InverD: Industria Verde

Protected agriculture in Mexico has developed very differently in different regions of the country, from technologically advanced high-cost greenhouses to low-tech low-cost greenhouses. The existing duality is remarkable, clearly differentiating two types of farmers: A majority of smallholder farmers who often depend than 2 hectares for both sustenance and income with limited access to continuous water and energy resources, and a small number of major farmers who focus towards export. This is where InverD offers an option to small producers. InverD is a proposal for the sustainable and sustainably production and distribution of agricultural products based on the development of a self-sufficient water and energy technology package, under environmental management within a circular economy integrated into a rural cooperative. Basically the technological package is made up of two pillars, first, the cultivation technique that uses very little water and, second, the technological means used, both implemented in a BasicProductiveUnit.

In Mexico, a majority smallholder farmers with less than two hectares and limited access to continuous water and energy resources, constitute 50.8% of national annual production, and a small number of major farmers with extensions greater than 50 hectares per producer, which are focused on exports, produce 28.5% of the total (INEGI-ENA2017).

For small producers, an important factor is the real possibility of having water and energy inputs for their operation. In a survey carried out by the IMTA (Mexican Institute of Water Technology –IMTA) to producers in protected agriculture in the State of Morelos (INTERNAL PROJECT_RD1509.1, 2015) where it compiles information reported by SAGARPA (2010) of the total of 30,000 hectares in Mexico, 541 hectares of protected agriculture are from Morelos, it was obtained that 46% of the sampled greenhouses use gasoline electric generators and the rest (54%) work with an outlet from the commercial electrical network. Furthermore, one of the most critical points reported is the lack of infrastructure for irrigation.

Currently, the federal government through the Secretary of Welfare (www.gob.mx/bienestar) is supporting 408,000 small producers who own 2.5 hectares, to reactivate agricultural activity .

The technological package is self-sufficient in water and energy, it is the cultivation technique that requires very little water, around 0.5 liters of water per plant per day, and the technological means used, both implemented in a Basic Productive Unit (UBP). The hydroponic vegetable production cultivation technique, early sprouts and high population densities, which is based on blunting the plants (eliminating the apical bud) to leave only five inflorescences (flower clusters) (Technique used at the University of Chapingo; Sánchez, 1998; Rangel-Flores, unpublished 2005;) The technological means were designed by inverD, are grouped into a UBP, which consists of three structures of 500m2 for production and 250m2, integrated with those of microclimate systems , irrigation, electricity generator and water collector, controlled by an Artificial Intelligence system that was based on the SiMom system (which was a finalist in the INTEL-Entrepreneur 2007), The philosophy of the structures not only serve as production areas, but are the receivers of solar radiation, which is used by the GEI system (based on the concentration of the lines of magnetic forces ) to generate electricity for both agricultural production and the CAIsystem responsible for capturing water by condensing water molecules from the air.

One of the most common problems in production is the lack of advice from a technician specialized in production under protected agriculture. In the survey carried out by the IMTA  to producers in protected agriculture in the  Morelos State (INTERNAL PROJECT_RD1509.1, 2015), many deficiencies of the crop were observed. Problems of both fungal and bacterial diseases,  plantations in poor condition in terms of health. In addition to this, the complexity of accessing continuous water and energy resources.

The technological change from open field agriculture to protected agriculture has been frustrating for several producers and ended in the abandonment of greenhouses, and it is not very encouraging for small producers to try to enter protected agriculture. InverD is working on the installation of the Production, Demonstration and Training Center in Tlayca, Morelos, to propose activities and actions in the medium and long term, to make efficient use of water and energy and thereby consolidate itself as an agent of technological change.

Impact Indicators

Rural cooperative structuration

Number of smallholders farmers that started the transition to protected agriculture.

Technological products developed by inverD shown at the UBP

Quantification using the training strategy and technology transfer

Scaling in RegionalproductionUnits.

Marketing model validation

InverD is a proposal for the sustainable and sustainable production, distribution and marketing of agricultural products based on the development of a self-sufficient water and energy technology package, under environmental management within a circular economy and integrated into a rural cooperative that guarantees that human beings Participants can enjoy a prosperous and full life, ensuring that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.

The technological means were designed by inverD, are grouped into a UBP, which consists of three structures of 500m2 for production and 250m2, integrated with those of microclimate systems , irrigation, electricity generator and water collector, controlled by an Artificial Intelligence system that was based on the SiMom system (which was a finalist in the INTEL-Entrepreneur 2007), The philosophy of the structures not only serve as production areas, but are the receivers of solar radiation, which is used by the GEI system (based on the concentration of the lines of magnetic forces ) to generate electricity for both agricultural production and the CAIsystem responsible for capturing water by condensing water molecules from the air.

Devices capable of generating electricity are being developed that, although using known principles, make their work capacity more efficient.

The filing of the patent application with the IMPI (Mexican Institute of Industrial Property) is being prepared.