hence provide sufficient amounts of nutrients. Furthermore, the soil as well as the ambient air must provide enough humidity so as to promote plant growth. Moreover, adequate radiation must be ensured. In addition and importantly, plant cultivation is inextricably linked to a provision of sufficient acreage.

[0006] The global population and therefore the demand for sufficient food is increasing incessantly. At the same time - among others due to anthropogenic industrial emissions and other human interferences in the natural planetary systems over the course of globalization - the climate is subject to long-term changes, especially to unfavorable changes from the standpoint of plant cultivation: Heat waves and water scarcity, but also a lack of soil nutrients as a consequence of monocultural farming et cetera are some of the challenging phenomena and examples for the deterioration of cultivation conditions that farmers are currently faced with and most likely will be confronted with on a regular basis in the future. According to scientific disclosures the adverse agricultural conditions will subsist and the challenging phenomena will occur even more frequently, when steady, predictable and controllable cultivation conditions are actually required for optimal agricultural outputs.

[0007] One approach in solving this problem can be found in the so-called inhouse or vertical farming technologies of growing crops in vertically stacked layers arranged inside buildings, containers or the like. This technology incorporates controlled-environment agriculture in order to optimize plant growth and to increase crop yield and goes along with a smaller cropland. Furthermore, vertical farming enables a decrease of human interference in the cultivation process due to automatization which increases the overall performance since machines don’t need sleep or vacation and are not affected by sentiment fluctuations and thus are much less prone to errors. Automatization is expected to increase over time along with developments in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Also, vertical farming goes hand in hand with the benefit of reducing transportation efforts since the cultivation can be carried out in urban territories, close to consumers, thereby rendering pollutive and costly shipments superfluous.However, a current drawback of this approach is that vertical farming is associated with tremendous energy consumption compared to classical field cultivation due to the fact that lighting, climate control and nutrients must be provided entirely by technical means. Consequently, vertical farming can only be a solution to the afore-mentioned challenges when energy consumption and costs are reduced and degree of automation as well as crop yield are increased significantly.

[0008] Furthermore, vertical farming is usually or at least often practiced within containers. However, a container provides limited volume and therefore limited planting area. A limited planting area in turn constitutes a limitation in the yield of a single container.

[0009] Disclosure of the invention

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an optimized vertical farming facility that addresses at least some of the above-mentioned challenges and drawbacks.

[0011] The object of the present invention is achieved by a vertical farming facility with a first facility wall, wherein a plurality of cultivation compartments for cultivating plants therein are connected to the first facility wall, wherein each cultivation compartment comprises a light source and a nutrient source.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible to increase the total planting area within a vertical farming facility / container. Conventionally, containers comprise a planting section and a working section. The planting section comprises planting walls for cultivating plants therein and / or thereon. The working section on the other hand usually comprises a nursery station that normally includes at least a table, bench or the like, the nursery station being used for instance for processing plants, storing tools for the facility etc. In other words, traditionally, the working section remains unused or too little used for the cultivation of plants which reduces the maximally possible yield of a container. According to the invention, it is advantageously possible to use the working section for planting and cultivating further plants within the inventive cultivational compartments. In yet other words, the total planting area of a container can be enhanced by using practically the entirety of the container or at least more sections than the planting section for the cultivation of plants. This increases the harvested amount of crop / plants per container, that is the yield of a container, and therefore constitutes an optimized vertical farming facility.

