EnvironmentallyControlledAgriculture&Tequila

Question 1

Agriculture

Answer 1

• Human manipulation of plant populations and the environment as to increase yield (calories/nutrients) per unit of time and space

Question 2

Closed environment-controlled greenhouse systems

Answer 2

• Environmental conditions maintained to optimize fruit output

Question 3

RedSunFarms greenhouse in Irapuato, Mexico

Answer 3

• Closed environment-controlled greenhouse
• Totally enclosed, cleaning of shoes and hands when entering
• Produces mostly peppers and tomatoes for export
• 30 hectares (1 ha = 100x100m, 10,000 sq.m, 42 football fields)
• Shape of GH 11m high with peaked roof to increase chimney effect in airflow (old design GH 6+m high with rounder roof)
• Crop height 5-5.5m, leave 5m buffer zone b/c too hot when plant close to roof

Question 4

The role of photosynthesis increases with what?

Answer 4

• When light increases, but reaches max level

Question 5

How is light intensity controlled in a GH?

Answer 5

• With plastic and different paints

- Can use these to increase shade, reflect infra-red light

Question 6

What happens to plants when there is too much light?

Answer 6

• Photosynthesis stops with too much light when stomatas close

Question 7

How is a higher than atmospheric CO2 level maintained in a GH? How much CO2 per hectare per day is required to reach max. absorption?

Answer 7

• Obtained by burning natural gas to increase PS

- 50kg per hectare per day to reach max.

Question 8

What happens when there isn’t enough CO2?

Answer 8

• Plants will stop photosynthesis

- Less growth results

Question 9

How is the rate of air change controlled in a GH?

Answer 9

• Ventilation

Question 10

Where does the heat come from? How does it get distributed at night?

Answer 10

• Geothermal water
• Solar heated during the day
• and/or from burning of natural gas (to create CO2)
• heated water circulates at night in black hoses (used for irrigation next day)

Question 11

What happens if plants have higher respiration?

Answer 11

• Plants respire at night and if there is too much, from higher temps, it uses carbohydrates made during daytime photosynthesis
• Results in less growth

Question 12

How is the heat controlled at night?

Answer 12

• Computerized climate control calculates heat need for the night from weather forecast and adjusts heat input

Question 13

What temperature do peppers and tomatoes prefer?

Answer 13

65-90 degrees F

Question 14

How many people, and in what roles, are needed to operate a 30ha system?

Answer 14

• 1 Owner/grower
• 2 Managers
• 8 farm workers and 5 packagers, per hectare
• Plus administrators, personel for phytosanitary, physical control and maintenance

Question 15

Comparative quantity of vegetable production of peppers

Answer 15

• High tech GH 45 kg/m2
• Conventional GH 20-25 kg/m2
• Field 5 kg/m2

Question 16

What is the growth period and when does harvest start?

Answer 16

• 42 weeks growth period

- Harvest starts after 8 weeks

Question 17

What is the production cost for tomato?

Answer 17

• $100/m2

Question 18

How many kg/m2 tomatoes can be produced in Canada vs. Mexico?

Answer 18

• 65kgm/2 in Canada

- 85 kg/m2 in Mexico

Question 19

Where do first grade vs. second grade vegetables go when produced in Mexico?

Answer 19

• First to international

- Second grade goes to national distribution (within Mexico)

Question 20

How many more vegetables are produced in fields vs. GH

Answer 20

• 100x more vegetables produced in fields

- 1ha GH to 20ha fields

Question 21

What is a major drawback to field growing?

Answer 21

• Energy cost could be higher in field production
• Major problem is insect pests and need for pesticides
• Insect pests are always changing
• 90% eliminated in GH

Question 22

Which is greater, the fuel used in trucking product to Canada, or the greenhouse heating to grow in Canada?

Answer 22

• Fuel use in trucking product to Canada is less than for heating a GH in Canada

Question 23

Conventional vs. Organic Systems?

Answer 23

• Increasing market demand for organic due to health and environmental concerns
• Organic cannot use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides

Question 24

How do organic systems find natural sources of fertilizers?

Answer 24

• Feed soil compost and inoculate with microflora and earthworms
• Nitrogen and potassium come from fish extract, blood meal, feather meal, cow hoof powder

Question 25

How do organic systems find natural sources of pesticides?

Answer 25

• Potassium sulfite from rocks

- Citric acid from organic sources

Question 26

How do the production costs of organic vs. conventional systems compare? Give an example

Answer 26

• Production costs similar but organic system more complex to manage and optimize
• Hydroponic lettuce, 450 heads/m2 vs. 50 heads/m2 in field

Question 27

Which country has the most high tech GH operations? Which other country has the potential to match this?

Answer 27

• Holland
• Uses many robotic operations
• BC has similar climate so could use similar systems

Question 28

Which country produces relatively few vegetables for its size?

Answer 28

• USA

Question 29

What is tequila made from?

Answer 29

• Liquor distilled from blue agave plant, Agave tequilana, Asparagaceae
• A monocot
• Grows at altitude above 1500m

Question 30

What else is agave used to make?

Answer 30

• Fiber

Question 31

Where in Mexico is tequila produced

Answer 31

• By law, only in five states of Mexico, including Guanajuato

Question 32

Where and when was tequila first produced?

Answer 32

• 16th century in town called Tequila

Question 33

How is tequila made?

Answer 33

• Heart of agave plant is harvested and heated to convert starch to sugars
• Then crushed for sugary liquid for fermentation
• Fermented wort then distilled twice to become tequila

Question 34

How does tequila relate to blood health?

Answer 34

• Starch in agave is inulin, heat it to break down to fructose
• It can be sold as low glucose sugar health product, suitable for diabetics