IT201900019832A1 - SUBSTRATE FOR THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTS AND FUNCTIONAL FOODS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for industrial invention entitled "SUBSTRATE FOR THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTS AND FUNCTIONAL FOODS"

FIELD OF TECHNIQUE

The present invention is located in the sector of the cultivation of vegetable products.

In particular, the present invention relates to a support for the cultivation of vegetable products.

DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

Techniques that involve the cultivation of vegetables and / or vegetables are known and widely used to ensure their supply at each season, for example the technical notes of greenhouse cultivation.

Indoor soilless cultivation techniques are also increasingly widespread, for example in the home environment, including crops known as hydroponic crops, or aeroponic crops.

Soilless cultivation techniques use particular equipment, or growers, which define a controlled environment for the cultivation of plant products.

Both in greenhouse cultivation techniques and in growers, the seeds of the product to be grown are placed on a cultivation substrate followed by the germination and / or growth phases of the desired product.

The substrate comprises, for example, a soil or a matrix of natural and biodegradable fibers which is suitably irrigated and possibly added with fertilizers and / or biological fertilizers necessary for the vegetable product to germinate and mature.

The purpose of the invention is to propose a new system, alternative to known systems, for the cultivation of plant products in a controlled environment of easy and practical use, in particular in a system used in a domestic environment.

A further purpose of the invention is to propose a new system for the cultivation of plant products in a controlled environment that facilitates the use of the products by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention therefore refers to a substrate for the cultivation in a controlled environment of at least one vegetable product, in which said substrate comprises a quantity of water suitable for guaranteeing the germination and / or growth of said plant product.

Preferably, the substrate is adapted to receive the seeds of said at least one vegetable product.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises the seeds of said at least one vegetable product. According to a preferred embodiment, the amount of water is present in a percentage by weight higher than 30% of the weight of the substrate.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate comprises an identification code, for example a barcode or a chip.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is inedible.

Preferably, the inedible substrate preferably comprises 50% of green composted soil conditioner, 25% of pumice, 20% of silica sand and 5% of perlite.

Preferably, the inedible substrate comprises a gelling agent / thickener, preferably gellan gum.

In a preferred embodiment, the non-edible substrate comprises a non-woven fabric.

Preferably, the inedible substrate comprises plant nutrients, preferably green composted soil conditioner and / or pumice and / or silica sand and / or perlite.

In another preferred embodiment, the edible substrate represents a functional food / food.

Preferably, in the edible substrate the amount of water is present in a percentage by weight higher than 90% of the weight of the substrate. This percentage is particularly preferable if the substrate has the consistency of a gel. According to a preferred embodiment, the edible substrate, or functional food, comprises one or more of the following components:

- a natural thickener, preferably a compound of natural substances derived from cellulosic polysaccharides extracted from fruit peels and various vegetables and / or agar-agar;

- a natural food preservative, preferably essential oils, for example: oregano oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil;

- a chemical food preservative, preferably potassium sorbate;

- protein hydrolysates;

- natural food flavorings, preferably dry extract of vegetable parts;

- food supplements, for health and / or for sport, preferably vitamins and / or mineral salts.

According to another preferred embodiment, the edible substrate comprises one or more of the following components:

a vegetable skeletal structure, preferably comprising loofah and / or rice husk and / or vegetable fibers from food waste;

- a natural gelling agent / thickener, preferably a compound of natural substances derived from cellulosic polysaccharides extracted from fruit peels and various vegetables and / or agar-agar;

- a natural food preservative, preferably essential oils, for example: oregano oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil;

- a chemical food preservative, preferably potassium sorbate;

- protein hydrolysates;

- natural food flavorings, preferably dry extract of vegetable parts;

- food supplements, for health and / or for sport, preferably vitamins and / or mineral salts.

Advantageously, the edible substrate with the cultivated / grown vegetable product together with said food supplements, for health and / or for sport, define a functional food / food.

