Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DREAM (Dynamic Regulation of photosynthEsis in light-Acclimated organisMs)
Reporting period: 2023-04-01 to 2024-09-30
Today, the agricultural sector is under increasing pressure to feed a growing global population while minimizing its environmental impact and preserving natural resources. It has become evident that innovative technologies are needed to improve resource management, particularly in ensuring that photosynthetic organisms receive optimal conditions for their health and productivity while avoiding unnecessary resource consumption.
In response to these challenges, the EU-funded project DREAM proposes science-based technologies that aim to study the specific needs of plants and provide cultivation protocols that optimize indoor production. The project focuses on introducing innovation in lighting systems, scientific instruments, and data processing. The ultimate goal is to promote the widespread adoption of controlled environments, such as greenhouses, vertical farms, and indoor gardens, for plant production, enabling more efficient resource utilization and reducing the environmental impact.
Since 2022, the DREAM researchers have been actively studying and harnessing the complex network of processes that regulate photosynthesis. It is now understood that photosynthetic organisms, including plants and algae, respond and adapt to various environmental factors, such as temperature, drought, CO2 concentration, and light quality and quantity, in intricate ways. Recent scientific advancements have shifted the understanding of photosynthesis regulation from a static and simplified view to a more dynamic and complex one.
In response to these challenges, the EU-funded project DREAM proposes science-based technologies that aim to study the specific needs of plants and provide cultivation protocols that optimize indoor production. The project focuses on introducing innovation in lighting systems, scientific instruments, and data processing. The ultimate goal is to promote the widespread adoption of controlled environments, such as greenhouses, vertical farms, and indoor gardens, for plant production, enabling more efficient resource utilization and reducing the environmental impact.
Since 2022, the DREAM researchers have been actively studying and harnessing the complex network of processes that regulate photosynthesis. It is now understood that photosynthetic organisms, including plants and algae, respond and adapt to various environmental factors, such as temperature, drought, CO2 concentration, and light quality and quantity, in intricate ways. Recent scientific advancements have shifted the understanding of photosynthesis regulation from a static and simplified view to a more dynamic and complex one.
The DREAM project is making significant strides in advancing biosensing and plant science technologies, with exciting new results from its latest phase. Researchers have developed sophisticated methods for kinetic fingerprinting to detect stress in plants like C. reinhardtii and A. thaliana, using kinetic data and Bode plots to refine sensing protocols. In parallel, breakthroughs in energy-efficient lighting have been achieved, including models for oscillatory illumination, experiments with duckweed, and ultra-fast multisinewave lighting sequences capable of 100 kHz modulation. These innovations optimize light usage while supporting advanced plant growth and monitoring techniques.
Progress in miniaturized data acquisition is equally promising, with new DREAM prototypes that include low-cost imaging protocols and light calibration methods to ensure consistent monitoring in controlled environments. Additionally, cutting-edge nanosensors for oxygen, pH, and CO2 tracking continue to evolve, demonstrating precise environmental monitoring capabilities for applications in microalgae research.
DREAM’s R&D efforts have also delivered functional imaging prototypes designed for acquiring kinetic fingerprints, further aligning with the project’s ambitious goals.
Progress in miniaturized data acquisition is equally promising, with new DREAM prototypes that include low-cost imaging protocols and light calibration methods to ensure consistent monitoring in controlled environments. Additionally, cutting-edge nanosensors for oxygen, pH, and CO2 tracking continue to evolve, demonstrating precise environmental monitoring capabilities for applications in microalgae research.
DREAM’s R&D efforts have also delivered functional imaging prototypes designed for acquiring kinetic fingerprints, further aligning with the project’s ambitious goals.
The DREAM project envisions the development of new sensors and modulated lighting tools to enhance the cultivation of plants and algae. The goal is to improve the understanding of photosynthetic performance and optimize resource usage, such as water, nutrients, and pesticides. By implementing the DREAM farming protocols, end users like farmers, foresters, and gardeners will be able to reduce their environmental impact and move towards more sustainable practices.
The miniaturized device developed by DREAM will utilize modulated illumination to capture and analyze the response of photosynthesis regulation in microalgae and plants. The collected kinetic data will be processed on a server using non-linear system identification and control techniques. The server will benefit from the participation of multiple end users, allowing it to gather kinetic information from various organisms and environmental conditions. This collective data will enable the server to provide selective categorization of physiological status and deliver optimized lighting protocols.
By implementing DREAM's protocols, end users will not only reduce their water, nutrient, pesticide, and energy demands but also receive plant-specific protocols for selective sensing and optimized lighting. The DREAM server will play a crucial role in developing these protocols and will be open to academia and citizens for research purposes even after the project concludes.
In the long term, the DREAM project aims to revolutionize indoor cultivation by creating ideal environments for plant and microalgae growth, minimizing resource waste and protecting against adverse outdoor conditions. The implementation of smart sensing and optimized lighting through DREAM can help boost controlled environment agriculture, making it more sustainable, efficient, and resilient to the effects of climate change.
The miniaturized device developed by DREAM will utilize modulated illumination to capture and analyze the response of photosynthesis regulation in microalgae and plants. The collected kinetic data will be processed on a server using non-linear system identification and control techniques. The server will benefit from the participation of multiple end users, allowing it to gather kinetic information from various organisms and environmental conditions. This collective data will enable the server to provide selective categorization of physiological status and deliver optimized lighting protocols.
By implementing DREAM's protocols, end users will not only reduce their water, nutrient, pesticide, and energy demands but also receive plant-specific protocols for selective sensing and optimized lighting. The DREAM server will play a crucial role in developing these protocols and will be open to academia and citizens for research purposes even after the project concludes.
In the long term, the DREAM project aims to revolutionize indoor cultivation by creating ideal environments for plant and microalgae growth, minimizing resource waste and protecting against adverse outdoor conditions. The implementation of smart sensing and optimized lighting through DREAM can help boost controlled environment agriculture, making it more sustainable, efficient, and resilient to the effects of climate change.