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COrona2® is an exemplary example of our work in controlled environment horticulture.

Controlled Environment Horticulture|green

Controlled Environment Horticulture (CEH) - protected culture - is a growing industry in North America and around the world. Growers are capitalizing on the advantages of raising crops indoors where they have a controlled environment, consistent quality and less pressure from insects and disease. It is much easier to produce crops that are Certified organic.

For dedicated high tech greenhouse production to overtake the field industry there must be a technological breakthrough that brings production costs (per pound) closer to field levels. We feel very strongly that the IRIS Solar Systems meet, if not exceed, this requirement.

Agricultural engineering thought processes that are "outside of the box" have been the creative force in the design and development of all the IRIS Solar Systems.

Agricultural Engineering|green

Some of the areas already addressed by our Agricultural Engineering staff include:

Structures and environment:	Expertise in structures and environmental design, storage structures, and greenhouses, with ventilation systems, temperature and humidity controls, and structural strength appropriate for their climate and purpose. They devise better practices and systems for large scale research projects.
Information and electrical technologies:	Bioinformatics and computational Biology maintain the COrona2® systems at peak performance, Biorobotics, machine vision, sensors, spectroscopy - these are some of the exciting information and electrical technologies that will be used in the IRIS Solar units today and being developed for the future.
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA):	Computerized control of the root zone and aerial environmental factors: Temp., RH, CO2 around leaves (photosynthesis), O2 around roots and shoots (respiration), light, water, growing substrate and mineral nutrition.
Agricultural Economics:	Our driving force has been to cut costs and increase farm gate profits without greenhouse gas emissions. Energy expenses are greater than 40% of the cost of greenhouse production and are expected to increase. Green energy and other conservation techniques, many designed specifically for the IRIS Solar Systems applications, can help reduce these economic costs as well as environmental problems associated with energy use.
Forest engineering:	IRIS Forest production systems produce more 10 times more seedlings per square meter and more seedling biomass in less time and produce a hardier seedling than any method used in the industry today.
Alternate energy resources:	The latest advances in Solar Technology have been combined with the IRIS design to produce a structure that has carbon free electricity as a waste product.
Greenhouse engineering:	All aspects use the latest technologies for irrigation, mechanization, disease and pest control, and nutrient application. Control systems for temperature, humidity, and ventilation; and plant biology issues, such as hydroponics, tissue culture, and seedling propagation methods. We are designing greenhouse systems innovative enough to support a manned expedition to Mars!
Water engineering:	Water extraction, water conservation, rain water management, water quality
Crop production:	Cucumbers, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Peppers, Mushrooms, Floriculture and Seedlings,to name a few. The possibilities are almost limitless. Specifically, the following types have proven results using the Omega Carousels with huge yields per growing cycle: Herbs: Basil, Savory, Mint, Italian Parsley, Oregano, Marjoram, Thyme. Lettuce Varieties: Romaine Lettuce, Green Leaf Lettuces, Rocket Lettuce, Red Leaf Lettuces, Bok Choi, Red Butterhead, Swiss Chard, Loose Leaf Flowers: Marigolds, Impatients, Nasturtium, Pansies
Global Research Facility:	COrona2® systems are designed to share information with other COrona2® systems worldwide. We feel this unique ability of the COrona2® System's advances in BioInformatics will make IRIS Solar Systems a world leader in greenhouse production informatics. All of the the knowledge gained will be placed in the public domain.