Modular hydroponics farm wins Vertical Farming Design Challenge

A hydroponic ‘modular farm’ project has been named the winner of element14’s Vertical Farming Design Challenge. The contest invited 15 engineers to create sustainable, IoT-enabled indoor farming solutions that can translate to industrial food production practices around the world.

Entries were judged on originality, innovation, technical merit and the resulting crops. Participants used kits of IoT-enabled technologies from Silicon Labs and Würth Elektronik to build their projects, with support from experts at Green Spirit Farms and the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF), who helped guide challengers through the indoor growing and harvesting process.

Created by element14 member Jose Marques of Portugal, the modular farm features a simple, modular automated system to facilitate the indoor growth of fruits and vegetables. Based on hydroponics, the design employed a water-based, mineral nutrient solution (in place of soil) combined with a web-based monitoring system and renewable energy source.

“Jose showed a great approach to vertical farming, with step-by-step building instructions and detailed explanations,” said Simon Leuz, distribution sales manager at Würth Elektronik and one of the competition judges. “His modular farming project truly hits the target of what we thought the outcome should be.”

Marques’ project earned him the top prize — a military-grade portable solar power kit, the Nest Learning Thermostat, a Würth Elektronik Energy Harvesting Kit featuring the EFM32GG Giant Gecko M3 Kit from Silicon Labs and a $250 donation to the AVF in his name — valued at $2000.

The ‘automated greenhouse’ project from Michael Ratcliffe of the UK came in second place, and James O’Donnell of the US placed third for his ‘vertical hydroponics farm’. Ratcliffe will receive a foldable solar panel, a Nest Learning Thermostat and a $250 donation to the AFV in his name, while O’Donnell will receive a Nest Learning Thermostat and a $250 donation to the AFV in his name.

“element14 congratulates Jose and all of the other finalists who participated in the Vertical Farming Challenge,” said Dianne Kibbey, global head of community, element14. “The response to the competition has been overwhelming and we could not be more impressed with real-world applications and results of the submitted projects.”