IL293912B2 - System and method for growing crocus sativus and production of saffron therefrom - Google Patents

Description

293912/ SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GROWING CROCUS SATIVUS AND PRODUCTION OF SAFFRON THEREFROM FIELD OF THE INVENTION [001] The present invention relates in general to plant growing, in particular a plurality of vertical constructs with growing-niches that can rotate around thereby improving yield consistency and quantity while saving room, costs and labor. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [002] Saffron has long been the world's most costly spice by weight. Its taste and iodoform-like or hay-like fragrance result from the phytochemicals picrocrocin and safranal. Saffron is derived from the flower of Crocus sativus (a.k.a. "saffron crocus"). Today, Crocus sativus plants are grown in fields at locations with suitable environmental conditions, and the flowers’ threads (its stigma and styles) are manually collected and dried for use (mainly) as a seasoning and coloring agent in food. [003] Many growing facilities and systems have been developed during the years to eliminate the influence of environmental conditions and providing constant and controlled growing conditions that enable all-year growing of various plants and flowers. However, none has been found suitable for growing Crocus sativus, let alone enable more that one or two growth cycles per year. [004] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system that allows efficient growing of Crocus sativus plants and flowers thereof regardless of environmental conditions, and in multiple growth cycles each year. SUMMARY OF INVENTION [005] The present invention provides a Saffron-production system 100 comprising: (a) a sealed space 101 ; (b) a water source or a water inlet; (c) a watering system; (d) a fertilization system; (e) a water-quality and water-flow control system; (f) at least one light source designed to provide full spectrum lighting for Crocus sativus plants grown within said space 101 ; (g) at least one ventilation unit designed to ventilate said sealed space 101and maintain a suitable gas content for Crocus sativus plants (i.e. corresponding to mountain air, with negative and positive ions content); (h) one or more rails 102 equipped with a plurality of vertical plant-growing constructs 103 , each contract comprising multiple plant-growing 293912/ niches, said rail(s) 102 is designed to rotate and move said contracts within said space 101 , wherein said rotation allows access to all said planting niches located on all said vertical constructs 103 ; and (i) a computerized system comprising a processor and memory, designed to monitor and control environmental conditions within said space 101 , based on: measured parameters obtained from one or more sensors, predefined range of each measured parameter measured, and empiric results and protocols from previous cultivation cycles. [006] The present invention further provides a method for maximizing Saffron production, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a system 100 according to the invention and connecting same to a water source; (ii) planting Crocus sativus plants in all the growing niches; (iii) turning the system on to thereby: enable watering/irrigation and fertilization; activating the light source(s); activating the at least one ventilation unit; monitoring and controlling the (growing) conditions within the space 101 ; and alerting a user that the Crocus sativus plants have bloomed and are ready for harvest; and (iv) picking/harvesting the ready flowers, wherein the picking/harvesting of the flowers can be carried out by a single picker by rotating the plant-growing constructs 103 , thereby enabling maximized Saffron production in a very limited area and labor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [007] Fig. 1 is an illustration of a Saffron-production system of the invention with vertical plant-growing constructs that are comprised of individual pots hanged one over the other. [008] Fig. 2 is an illustration of a Saffron-production system of the invention with vertical plant-growing constructs that are comprised of a vertical tower with plant growing niches spread thereacross. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [009] Standard plant growing, either in the ground or hydroponically, is space consuming since each plant needs to be separated from nearby plants to provide sufficient space for the roots and/or sunlight/artificial light to the leaves. Accordingly, several attempts have been made to grow plants vertically, i.e., in a growing tower. Various growing towers have been developed, some based on soil growing and others hydroponic. However, all such growing towers suffer from various problems, such as lack of even irrigation, fertilization, and light exposure. In addition, when using growing towers, a user needs to spread them to enable a user easy access to all the towers and their surroundings. 293912/ id="p-10" id="p-10"

[010] In addition, growing Crocus sativus plants requires special growing conditions that are available at very distinct locations, and is possible only once a year. Moreover, the "harvesting" of the Saffron must be made on the same day of blooming to avoid loss of Saffron, which requires many workers. [011] Accordingly, the present invention provides a Saffron-production system 100 designed to enable Crocus sativus plants at optimal growing conditions multiple, while enabling multiple growing cycles per year. The system 100 of the invention overcomes all the above mentioned drawbacks and more of current Saffron growing and production techniques and enable uniform growing and Saffron-production, while reducing the required labor to a minimum, and even to one person. [012] Accordingly, in a first embodiment, the Saffron-production system 100 of the invention comprises: a sealed space 101 ; a water source or a water inlet; a watering system; a fertilization system; a water-quality and water-flow control system; at least one light source designed to provide full spectrum lighting for Crocus sativus plants grown within said space 101 ; at least one ventilation unit designed to ventilate said sealed space 101and maintain a suitable gas content for Crocus sativus plants (i.e. corresponding to mountain air, with negative and positive ions content); one or more rails 102 equipped with a plurality of vertical plant-growing constructs 103 , each contract comprising multiple plant-growing niches, said rail(s) 102 is designed to rotate and move said contracts within said space 101 , wherein said rotation allows access to all said planting niches located on all said vertical constructs 103 ; and a computerized system comprising a processor and memory, designed to monitor and control environmental conditions within said space 101 , based on: measured parameters obtained from one or more sensors, predefined range of each measured parameter measured, and empiric results and protocols from previous cultivation cycles. [013] The number of Crocus sativus plants that can be planted in a single system 100 of the invention can vary according to one’s needs and desire, and can be up to 1000 plants, up to 10,000 plants, up to 100,000 plants, or more. