Four engineers have created a 2,500-square-foot autonomous greenhouse in Marion County that can produce 16 tons of leafy greens and herbs annually with the goal of making farming more efficient and cost-effective.
The greenhouse built in Hubbard is equipped with machines that handle the planting, transplanting, sorting, crop monitoring and harvesting with little to no human interaction. It also provides an alternative for minimizing environmental footprint.
Predator insects are released in the greenhouse for biological control of pests that can damage or eat the crop. The engineers also use reusable plastics instead of one-use plastic.
They say there is a possibility their greenhouse could grow more than herbs and leafy greens, including some vine-ripened foods such as dwarf strawberries and peppers.
Read more at Statesman Journal.