Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IMEFraunhofer IME has many years of expertise in the cultivation of plants and fungi under controlled conditions (Controlled Environment Agriculture, CEA). With state-of-the-art infrastructure for cultivation and analysis, we create optimal conditions for practice-oriented research and innovative developments – particularly in the field of vertical farming.
Our focus is on addressing current issues along the entire value chain: from variety selection and conceptual design to monitoring and process optimization. We employ a wide range of cultivation methods – from traditional horizontal greenhouse systems to indoor farming in growth chambers and multi-level vertical farming systems.
With the platform technologies OrbiLoop® and OrbiPlant®, developed at Fraunhofer IME, we offer scalable, resource-efficient solutions for vertical plant cultivation. These innovative systems enable continuous production along a vertically guided conveyor belt while minimizing space and resource usage.
Our research priorities
Our work targets applications in various areas of plant and mushroom production – such as food and feed, medical purposes, and renewable raw materials. Our interdisciplinary research approach includes:
- Development and optimization of growth protocols
for a wide range of crops (leafy greens, vegetables, fruit plants, edible mushrooms, fungal mycelium, etc.) in indoor and vertical farming systems; including fertilizer screenings, light recipe tests (spectra and intensities), as well as invasive and non-invasive plant analytics. - Collection and analysis of production indicators
such as crop yield, production costs, and resource consumption. Development of scalable production scenarios based on the OrbiLoop® and OrbiPlant® systems. - Consulting for commercial use
of our OrbiLoop® and OrbiPlant® platform technologies, including licensing options for industrial partners. - In-process evaluation using computer vision
for data-driven monitoring and optimization of plant development. - Hybrid lighting technologies
for energy-efficient light supply. - Integration of vertical farming into urban architecture
with innovative concepts for sustainable urban development.
We are pleased to serve as a partner for research and development projects as well as for the implementation of scalable vertical farming solutions.