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the system 100 enables planting up to 100,000 Crocus sativus plants, or more in a single space 101 . [014] In certain embodiments, the system 100 of the invention further comprises at least one of: (i) at least one more ventilation unit designed to cool the space 101and plants within to a temperature of from about 4°C to 25°C; (ii) at least one cooling and heating unit designed to control and maintain the temperature inside said space 101to be from about 4°C to about 293912/ °C; (iii) at least one photosynthesis-sensor; (iv) a reverse osmosis water purification system; (v) at least one nutrients/salts/acids reservoir and a pump associated therewith, designed to provide said nutrients/salts/acids into the water according to need; (vi) at least one light intensity and/or at least one light-distance sensor; and (vii) one or more cameras for monitoring plant’s growing conditions and blooming, or any combination thereof. [015] The term "sealed space" as used herein refer to any area that is confined by walls, floor and ceiling, such as a container or a room. In specific embodiments, it can have several levels, such as 2, 3, 4, 5 or more levels, each level constituting as an individual system with its own rail(s) 102 . In alternative embodiments, multiple systems 100 (or sealed spaces 101 ) according to the invention are stacked one onto the other thereby enabling growing more plants per given area, to further save on growing space. [016] The term "watering system" refers to any known watering devices and systems and their components, such as pipes, pressure regulators, filters, sprinklers, drippers, etc., and can be modified according to need by any skilled artisan, e.g. by adding pipes, regulators, filters, pumps, line-ends, etc. [017] The quality of the water in the system of the invention needs to be monitored and maintained to facilitate optimal growth of the plants. It is known that if the water is too acidic or if there is insufficient oxygen or nutrients, plants tend to grow slowly or even die. Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the system 100 according to any of the embodiments above, the water-quality and water-flow control system, comprises at least one of: (i) at least one water pump for pumping water from a water source; and one or more sensors for measuring at least one of the following parameters: pH, electric conductivity, various ions concentration, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water level (within the planting niches); and (ii) a water treatment system comprising at least one of: a water filter, UV-light source, IR-light source, chloride addition mechanism, or any combination thereof; and optionally at least one water chiller/heater, or both. [018] Lighting conditions are one of the main problems of plant growing, and insufficient lighting results in poor plant growth and reduced flowering and fruits' productions. Almost all known systems use standard lighting and rely on experience and common knowledge when determining the positioning and intensity of the light source relative to the growing towers. However, this is not ideal. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the system of the present invention further comprises at least one light intensity sensor and/or at least one light-distance sensor, optionally located at said one or more vertical growing towers. This enables the 293912/ system 100 to measure the exact light intensity reaching each growing plant and in turn to adjust the lighting intensity and/or composition and/or location and/or orientation. [019] The lighting within the system 100 is designed to assist in the growing and blooming process of the plants, and is controlled to provide both the appropriate spectrum and a light-dark cycle according to the plants’ growing stage and condition. For instance, the light period can be extended or shortened as the plants reach their blooming time. The light source may further be designed to provide lighting to the plants from any direction, i.e. top, bottom and sides, to facilitate uniform lighting thereof. This can be obtained, e.g., by using multiple light sources and/or by rotating the plant niches to expose "rear"-located niches to a "front"-located light source(s). Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the system 100 of the invention, the at least one light source is designed to provide full spectrum lighting from all directions of the plant, i.e. top, bottom and sides thereof. [020] The rail(s) 102 within the system according to any of the embodiments above can be of any type, size and shape. In specific embodiments, the rail(s) 102 is a monorail. In alternative embodiments it consists of two rails. The rail(s) 102 can be an upper rail, meaning that the vertical growing towers are hang therefrom downwardly. Alternative, it may be a bottom rail, in which case the vertical growing towers are positioned thereon upwardly. In specific embodiments, the system 100 comprises both an upper and lower monorails (and optionally a middle rail), enabling placing the vertical growing towers in between the two rails for stability. [021] The system 100 of the invention is designed to be autonomous in terms of controlling the growing conditions such as: temperature, humidity, lighting, irrigation, and fertilization. This is enabled by the computerized