Integrating Smart Energy Management and Plant Science in Vertical Agriculture: A Demand Flexing Approach
Supervisors:
Matt Jones, School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Glasgow
Jethro Browell, COSE School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Glasgow
Rob Hancock, Cell an Molecular Sciences, The James Hutton Institute
Industry Partner: Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd
Summary:
Grow the Future: Smart Farming Meets Green Energy
Ever wondered how we'll feed a growing world while fighting climate change? This exciting PhD project puts you at the cutting edge of the solution – creating super-efficient indoor farms that work hand-in-hand with renewable energy!
What You'll Be Doing: Instead of traditional farming that depends on weather and seasons, you'll be working with vertical farms – think high-tech growing towers that can produce food anywhere, anytime. Your mission? Make them even smarter by teaching them to use electricity when it's cheapest and greenest, while still growing the best possible crops.
You'll discover how plants respond when we adjust their LED "sunlight" based on energy prices and availability. Can we dim the lights during peak hours and still get amazing tomatoes? Can we use specific colors of light to make vegetables more nutritious? You'll be the one finding out!
Why This Matters: Climate change is making traditional farming harder, while cities need more local food sources. Your research could help create farms that use renewable energy efficiently, reduce food miles, and grow nutritious food in urban areas – even in basements or abandoned warehouses.
What Makes This Cool:
- You'll work with cutting-edge LED systems and plant monitoring tech
- Learn to "speak" to plants through light and measure their responses
- Combine biology, technology, and sustainability in real-world applications
- Help solve actual problems facing our food system
- Build skills that make you incredibly employable in the booming agtech industry
Perfect For: Students passionate about sustainability, technology, and making a real difference. Whether you come from biology, engineering, environmental science, or related fields, this project offers hands-on experience with the farming methods that could feed our future.
Ready to grow the next generation of food systems?