In another aspect, the invention refers to an apparatus for the cultivation of vegetable products, said apparatus comprising an openable casing that receives a substrate for the cultivation of vegetable products made as described above.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus also comprises:

- aeration means which can be activated during the germination phase of said seeds and / or the subsequent growth phase to obtain said products;

- lighting means which can be activated during the germination phase of said seeds and / or the subsequent growth phase to obtain said products.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises identification means of an identification code associated with said substrate, preferably a barcode reader.

Advantageously, the cultivation of vegetable products takes place in a controlled environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further advantages, objectives and characteristics as well as embodiments of the present invention are defined in the claims and will be clarified below by means of the following description, in which reference is made to the attached drawing tables; in the drawings, characteristics and / or corresponding or equivalent component parts of the present invention are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular, in the figures:

- Figure 1 represents a substrate for the cultivation of vegetable products according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

figure 2 shows the substrate of figure 1 with the sprouted vegetable products;

- Figure 3 shows a plurality of substrates according to the invention and a support device designed to receive such substrates;

figure 4 shows the support device of figure 3 with the sprouted vegetable products on the respective substrates;

- figure 5 represents an apparatus for the cultivation of vegetable products in a controlled environment that uses the support device and substrates of the invention shown in figure 3;

- figure 6 shows the exploded view of the apparatus of figure 5;

Figure 6 shows a piece of furniture which uses a plurality of apparatuses of the type illustrated in Figure 4;

- Figure 7 shows a plurality of substrates according to the invention and a support device designed to receive these substrates of an embodiment variant of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS PRESENT

INVENTION

Although the present invention is described below with reference to its preferred embodiments represented in the drawing tables, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and represented in the drawings. On the contrary, the embodiments described and represented clarify some aspects of the present invention, the purpose of which is defined by the claims.

The present invention has proved to be particularly advantageous with reference to soilless cultivation in indoor growers, as described in detail below. However, it should be pointed out that the present invention is not limited to this type of cultivation. On the contrary, the present invention finds convenient application in all cases involving the cultivation of vegetable products in a controlled environment, for example in greenhouse crops. With reference to Figure 1, a substrate 1 is shown according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The substrate 1 according to the invention allows the cultivation of plant products P, as illustrated for example in figure 2 in which the plant products P are shown in an advanced stage of growth after germination on substrate 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate 1 according to the invention includes the seeds of the vegetable product P to be cultivated.

In a preferred embodiment variant, the substrate 1 according to the invention is initially devoid of seeds that will be placed on / in the substrate in a subsequent phase of cultivation.

With reference to figures 3 to 6, the cultivation of a plant product P using a substrate 1 according to the invention in a soilless cultivation in an indoor grower is described below, as better described below.

Figure 3 shows first of all a support device 10 which receives a plurality of substrates 1 according to the invention.

The support device 10 actually constitutes a container suitable for receiving one or more substrates 1 for the vegetable products P to be cultivated. For the sake of simplicity, the term container will also be used hereinafter to indicate the support device 10.

For vegetable products P we mean any vegetable for edible and / or ornamental use, such as vegetables, vegetables, mushrooms, flowers, etc.

The container 10 comprises a plurality of cultivation compartments 12. Each compartment 12 defines a corresponding reception area for a corresponding substrate 1.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the container 10 comprises twenty-four equal compartments 12 of substantially triangular shape. The compartments 12 and the substrates 1 preferably have the same shape.

In alternative embodiments, the shape of the compartments and / or of the substrates may be different, as shown for example in the embodiment of Figure 7.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 with triangular or substantially triangular compartments allows to maximize the quantity of substrates 1 that can be inserted in the corresponding compartments 12 of the container 10.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrates 1 already containing the seeds of the vegetable products P to be cultivated are inserted into the corresponding compartments 12 of the support device 10.