[0013] A compartment within the meaning of the present invention is a clearly defined section, domain or volume within the vertical farming facility. All cultivation compartments can be the same in size, cross section and material. However, it is also conceivable that different cultivation compartments have different sizes, cross sections and materials. Preferably, acompartment is accessible from at least one side of the facility or container. Moreover, preferably, a compartment is covered or materially limited on at least two sides, for instance by means of lateral walls, a compartment ceiling, a compartment bottom, a compartment back wall or any combination thereof. The material limitation, that is the lateral walls, the compartment ceiling, the compartment bottom and the compartment back wall can comprise respectively perforations or recesses for the provision of mass and energy to the corresponding cultivation compartment or for the fluidic and / or electrical / electronic connection of the cultivation compartments. Furthermore, the multiple cultivation compartments can be respectively one-piece elements and connected to each other mechanically by means of connecting elements. Alternatively or additionally, some or all cultivation compartments can be formed as a single piece element, that is monolithically. It is conceivable that the cultivation compartments are made of a metal, especially a light metal such as aluminum. It is also conceivable that the cultivation compartments are made of an alloy or a polymer / plastic. The advantage of plastic compartments is easy cleanability, little weight and few costs. As a light source, an LED is preferable, particularly a controllable LED. It is also conceivable that each cultivation compartment comprises an arrangement and / or a system of multiple light sources. Furthermore, a nutrient source within the meaning of the invention can be a supply pipe or a technical system with multiple supply pipes, wherein the system provides to the respective cultivation compartment water or a water solution with nutrients therein for the growth of plants. Moreover, the cultivation compartments can be movably connected to the first facility wall. Preferably, the cultivation compartments are translationally movable, for instance parallel to the first facility wall. It is thereby advantageously possible to move the cultivation compartments for transplanting and harvesting purposes close to a robot or actuator and consequently to save motion / energy of the robot or actuator that fills and empties the cultivation compartments with plants and / or plant receptacles. The movability of the cultivation compartments is also advantageous as temporary space can be created for staff when the robot needs maintenance or the container in general needs cleaning etc.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least two cultivation compartments -that are preferably box-shaped - are arranged in a stacked manner and / or flush on top of each other. A box within the meaning of the invention is a cuboid, especially a rectangular cuboid. Cuboidal compartments have the advantage of easily stacking / arranging one compartment on another. As a result, multiple compartments can be connected to each other easily and safely. Also, a stack of cultivation compartments has the advantage of a compact and high-density arrangement, which saves volume within the container and therefore increases the maximally possible yield / efficiency / productivity. For instance, six cultivation compartments can be arranged on each other, the six cultivation compartments constituting a stack. Multiple, for example three, stack can be arranged next to each other, that is besideone another. Consequently, an arrangement of cultivation compartments can be provided that can be arranged in the working section, for instance next to or opposite to or above of the nursery station. The stacks can extend from a facility floor up to a facility ceiling for optimally using the volume or space within the container. It is also conceivable to remove the nursery station from the container or to provide a container without a nursery station in order to increase the planting area. Furthermore, cultivation compartments that are arranged flush on top of each other have the advantage of a more compact arrangement as opposed to cultivation compartments that are - for instance - on top of each other but displaced or offset at different heights of the stack; the latter arrangement would go along with lateral protrusions that can be avoided by a flush arrangement.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the facility comprises a facility ceiling and a facility floor,

[0016] wherein the light source of a cultivation compartment is arranged in an upper section of the corresponding cultivation compartment facing the facility ceiling,

[0017] wherein the nutrient source of cultivation compartment is arranged in a lower section of the corresponding cultivation compartment facing the facility floor. Each cultivation compartment can have a cavity or internal volume for cultivating plants therein. A cross section of the cavity or internal volume can be rectangular, especially square or quadratic. The cavity or internal volume itself can be also cuboidal, the upper section and the lower section of a cultivation compartment being respectively half a cuboid and therefore also a cuboid respectively. The light source of a cultivation compartment can be connected to the compartment ceiling by means of bolts.

