Giuseppe Vacca, Co- Founder Eas Tibia S.r.L. Agricola
HOW WAS THE IDEA OF INVESTING IN A VERTICAL FARMING SYSTEM BORN?
The concept of hydroponic cultivation inside a container was born in 2022 from the idea of one of the partners -Stefano Pinna- who knows GREATIT, the company that supplied us with the DEMETRA container.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN ADVANTAGES OF A HYDROPONIC CULTIVATION SYSTEM PLACED INSIDE OF A RECYCLED CONTAINER?
The originality and advantages of this system of hydroponic cultivation are that within this structure it is possible to reproduce the ideal conditions for a specific crop.
WHAT DO YOU PRODUCE AND HOW ARE YIELDS?
With the cultivation of saffron we have managed to achieve two cycles indoors, and this year we expect to reach a third cycle. The yields have been better, if not quantitatively higher, than those of a cultivation in open field, in this case also with optimal organoleptic characteristics. Regarding hemp, cultivation is currently starting because the structure has only been completed a few months ago.
HOW DID THE PROCESS OF CUSTOMISATION OF THE SYSTEM DEMETRA DEVELOP TO ADAPT IT TO YOUR NEEDS?
The system was specifically planned with the company owner, Daniele Bertocchi, who proposed a 5-shelf container with a special type of LED lights, used for the cultivation of saffron indoors. The other customisation involved a complex structure composed of 8 containers made in series, with two cultivation platforms on each side, designed for the indoor cultivation of hemp.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER COULD BE USEFUL TO IMPROVE FURTHER?
The system is fully controlled by remote: humidity, temperature and lighting are adjustable directly from a tablet. The introduction of manual controls could make things easier should this system not work.
