Recipient Organization
HAWAII INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGIES LLC
780 YOUNG ST
HILO,HI 96720
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Project Summary This project presents a revolutionary consumer product for fresh vegetable and fruit production by adopting cell bionics theory into the innovative Grow Cell technology, a novel, world-first, cutting-edge technology for the Phase-I USDA SBIR Small and Mid-Size Farms Topic 8.12 - Research Priorities: Urban Farming. Traditional urban farming and conventional hydroponics encounter vital challenges, including limited farmland and vegetable yield, dependence on energy support systems, root rot problems, and the inability to cultivate various vegetables and plants. After more than four years of studies on resolving those vital problems, we achieved a promising Grow Cell technology that enables safe, cost-effective, and sustainable cultivation of more than 80 fresh vegetables and fruits in just over one square foot area. This technology potentially revolutionizes urban farming, school lunch programs, and household gardening in high-rise buildings. The Phase-I research and development objectives entail (1) standardizing real-sized designs of Hydro Grow Cell for plastic injection molding and (2) creating functional real-sized prototypes of Hydro Grow Cell for the intended consumer product to establish a robust technological foundation for further development and full-scale commercialization in subsequent phases. The potential market of Hydro Grow Cell consumer products is extensive, and it will significantly mitigate the demands for fresh foods from almost all sectors of the economy. Hydro Grow Cell is scalable for multiple urban farming markets to meet the increasing demands for safe, sustainable, environmentally friendly, and abundant oganic fresh food production.
Animal Health Component
25%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
15%
Applied
25%
Developmental
60%
Goals / Objectives
Technical ObjectivesUpon the completion of Phase-I R&D, this SBIR will achieve the following objectives:1. Achieve the final design for growing cartridge in shape, size, and volume, one of the critical components of the Hydro Grow Cell. This component will provide the standard specifications for manufacturing the growing cartridges.2. Achieve the final design for the primary and stage reservoirs in shapes, sizes, and volumes and establish the base for safely using Hydro Grow Cell. These components ensure the reservoirs hold water securely and provide optimal plant growth conditions.3. Complete the fabrication of the Wick water dripping system to safeguard moisture and prevent saturation in the growing cartridge.4. Complete the design of the growing chamber, stage reservoir, primary reservoir, cap, and climbing frame. This objective is to finalize all components of the Hydro Grow Cell, the intended consumer product, to ensure functionality and ease of use.5. Complete the overall assembly design with solar, pump, and organic fertilizer nylon bag filter and produce functional 3D models of Hydro Grow Cell for casting food-grade plastic injection molding. This objective involves integrating the different components into the final design for the intended consumer product.6. Develop a preliminary marketing strategy and plan for Hydro Grow Cell and outline the marketing penetration strategy for Phase II and III development. This objective includes conducting preliminary market research, identifying target customers, and developing a preliminary plan to promote the Hydro Grow Cell.7. Complete the Phase-I final report. The final report will summarize the findings, outcomes, and progress made during Phase-I R&D. It will document the final design specifications, fabrication processes, marketing strategy, and other relevant details, providing a comprehensive overview of the Phase-I activities and preparing Phase-II activities.
Project Methods
The Hydro Grow Cell is a self-contained vertical cultivation system for fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers. It consists of one primary reservoir, up to 12 growing chambers and staged reservoirs, and one cap. Both sides of each growing chamber can cultivate up to 18 plants with 2-inch spacing, which can simultaneously plant 216 seeds in a single 12-staged Hydro Grow Cell. Regularly harvesting the young plants before they reach maturity involves trimming down every other plant. This practice creates additional space for the remaining 108 or fewer plants to mature fully.In a 7-staged system, 126 seeds can be planted, and 63 mature vegetables can be produced. The cut plants can be consumed as micro-greens or for other purposes, while their decomposing roots will become organic matter within the growing media.In the Hydro Grow Cell system, new seeds can be immediately replanted once the matured vegetables have been harvested, enabling continuous cultivation. This possibility advances the traditional seasonal growth and harvest cycle, allowing for constant fresh vegetable production within the average temperature year-round.By implementing this continuous production method, the Hydro Grow Cell optimizes cultivation efficiency and minimizes downtime between growth and harvest cycles. A new seed can be introduced as soon as a matured plant is harvested, ensuring a consistent fresh produce supply throughout the year. This feature is particularly beneficial for urban farming and household use, providing a reliable source of daily fresh vegetables regardless of seasonal limitations.The Hydro Grow Cell's ability to maintain a continuous harvest cycle contributes to its cost-effectiveness. Additionally, the system requires minimal effort to replace the growing cartridges, as the designated nylon bag filter can hold additional organic fertilizers and provide nutrients in the circulation stream, which further enhances the efficiency of year-round cultivation and makes organic fresh vegetable production possible, which is difficult for conventional hydroponics.The Hydro Grow Cell instantly becomes an excellent growing environment when water fills each growing stage through the solar pump. Although external LED light attachments are necessary for optimal indoor cultivation of fresh vegetables, it is not the focus of this SBIR since many consumer products are widely available for recommendation.The Hydro Grow Cell is an enclosed growing environment; its reservoirs are not exposed to the outside; therefore, it conserves water. Usually, when filled with water, the primary reservoir should have enough water to support the growing cycle. However, additional water should be manually added when a 1/3 low water level warning is reached.The first research development task is to create molding designs for the components of the Hydro Grow Cell. Food-grade PP plastic will be used to cast all separate parts of the Hydro Grow Cell. When the machine-made moldings are standardized, the Hawaii Innovations & Technologies facility and personnel will assemble components and package the Hydro Grow Cell in Hawaii during the Phase II and III developments.The first Phase-I research development outcome will be a real-sized prototype for the intended consumer product. This prototype will conclude Phase-I research development upon passing strength, leaking, stability, and water flow tests satisfactorily.During the fabrication of the prototypes by a selected company, Hawaii Innovations & Technologies LLC will standardize the design with the solar-powered circulation system of the Hydro Grow Cell. During the fourth and fifth months of this Phase-I project, the final version of the prototype should be available for cultivation testing.