[0018] Preferably, each cultivation compartment comprises an opening with an opening area, wherein the opening area is parallel or perpendicular to the first facility wall. Preferably all opening areas are parallel to each other, wherein each opening area is especially coplanar. However, it is also conceivable that some opening areas are parallel and some further opening areas are perpendicular to the first facility wall. For example, 50% of the opening areas can be parallel to the first facility wall and 50% of the opening areas can be perpendicular to the first facility wall. Due to different orientations of the opening areas the cultivation compartments can be filled from different directions. The first facility wall can be parallel to planting walls of the vertical farming facility.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each cultivation compartment comprises a seedling tray for the cultivation of plants therein. The seedling trays can have a rectangular shape. Furthermore, the seedling trays can comprise a tray material. Preferably, the tray material is a foam. Apertures can be formed in the tray material, wherein plants and / or plants receptacles can be transplanted into and / or harvested from. Plant receptaclescan be arranged in the seedling trays also without a foam or another tray material for positioning and mechanically stabilizing the plant receptacles with plants therein. Moreover, the vertical farming facility can be configured such that nutrients are supplied to the seedling trays manually, for instance from a liquid reservoir, for example using a lever. However, the nutrients can also be provided automatically to the seedling trays by means of one or multiple pipes. A seedling tray can be loosely placed into the cultivation compartment and / or connected to the cultivation compartment for a higher stability. The seedling trays can be moved from their respective cultivation compartments to a nursery station within the container - especially after the plants are ripe, that is when the plants are to be harvested - by means of a robot. The nursery station can serve as or be identical as a harvesting station. Seedling trays provide the advantage of cultivating plants therein just the same way as in traditional agriculture, meaning that plants can be placed / inserted inside the trays, so to speak, vertically. As a result, the plants can be exposed directly to a light source arranged right above them. Consequently, in seedling trays within cultivation compartments, traditional cultivation conditions from agriculture can be easily emulated / generated.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cultivation compartments are connected to the first facility wall indirectly by means of a common connecting means. All cultivation compartments can be formed as one block, the block being connected to the first facility wall by means of the common connecting means. The common connecting means can comprise electrical / electronical connections, a control unit as well as one or multiple fluidic connections to the outside world. In other words, the common connecting means can serve as an intermediate element. For that purpose, the common connecting means can be formed and / or configured like an electric cabinet.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the facility comprises a robot for gripping, handling or manipulating a plant, plant receptacle and / or a seedling tray, wherein a distance is formed between the cultivation compartments and a facility floor. The robot and parts connected to it, for instance a horizontally arranged cantilever, can be freely moved within the facility, also underneath the compartments, without the risk of collisions. In other words, the cantilever can be arranged parallel to the facility floor. The robot preferably is connected to the first facility wall and in the direct vicinity of the cultivation compartments. From such an arrangement, the advantage arises that the compartments can be easily and quickly filled with plants and / or plant seedlings and also quickly emptied when the ripe plants are to be harvested. A distance between the cultivation compartments and the facility floor also renders maintenance and cleaning within the container easier.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the facility comprises a second facility wall, the second facility wall being arranged preferably opposite and parallel to the first facility wall,wherein a harvesting station is arranged at the second facility wall for temporary storage of harvested plants. The harvesting station can comprise seedling trays wherein harvested plants can be stored and, if need be, further processed. The robot can move the seedling trays to the harvesting station. Nursery station and harvesting station can be identical or the same.

[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the harvesting station comprises shelves and / or box-shaped harvesting compartments. The harvesting compartments can be the same as cultivation compartments, especially in their size and material. This way, manufacturing costs of both types of compartments can be decreased due to a higher number of total quantity produced. The cultivation compartments connected to the first facility wall and the harvesting compartments connected to the second facility wall can both extend towards an internal volume of the facility or container. Between the cultivation compartments and the harvesting compartments, a corridor can be formed. The corridor allows for easy accessibility of the container or its internal volume while using - by means of the cultivation and harvesting compartments - much space in the working section for cultivation and harvesting of plants and / or plant receptacles. The corridor preferably allows for easy accessibility for any kind of maintenance and cleaning purposes.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cultivation compartments are manufactured by means of 3D printing or additive manufacturing, and are particularly made of a plastic.

[0025] These and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. The description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

[0026] Brief description of the drawings

[0027] Figure 1 illustrates schematically a first embodiment of a vertical farming facility according to the present invention in a perspective view.

[0028] Figure 2 illustrates schematically the first embodiment from figure 1 in a front view.

[0029] Figure 3 illustrates schematically a second embodiment of a vertical farming facility according to the present invention in a perspective view.Figure 4 illustrates schematically a third embodiment of a vertical farming facility according to the present invention in a top view.

