The Mylar-Grow is a dual-layer farming system that uses Mylar foil for efficient sunlight reflection and a solar tracking mechanism to optimize light distribution across both crops layers. Doubling the yield on the same land area while integrating renewable energy for sustainability.
| The Problem | The Solution |
|---|---|
| The Mylar-Grow addresses critical challenges in global agriculture, including the scarcity of arable land, increasing food demand due to population growth. With limited farmland and urbanization reducing available agricultural areas, farmers struggle to increase crop yields without harming natural ecosystems. Existing vertical farming systems rely on energy-intensive artificial lighting, raising costs and carbon emissions. | Mylar-Grow was developed to provide a sustainable solution for increasing agricultural productivity without expanding land use. By utilizing a dual-layer farming system with Mylar foil for efficient sunlight redistribution and integrating renewable energy sources, the invention ensures resource conservation, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. It directly addresses the global need for higher food production while minimizing the ecological footprint of farming practices. |
Mylar-Grow is a dual-layer farming system designed to maximize agricultural yield, optimize resource utilization, and promote sustainability. The system features two layers of crops grown on the same plot of land, supported by an innovative sunlight management mechanism. Mylar foil, known for its high reflectivity (98%), is used to redirect and distribute sunlight effectively. A solar tracking mechanism continuously adjusts the position of the reflective surfaces to follow the sun's movement, ensuring consistent and optimal light exposure for both crop layers throughout the day. The system is powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, to operate the solar tracking and any auxiliary components, significantly reducing energy consumption and operational costs. It incorporates advanced irrigation techniques, like drip irrigation, to minimize water wastage, further enhancing efficiency. This modular design is adaptable to various crops and land sizes, making it suitable for a wide range of agricultural applications. By doubling crop productivity on existing farmland, the invention addresses the global challenges of land scarcity, food security, and environmental sustainability. It reduces the dependency on artificial lighting and mitigates the need for deforestation or land conversion, promoting biodiversity conservation and reducing the carbon footprint of farming practices.
The Mylar-Grow features a two-tier farming system, with crops cultivated on both the ground floor and the first floor, arranged parallel to each other like a traditional building structure. This innovative setup optimizes land use and ensures efficient sunlight distribution.
On the ground floor, two Mylar foil panels are strategically positioned to reflect sunlight upward. These foils are securely affixed to Aluminum Composite Panels (ACP) using high-strength adhesive or industrial-grade double-sided tape, ensuring durability and reliability.
The panels are designed to tilt dynamically based on the sunās position throughout the day, using motors mounted at their base. This adaptive movement ensures maximum light capture and reflection.
Beneath the first floor, additional Mylar panels are arranged in a "V" shape, directing the reflected sunlight evenly onto the crops below. This precise arrangement ensures that both levels receive adequate sunlight, promoting healthy plant growth and maximizing productivity.
This thoughtfully engineered design not only optimizes natural light utilization but also embodies sustainability and innovation in modern farming.
The Mylar-Grow is the solution for doubling the yield from an area-constrained land. Mylar-Grow consists of two floors where plants will be grown on both floors.
On the first floor (top floor), plants will be grown using traditional farming methods and will receive sunlight in the normal way. On the ground floor (bottom floor), plants will be grown by the reflected sunlight from the reflective surface (Mylar foils).
The reflective surface will be placed in the east-west direction because of the sunās motion around the Earth, and the reflective surface will change its angle according to the movement of the sun for the maximum utilization of sunlight for the plants.
The sun-rays from the sun will hit the Mylar foils, which are placed on the edge of the vertical farm, and will be reflected to the āVā-shaped reflective surface (Mylar foil) placed beneath the top floor. The sun-rays will then be finally reflected to the plants on the ground floor.
