“Part of the success in our operational flow and crop growth comes from the CreaSpacer” – Hortidaily

Report on the CreaSpacer System: Fostering Sustainable Development Through Agricultural Innovation

Executive Summary

This report analyzes the development and impact of the CreaSpacer system, an automated plant-spacing technology resulting from a long-term partnership between Ecopromt and Crea-Tech. The system exemplifies significant contributions to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of sustainable agriculture, innovation, decent work, and strategic partnerships. By automating a critical stage in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), the CreaSpacer enhances production efficiency and promotes sustainable farming practices.

Technological Innovation and Sustainable Production (SDG 9, SDG 12)

The CreaSpacer is an expandable tray system designed to automate plant spacing in indoor farms. With over 220,000 units in operation, its design is a key innovation for the CEA industry, directly supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The system’s primary function is to optimize plant density without manual intervention, which contributes to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through several key benefits:

• Reduced Crop Damage: The automated spacing process protects young crops and their root systems, minimizing plant loss and waste.
• Improved Resource Efficiency: By ensuring crop uniformity and health, the system maximizes the output from given inputs, a core principle of sustainable production.
• Automation of Manual Tasks: The technology replaces a labor-intensive process, improving operational efficiency and consistency.

Enhancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture (SDG 2)

The CreaSpacer system makes a direct contribution to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by advancing sustainable agricultural practices. The technology was developed from principles used in traditional greenhouse gutter systems, adapted for the modern CEA environment. Its impact on sustainable food production includes:

1. Increased Crop Uniformity: Consistent spacing allows for uniform growth, light exposure, and nutrient access, leading to more predictable and reliable yields.
2. Improved Operational Flow: Automation streamlines the transplanting stage, allowing farms to scale production more effectively and contribute to a stable food supply.
3. Protection of Plant Biology: The system was designed with a deep understanding of plant biology to ensure growth is not disturbed, supporting healthier crops and higher-quality produce.

Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17) and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The success of the CreaSpacer is rooted in a multi-generational partnership, a model that embodies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The collaboration between Ecopromt and Crea-Tech (part of the Bosman Van Zaal group) began nearly two decades ago and combines complementary expertise:

• Ecopromt: Provides deep knowledge of plant biology and operational requirements for cultivation.
• Crea-Tech: Delivers technical expertise in automation, engineering, and workflow solutions.

This synergistic partnership has not only produced the CreaSpacer but also other automation loops for major CEA projects. This collaborative approach fosters an environment of continuous improvement and shared learning. Furthermore, the automation provided by the system supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by reducing the need for strenuous manual labor and creating value through technological innovation, thereby enhancing productivity and promoting sustainable economic growth within the agricultural sector.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses innovations in indoor farming (Controlled Environment Agriculture – CEA), which is a method of food production. The CreaSpacer system aims to improve crop growth and uniformity, contributing to more efficient and sustainable agricultural practices that enhance food production.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The technology described, the CreaSpacer, directly impacts labor by automating plant spacing. The article states it “reduces labour” and “enables farms to automate a task that remains manual in many CEA operations.” This automation leads to increased productivity, a key driver of economic growth within the agricultural sector.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • This is a central theme of the article. It highlights a specific technological innovation (the CreaSpacer) resulting from a long-term engineering partnership. The article focuses on how this innovation is shaping “modern indoor farming” and upgrading the technological capabilities of the CEA industry.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The CreaSpacer system promotes more sustainable production patterns by increasing efficiency and reducing waste. By allowing growers to automate plant spacing “without disturbing young crops or damaging root systems,” it improves “crop uniformity” and reduces potential crop loss during the production phase.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article is a case study on the power of partnerships. It repeatedly emphasizes that the CreaSpacer is the “product of a partnership that began almost twenty years ago” between Ecopromt and Crea-Tech. It explicitly states, “We believe in partnerships to bring the lessons learned to the next projects and new customers.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.
   • The CreaSpacer is a technology that helps create more resilient agricultural practices within CEA by protecting young crops and their roots during transplanting, which in turn increases the productivity and uniformity of the final crop.
2. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation.
   • The article describes a technological upgrade for the indoor farming industry. The automation provided by the CreaSpacer “reduces labour” and improves “operational flow,” directly contributing to higher levels of economic productivity in agricultural operations.
3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, encouraging innovation.
   • The collaboration between Ecopromt and Crea-Tech, which has led to “many inventions and progress within the ag industry,” is a direct example of upgrading technological capabilities and fostering innovation within the controlled-environment agriculture sector.
4. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • The system’s design, which “avoids disturbing or damaging the crop and its roots,” is a form of waste prevention. By minimizing damage during the planting and transplanting stage, it reduces crop loss, a significant form of waste in food production.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • The article details a long-standing, multi-generational private-private partnership between Ecopromt and Crea-Tech. It highlights how their complementary strengths—”Ecopromt understands what is required for the biology to work and the operations, while getting support and solutions within the automation and workflow process from Crea-Tech”—are crucial for success.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 9.5: The rate of adoption of new technologies.
   • The article provides a specific metric: “More than 220,000 expandable trays are currently in operation.” This number serves as a direct indicator of the adoption and success of this industrial innovation.
2. Indicator for Target 8.2: An increase in labor productivity.
   • The article implies this indicator by stating the system “reduces labour” and “enables farms to automate a task.” Measuring the reduction in manual labor hours per unit of output would quantify progress towards this target.
3. Indicator for Targets 2.4 and 12.5: A reduction in crop loss at the production stage.
   • This is implied through the phrases “improves crop uniformity” and avoids “damaging root systems.” A measurable indicator would be the percentage decrease in crop failure or non-marketable produce after implementing the system compared to manual methods.
4. Indicator for Target 17.17: The number and longevity of strategic partnerships for innovation.
   • The article explicitly mentions the partnership began “almost twenty years ago” and has resulted in “more than five controlled-environment projects.” The duration and output of such collaborations serve as a qualitative and quantitative indicator of effective partnerships.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hortidaily.com