[0030] Figure 5 illustrates schematically a robot head holding a plant receptacle with a plant therein in a side view.

[0031] Detailed description

[0032] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes.

[0033] Where an indefinite or definite article is used when referring to a singular noun, e.g. “a”, “an”, “the”, this includes a plural of that noun unless something else is specifically stated.

[0034] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described and / or illustrated herein. In figure 1 , a first embodiment of a vertical farming facility 20 according to the present invention is illustrated schematically in a perspective view. The vertical farming facility 20 according to figure 1 is configured as a container 20, wherein a part of the container 20 is not shown.

[0035] The vertical farming facility 20 comprises a planting section P and a working section W. The planting section P comprises multiple planting walls 20’ for cultivating plants 2’ therein and / or thereon. For that purpose, also plant receptacles 2 with plants 2’ therein can be inserted or transplanted into the planting walls 20’. The planting walls 20’ are arranged parallel to each other which can be best seen in figure 2. An actuator 1 or robot 1 can transplant plants 2’ and / or plant receptacles 2 into the planting walls 20’. Traditionally, planting, cultivation and harvesting takes place in the planting section P. For a high yield of ripe plants 2’, the use of a maximum planting area on the planting walls 20’ is preferable. Therefore, although it is not visible in figure 1, usually the planting section P is relatively large / long with respect to the working section W.

[0036] The planting area provided by the planting walls 20’ is limited. Therefore, the planting area can be enhanced by creating new planting areas, for instance in the working section W. The working section W usually comprises a nursery station and / or a harvesting station, whereinharvested plants 2’ can be stored and processed. The nursery station and the harvesting station can be identical, that is the nursery station can be used as a harvesting station. The working section W uses space within the container 20 that otherwise could be used for the planting and cultivation of plants 2’. Therefore, according to the embodiment in figure 1, the container 20 comprises a plurality of cultivation compartments C for cultivating plants 2’ therein. This way, the total planting area as well as the yield of the container 20 can be increased as compared with a container 20, wherein plants 2’ are only cultivated in the planting section P.

[0037] The cultivation compartments C as shown in figure 1 and according to the first embodiment are box-shaped and arranged one on another in three stacks. In total, the container 20 according to the first embodiment comprises 18 cultivation compartments C that provide planting area in addition to the planting area provided by the planting walls 20’. The cultivation compartments C are configured as one block and unmovably connected to the first facility wall 22 by means of a common connecting means M.

[0038] The cultivation compartments C are arranged next to a front side F of the container 20. Each cultivation compartment C comprises an opening with a corresponding opening area, the openings and opening areas facing away from the front side F of the container 20. Due to the perspective view shown in figure 1 , the openings cannot be seen. Likewise, due to the perspective illustrated in figure 1, plants 2’ and plant receptacles 2 that are being cultivated in the cultivation compartments C cannot be seen in figure 1; they are arranged inside the cultivation compartments C. Each cultivation compartment C comprises five walls. In other words, the cultivation compartments C are closed apart from the location in which the respective opening is arranged.

[0039] Furthermore, the cultivation compartments C are arranged in the vicinity of the robot / actuator 1. The actuator 1 faces the openings and as a result, the cultivation compartments C can be filled and emptied easily and quickly, thereby saving time and energy. All in all, by using the working section W for the cultivation of plants 2’ within cultivation compartments C, additional planting area can be created and the yield increased.

[0040] Between a lowest part of the block (of cultivation compartments C) and a facility floor 24, a distance D is formed which can be more easily seen in figure 2. The distance D helps the actuator 1 move easily and without collisions underneath the cultivation compartments C. Each cultivation compartment C comprises a light source and a nutrient source, both not being visible in the figures. The light sources used in the shown figures are controllable LEDs. As a nutrient, a water solution is used.The common connecting means M is schematically shown as a box-shaped element and provides mechanical connection of the block (of cultivation compartments C) to the first facility wall 22. Furthermore, the common connecting means M provides electrical / electronical as well as fluidic connection to the cultivation compartments C, that is to the light sources and nutrient sources.

