Progress in the Greek Pilot: Rainwater System for Farming
Significant progress is being made in the Greek Pilot, where an ambitious set of integrated smart agriculture solutions is currently under development. The pilot focuses on combining water circularity, protected cultivation, and vertical greening systems into a cohesive and efficient infrastructure that supports sustainable food production and resource management.
Integrated Smart Agriculture in Action
The Greek Pilot brings together three key interventions designed to demonstrate innovative approaches to modern agriculture:
Rainwater Harvesting for Vertical Farming: One of the core upgrades involves enhancing an existing vertical farming system with a comprehensive rainwater harvesting and reuse solution. This system includes rooftop collection gutters, advanced water treatment units, storage capacity, and recirculation infrastructure.
Water treatment processes feature multiple stages—activated carbon filtration, chlorination, and ultraviolet (UV) filtration—ensuring high-quality water for agricultural use. This closed-loop approach maximizes water efficiency and supports sustainable cultivation practices by reducing reliance on external water sources.
High-Tech Glasshouse Installation: Adjacent to the current facility, a new high-tech glasshouse is being constructed to support controlled environment agriculture. The structure is built on a reinforced concrete foundation (5.00 × 3.00 × 0.20 m) and features a robust structural frame measuring 4.00 × 3.00 × 2.50 m.
The glasshouse is equipped with:
- A propagation bench system
- Hybrid covering materials (polyurethane and polycarbonate panels)
- Integrated shading and ventilation systems
- Advanced irrigation infrastructure
- Automated monitoring and control systems
This innovative setup enables precise environmental control, supporting optimal plant growth conditions and improving productivity.
Artificial Green Wall System: The pilot also includes the installation of a 30 m² artificial green wall. The system consists of a modular framing structure, pot-based planting units, and a dedicated irrigation network.
This vertical greening solution not only enhances the aesthetic and environmental value of the site but also contributes to improved microclimates and biodiversity, demonstrating the potential of urban and semi-urban green infrastructure.
Current Progress
All major equipment and materials have been successfully delivered to the CERTH facilities, and installation activities are progressing smoothly.
Key structural elements of both the glasshouse and the green wall have already been completed. At the same time, work continues on:
- Water treatment systems
- Storage tanks
- Piping and distribution networks
- Irrigation systems
- Monitoring and control infrastructure
Initial water circulation trials have already been conducted, confirming that the water distribution system is functioning effectively.
Next Steps: Moving into Testing and Validation
As the project transitions into the next phase, the focus will shift toward testing and validation to ensure seamless operation across all systems.
Upcoming activities include:
- Collecting water samples before and after filtration to assess water quality
- Initiating the propagation of leafy crops within the farming systems
- Establishing ornamental and aromatic plants within the green wall
These steps will provide valuable insights into system performance and help optimize the integrated infrastructure under real operating conditions.
The Greek Pilot represents a forward-thinking approach to sustainable agriculture, combining innovative technologies with practical implementation. As the project moves into its testing phase, it will provide critical knowledge and best practices for scalable, resource-efficient agricultural systems.
Stay tuned for further updates as the pilot continues to evolve and demonstrate its impact.