In a preferred embodiment variant, the seedless substrates 1 are inserted into the corresponding compartments 12 of the container 10 and the seeds are subsequently placed in / on the substrate 1.

Figure 4 shows the result of the cultivation on the container 10 with the grown vegetable product P. The plant product P may be the same for each compartment 12 or different from one another, depending on the seeds chosen for the corresponding substrate 1.

The container 10 with the substrates 1 inserted inside it is advantageously used in an apparatus 50, or grower, for the cultivation of vegetable products P, as shown in figures 5 and 6. More particularly, the apparatus 50 allows the cultivation of P plant products in a controlled environment.

The apparatus 50 preferably comprises an openable casing 52. The casing 52 preferably comprises a lower part 54 and an upper part 56, preferably openable with respect to the lower part 54.

The lower part 54 of the casing 52 is shaped to receive the container 10 with the substrates 1.

Inside the casing 52 are preferably positioned aeration means 64 which can be activated in a controlled manner during the seed germination phase and / or the subsequent growth phase.

The ventilation means 64 preferably comprise a pair of fans 64a, 64b designed to generate a flow of air inside the casing 52.

The apparatus 50 then comprises lighting means 70 which can be activated during the seed germination phase and / or the subsequent growth phase.

The lighting means 70 comprise a light emitting device 72 and diffusion means 74 for the emitted light.

The diffusion means 74 are positioned in such a way that the light diffused by the diffusion means 74 is spread uniformly and indirectly on the collection area so that the substrates 1 received in the compartments 12 of the support device 10 are uniformly illuminated. The light emitting device 72 preferably comprises a group of RGB LEDs. The light emitted by the group of RGB LEDs is therefore directed upwards, with reference to a normal use of the apparatus 50 in a horizontal position.

The spectrum of light frequency emitted by the group of RGB LEDs takes into account the phase of the cycle and the type of product P to be grown.

In the embodiment illustrated and described, the reflecting surface is constituted by the internal reflecting surface 56a curve of the upper part 56 of the casing 52.

For correct operation, the apparatus 50 is suitably provided with control means, not shown in the figure, adapted to act on the aeration means 64 and on the lighting means 70 to control the cultivation parameters for said products to be cultivated.

Even more preferably, the apparatus 50 comprises temperature and / or humidity sensor means.

The signals provided by said sensors allow the control means to appropriately control the activation of the aeration means 64 and the lighting means 70 to control the cultivation parameters for said products P to be cultivated.

The control means preferably allow to carry out a thermal control inside the envelope 52, preferably to control the most appropriate temperature value over time for the products P to be grown.

The apparatus 50 of the invention described above therefore allows the cultivation of vegetable products P in an easy way starting from the preparation of the support device 10 by positioning one or more substrates 1 with the seeds, possibly added later, which will be followed by the germination phases and ripening under the automatic control of the cultivation parameters. The control methods will vary according to the particular product P to be cultivated and therefore to the type of substrate 1 and seeds that are used. In a preferred embodiment, the control means are preferably programmed / programmable in order to be able to carry out the appropriate control actions for the various types of products to be grown P.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the substrate 1 of the invention or the package used to contain the substrate 1 is advantageously associated with a unique identification code, for example a code associated with a label, a barcode, a chip etc.

The identification code preferably contains information relating to the substrate and / or the seeds present therein. For example, the identification code can give information such as: type of substrate, date of production, expiry date, type of seeds, parameters useful for the germination and maturation of the seeds.

The apparatus 50 will advantageously be provided with identification means for said code, for example a barcode reader, and will therefore be able to decode all the information relating to the substrate used for the cultivation of the desired vegetable product and to the product itself.

With the information detected, the apparatus 50 will be able to perform the appropriate control actions on the particular product chosen to be grown (temperature and / or humidity and / or lighting control, etc.).

In addition to the detection means, the device can be equipped with a color and / or height detector of the growing product. According to a preferred embodiment, this detector comprises a camera.