[0041] Figure 2 illustrates schematically the first embodiment from figure 1 in a front view. Figure 2 can be taken that the vertical farming facility 20 comprises a second facility wall 26 that is arranged parallel to and opposite of the first facility wall 22. As will be shown and described hereinafter, in figure 3 and figure 4, a harvesting station 28 can be arranged at the second facility wall 26 for temporary storage of harvested plants 2’.

[0042] Figure 3 illustrates schematically a second embodiment of a vertical farming facility 20 according to the present invention in a perspective view. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment (shown in the figures 1 and 2) particularly in that the second embodiment comprises an additional harvesting station 28 and in that the cultivation compartments C are arranged in a different manner than in the first embodiment.

[0043] The harvesting station 28 serves for temporary storage of harvested plants 2’ and / or plant receptacles 2, particularly after harvesting. For that purpose, the actuator 1 can transport plants 2’ and / or plant receptacles 2 - especially in seedling trays but also individually without seedling trays - from the cultivation compartments C and / or the planting walls 20’ and place them onto shelves 28’ of the harvesting station 28. Six shelves 28’ are connected to the second facility wall 26. They are arranged horizontally, that is parallel to the facility floor 24. The second embodiment of the invention shown in figure 3 comprises also eighteen cultivation compartments C. However, they are arranged in a different manner. While the first embodiment comprises three stacks of cultivation compartments C with six cultivation compartments C per stack, the second embodiment comprises six stacks of cultivation compartments C with three cultivation compartments C per stack. As a result, the second embodiment comprises a flatter arrangement of cultivation compartments C. Furthermore, the openings of the cultivation compartments C according to the second embodiment are facing an internal volume of the container 20 and the harvesting station 28. In other words, opening areas of the openings of the second embodiment are arranged parallel to the first facility wall 22 and the second facility wall 26 and perpendicular to the front side F of the container 20. The common connecting means M is still connected to the first facility wall 22, as in a third embodiment of the invention shown in figure 4.

[0044] A third embodiment of a vertical farming facility 20 according to the present invention is illustrated schematically in a top view in figure 4. The third embodiment differs from the secondembodiment (shown in figure 3) in that the harvesting station 28 comprises harvesting compartments 28”. The third embodiment does not comprise any shelves 28’. However, the harvesting station 28 can comprise a combination of shelves 28’ and harvesting compartments 28”. The harvesting compartments 28” are configured like the cultivation compartments C. Both compartment types C, 28” are box-shaped with one opening respectively. Opening areas of the harvesting compartments 28’ and opening areas of the cultivation compartments C face each other and are parallel to each other. The harvesting compartments 28” provide plenty of storage space as they extend strongly into an internal volume of the container 20 and towards the cultivation compartments C. Due to the proximity between the harvesting compartments 28’ and the cultivation compartments C, the actuator / robot 1 can energy-effi-ciently and quickly transport plants 2’ and / or plant receptacles 2 with plants 2’ therein from the cultivation compartments C to the harvesting compartments 28’.

[0045] Between the cultivation compartments C and the harvesting compartments 28” a corridor is formed. The corridor is represented by a dashed line in figure 4 and provides access to the container 20 for staff for cleaning and maintenance purposes and the like.

[0046] Figure 5 illustrates schematically a robot head T holding a plant receptacle 2 with a plant 2’ therein in a side view. The plant 2’ and the plant receptacle 2 are shown schematically and only as an example. The plant 2’ is arranged in a largely elongated plant receptacle 2. The plant receptacle 2 comprises a base element 2” that is made of polyethylene but it is conceivable to employ other plastics or a biodegradable material as raw material for the production of the plant receptacle 2. The base element 2” forms a cavity 2’” at an inward direction of the base element 2” wherein - along with the plant 2’ - a potting compost can be filled. The plant 2’ is protruding at least partly beyond a head section 2”” of the plant receptacle 2. Furthermore, the plant receptacle 2 comprises recesses one of which is visible in figure 5. By means of recesses material can be saved and hence also weight and costs. Most importantly, recesses enable advantageously the provision of water or a water solution that comprises nutrients to the plant 2’ and the potting compost. Moreover, a circumferential rim 9 is formed at a higher end of the plant receptacle 2. The rim 9 extends outwardly from all sides of the base element 2” and is protruding the base element 2”.

