AgriFoRwArdS student Emmanuel Soumo recently visited his industry partner, Crystal Heart Salad Company, who are completing a two-year InnovateUK project within their rather impressive experimental greenhouse. The InnovateUK project was closely aligned with Emmanuel’s MSc Project: A Data-Driven Approach for Optimal Control of Autonomous Greenhouse for Lettuce Growth.

James Bean and his team at Crystal Heart, alongside other project partners, held an event at the end of April, to showcase the project to researchers, potential users, and providers of complementary technology.
 
The event commenced with presentations to explain the thinking behind the design (a control system within the greenhouse), and in the afternoon there was plenty of time to look around the greenhouse, speak with the project partners, and to meet other guests (who were bristling with exciting thoughts and ideas).

Emmanuel highly valued his inclusion at the event, and had a productive conversation with a Crystal Heart Senior Engineer who was responsible for installing the control system in the greenhouse. They spoke in detail regarding the intelligent control strategies that Emmanuel is developing as part of his PhD research, and opportunities were identified for continued collaboration and future testing of Emmanuel’s PhD work.

The AgriFoRwArdS community, and student/industry collaboration, provides students with insights, skills, and confidence that is highly unique to CDTs. Advantages include: Real time plant monitoring; addressing real world challenges; mentorship and feedback from industry experts; internships and future employment opportunities, all whilst working together on 1 issue that ensures greater impact for both the industry collaborator and the student.

Find our more information about Emmanuel’s MSc and PhD projects on his profile.