This detector will be able to read the color and / or height of the plant product as it grows and, depending on the type of plant product, will be able to analyze the state of growth / health of the same, for example it will be able to monitor the 'amount of growth in height of the product.

Figure 7 shows possible embodiment variants of substrates 101, 201, 301 according to the invention.

These substrates 101, 201, 301 differ from the substrate 1 described with reference to the previous figures due to the different shape.

It is evident that the support device 10 is in this case advantageously shaped, with reference to the shape of its compartments 12, 212, 312, to receive the substrates 101, 201, 301 with this new shape.

In particular, a substrate 101 with a substantially circular profile, a substrate 201 with a substantially trapezoidal profile and a substrate 301 with a substantially triangular profile is shown.

In one of its advantageous aspects, the substrate 1, 101, 201, 201 according to the invention is a pre-hydrated substrate.

Preferably, the substrate comprises an amount of water suitable for ensuring the germination and / or growth of the plant product P.

As already described above, in a preferred embodiment the substrate already preferably comprises the seeds of the vegetable product P to be cultivated.

Alternatively, the pre-hydrated substrate is initially seedless and the seeds are subsequently placed in / on the substrate to allow cultivation of the plant product P.

Advantageously, the use of a pre-hydrated substrate according to the invention allows the germination and / or the autonomous growth of the vegetable product until it is harvested.

In particular, the substrate according to the invention can be inserted inside an grower 50, for example as shown previously described with reference to figures 5 and 6, within which germination and / or autonomous growth will take place. of the vegetable product until it is harvested without the need for further operations.

The cultivation obtained by means of the substrate of the invention is therefore particularly facilitated and practical compared to known systems and facilitates the use of the product by the user.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate according to the invention is inedible. In this case, preferably, the amount of water is present in a percentage by weight with respect to the weight of the non-edible substrate higher than 30%.

According to a preferred embodiment, the non-edible substrate comprises a non-woven fabric.

In a preferred alternative embodiment, the substrate according to the invention is edible.

In a preferred embodiment, the edible substrate has the consistency of a gel. In this case, preferably, the amount of water is present in a percentage by weight with respect to the weight of the edible substrate higher than 90%.

The edible substrate may, however, have different consistencies and include, for example, elements in suspension and / or solid parts in variable percentages.

The amount of water will generally preferably be present in a percentage by weight with respect to the weight of the edible substrate greater than 30%.

For the realization of the non-edible substrate according to the invention, one or more of the following components are used, or an appropriate combination of them:

- a base comprising 50% of green composted soil conditioner, 25% of pumice, 20% of silica sand and 5% of perlite; - a gelling agent / thickener, preferably gellan gum;

- vegetable nutrients, preferably green composted soil conditioner and / or pumice and / or silica sand and / or perlite.

For the realization of the edible substrate according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more of the following components are used, or an appropriate combination thereof:

- a natural thickener, preferably a compound of natural substances derived from cellulosic polysaccharides extracted from fruit peels and various vegetables and / or agar-agar;

- a natural food preservative, preferably essential oils, for example: oregano oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil;

- a chemical food preservative, preferably potassium sorbate;

- protein hydrolysates;

- natural food flavorings, preferably dry extract of vegetable parts;

- food supplements, for health and / or for sport, preferably vitamins and / or mineral salts.

For the realization of the edible substrate according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, one or more of the following components are used, or an appropriate combination thereof:

a vegetable skeletal structure, preferably comprising loofah and / or rice husk and / or vegetable fibers from food waste;

- a natural gelling agent / thickener, preferably a compound of natural substances derived from cellulosic polysaccharides extracted from fruit peels and various vegetables and / or agar-agar;

- a natural food preservative, preferably essential oils, for example: oregano oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil;

- a chemical food preservative, preferably potassium sorbate;

- protein hydrolysates;

- natural food flavorings, preferably dry extract of vegetable parts;

- food supplements, for health and / or for sport, preferably vitamins and / or mineral salts.