[0047] The robot head T in figure 5 is shown in a release position, meaning that a first gripping element 3 and a second gripping element 4 are spaced apart from one another in a direction parallel to the dotted dash line shown in figure 5. The first gripping element 3 is movably configured and serves as an upper gripping element, whereas the second gripping element 4 is non-movable and acts as a bottom gripping element. The wording release position refers in other words to the circumstance that the rim 9 is not clamped between two first lateral holding arms 3’ of the first gripping element 3 and two second lateral holding arms 4’ of thesecond gripping element 4. A gap is rather formed between the head section 2”” and the two first lateral holding arms 3’ while the second lateral holding arms 4’ support the rim 9 at two opposing sides of the plant receptacle 2, the second lateral holding arms 4’ each supporting a rim portion 9’. The rim portion 9 can be clamped by moving the two first lateral holding arms 3’ towards the two second lateral holding arms 4’.List of reference signs

[0048] 1 Actuator, robot

[0049] 1’ Robot head

[0050] 2 Plant receptacle

[0051] 2’ Plant

[0052] 2” Base element

[0053] 2”’ Cavity

[0054] 2”” Head section

[0055] 3 First gripping element

[0056] 3’ First lateral holding arm

[0057] 4 Second gripping element

[0058] 4’ Second lateral holding arm

[0059] 9 Circumferential rim

[0060] 9’ Rim portion

[0061] 20 Vertical farming facility, container 20’ Planting wall

[0062] 22 First facility wall

[0063] 24 Facility floor

[0064] 26 Second facility wall

[0065] 28 Harvesting station

[0066] 28’ Shelf

[0067] 28” Harvesting compartment

[0068] C Cultivation compartment

[0069] D Distance

[0070] F Front side of the container

[0071] M Common connecting means

[0072] P Planting section

[0073] W Working section

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS1. Vertical farming facility (20) with a first facility wall (22), wherein a plurality of cultivation compartments (C) for cultivating plants (2’) therein are connected to the first facility wall (22), wherein each cultivation compartment (C) comprises a light source and a nutrient source.

2. Vertical farming facility (20) according to claim 1, wherein at least two cultivation compartments (C) - that are preferably box-shaped - are arranged in a stacked manner and / or flush on top of each other.

3. Vertical farming facility (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the facility (20) comprises a facility ceiling (23) and a facility floor (24),wherein the light source of a cultivation compartment (C) is arranged in an upper section of the corresponding cultivation compartment (C) facing the facility ceiling (23),wherein the nutrient source of cultivation compartment (C) is arranged in a lower section of the corresponding cultivation compartment (C) facing the facility floor (24).

4. Vertical farming facility (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each cultivation compartment (C) comprises an opening with an opening area, wherein the opening area is parallel or perpendicular to the first facility wall (22).

5. Vertical farming facility (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each cultivation compartment (C) comprises a seedling tray for the cultivation of plants therein.

6. Vertical farming facility (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cultivation compartments (C) are connected to the first facility wall (22) indirectly by means of a common connecting means (M).

7. Vertical farming facility (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the facility (20) comprises a robot (R) for gripping, handling or manipulating a plant (2’), plant receptacle (2) and / or a seedling tray, wherein a distance is formed between the cultivation compartments (C) and a facility floor (24).

8. Vertical farming facility (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the facility (20) comprises a second facility wall (26), the second facility wall (26) being arranged preferably opposite and parallel to the first facility wall (22), wherein a harvesting station (28) is arranged at the second facility wall (26) for temporary storage of harvested plants (2’).

9. Vertical farming facility (20) according to claim 8, wherein the harvesting station (28) comprises shelves (28’) and / or box-shaped harvesting compartments (28”).

10. Vertical farming facility (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cultivation compartments (C) are manufactured by means of 3D printing or additive manufacturing, and are particularly made of a plastic.

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