A particular advantageous use of the substrate according to the invention refers to the cultivation of so-called micro-vegetables, for example bay leaf, microgreen, sprouts etc. The germination and / or growth of the product is guaranteed, as mentioned, by the quantity of water that pre-hydrates the substrate. The plant product P preferably takes nourishment from the composition of the seed from which it sprouts. If the substrate contains vegetable protein hydrolysates, as mentioned above, the germination and / or growth of the plants is further favored.

In the case of using an edible substrate, advantageously, following the germination and growth of the vegetable product P independently, the product and the substrate can be collected and eaten directly, effectively constituting a portion of food,

The components used for the substrate, such as protein hydrolysates or food flavorings or food supplements, also make it possible to give each dose of food a particular characteristic in terms of taste and / or nutritional properties and at the same time make available a wholesome and wholesome, completely natural food.

From what has been said it is clear that the support according to the invention allows to achieve the intended purposes.

In particular, it is clear that the proposed solution facilitates and makes practical the cultivation of vegetable products in a controlled environment with respect to systems of the known type.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the attached drawing tables, it may undergo changes during the construction phase, all falling within the same inventive concept expressed by the claims set out below and therefore protected by this patent.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) for the cultivation in a controlled environment of at least one plant product (P), characterized in that said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) comprises a quantity of water suitable for guarantee the germination and / or growth of said plant product (P). 2) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to claim 1, characterized in that said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) is adapted to receive the seeds of said at least one vegetable product (P) or said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) includes the seeds of said at least one plant product (P). 3) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said quantity of water is present in a percentage by weight higher than 30% of the weight of said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301). 4) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) comprises an identification code. 5) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) is not edible. 6) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to claim 5, characterized in that said non-edible substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) comprises: 50% of green composted soil conditioner, 25% of pumice, 20% of silica sand and 5% perlite, and / or a gelling agent / thickener, preferably gellan gum, and / or a non-woven fabric and / or plant nutrients, preferably composted green soil improver and / or pumice and / or silica sand and / or perlite. 7) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) is edible. 8) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to claim 7, characterized in that said quantity of water is present in a percentage by weight higher than 90% of the weight of said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) edible. 9) Substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said edible substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) comprises: a natural thickener, preferably a compound of natural substances derived from polysaccharides cellulosic extracted from fruit peels and various vegetables and / or agar-agar, and / or a natural food preservative, preferably essential oils, and / or a chemical food preservative, preferably potassium sorbate, and / or protein and / or flavoring hydrolysates natural food, preferably dry extract of parts of vegetables and / or food supplements, preferably vitamins and / or mineral salts and / or a vegetable skeletal structure, preferably comprising loofah and / or rice husks and / or vegetable fibers from food waste, and / or a natural gel / thickener, preferably a compound of natural substances derived from cellulosic polysaccharides extracted from fruit peels and various vegetables and / or agar-agar, and / or a food preservative natural food, preferably essential oils, and / or a chemical food preservative, preferably potassium sorbate, and / or protein hydrolysates and / or natural food flavorings, preferably dry extract of parts of vegetables, and / or food supplements, preferably vitamins and / or mineral salts. 10) Apparatus (50) for the cultivation of vegetable products (P), said apparatus (50) comprising an openable casing (52) which receives a substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) for the cultivation of vegetable products (P) , characterized in that said substrate (1; 101; 201; 301) is made according to any one of the preceding claims. 1 1) Apparatus (50) according to claim 10, characterized in that said cultivation of vegetable products (52) takes place in a controlled environment. 12) Apparatus (50) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it further comprises: - aeration means (64) which can be activated during the germination phase of said seeds and / or the subsequent growth phase to obtain said products; - lighting means (70) which can be activated during the germination phase of said seeds and / or the subsequent growth phase to obtain said products (P). 13. Apparatus (50) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it comprises identification means for an identification code associated with said substrate.