system, which can be either locally, i.e. attached or within the system, or can be remote, in which case it is associated with the different components of the system 100 via wires or wirelessly. The computerized system is designed to receive data regarding the different growing conditions from various sensors within the system designed to measure, e.g., temperature, humidity, lighting intensity and duration, irrigation status and soil wetness, electrolytes, and other fertilizers’ concentration, etc. [022] Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the system 100 according to any of the embodiments above, the one or more sensors are designed to measure at least one of: humidity, light, salinity, temperature, fertilization, plant-image, or any combination thereof. In further embodiments, the one or more sensors transmit signals to a computer/computerized 293912/ system (local or remote) for real-time analysis and optimization of growing conditions in term of irrigation conditions, such as environment conditions, composition of the irrigation solution, amount, fertilizers’ content, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, etc.; light conditions such as light intensity, dark-light cycle, durations, light wavelength, etc.; and gas exchange potential (e.g. humidity, O2 and CO2). Such real-time analysis and optimization of the growing conditions enable to grow essentially uniform plants, e.g., in term of chemical profile, and optionally physical appearance. In specific embodiments, the above data as obtained by the sensor(s) is monitored in real time by a machine learning algorithm that is constantly adapted and modified according to the type of plant being grown, growing conditions, and any other desired parameter in order to optimize and improve cultivation results. [023] In certain embodiments of the system 100 according to any of the embodiments above, the computerized system further monitors and controls the plant’s growing condition and blooming in real-time, e.g., by obtaining photo images or videos using one or more cameras, and/or sampling of plants, thereby monitoring plant’s growing conditions and blooming. [024] In certain embodiments, the computerized system comprises a processor and memory, with a machine learning algorithm that monitors and alters all cultivation and environmental conditions, based on: pre-defined range of each measured parameter, empiric results from previous cultivation cycles, and real time processing of the plants’ condition (e.g. obtained by photo images and/or sampling thereof). [025] In certain embodiments, the system 100 according to any of the embodiments above is designed to maximize plant growth per square meter, reduce electricity resources, reduce irrigation water resources, and reduce human/labor resources. This is obtained by its ability to grow large number of plants in vertical growing towers that move around on a rail(s) 102 and by controlling the growing conditions by the computerized system that monitors and controls all aspects of the plant growth to maintain them ideal for optimal plant growth and Saffron production thereby. In addition, this is enabled by the ability of the system 100 to maintain all the following growing parameters identical for all the plants grown in the space 101 : irrigation conditions such as composition of the irrigation solution, amount, fertilizers’ content, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, etc.; light conditions such as light intensity, dark-light cycle, durations, light wavelength, etc.; and gas exchange potential (e.g. humidity, O2 and CO2), thereby enabling the production of essentially uniform plants, e.g., in term of 293912/ chemical profile, blooming period, and optionally physical appearance. In specific embodiments, these parameters are monitored in real time by a machine learning algorithm that is constantly adapted and modified according to the type of plant being grown, growing conditions, and any other desired parameter. [026] In order to further save growing space, it is possible to use multiple systems of the invention. In such a case, it is possible to connect several systems to a single water source, a single fertilization source, a single water-quality and water-flow control system, and/or to a single computing system. [027] In order to prevent shading of one plant over a nearby plant, it is desirable to place one plant as far away as possible from a nearby plant. This can be done by placing the plants in a zigzag orientation. Accordingly, each one of the one or more growing towers of the system according to any of the embodiments above, comprises planting niches in a zigzag orientation from bottom to top. This further enables growing plants all around the perimeter of the tower. [028] Notably, heat clearance is of high agronomic significance: clearing heat from the space 101 , generated e.g., due to the light source, enables to decrease the minimal distance between the light source and the plant/canopy, and to grow more plants in a smaller space, thereby enabling to reduce growing space which enables adding more plants and/or growing larger plants in a given area. [029] In specific embodiments, the growing towers rotate on the rail(s) 102 to expose all the plants in the planting/growing niches to the light source. This enables planting plants in all niches of the growing tower. [030] In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a Saffron-production system 100 comprising: a sealed space 101 ; a water source or a water inlet; a watering system; a fertilization system; a water-quality and water-flow control system, comprising: (i) at least one water pump for pumping water from a water source, (ii) one or more sensors for measuring at least one of the following parameters: pH, electric conductivity, various ions concentration, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water level (within the planting niches), and optionally (iii) a water treatment system comprising at least one of: a water filter, UV-light source, IR-light source, chloride addition mechanism, or any combination thereof; and optionally at least one water chiller/heater; at least one light source designed to provide full spectrum lighting for Crocus sativus plants from all directions of the plants grown within said space 101 ; at least two ventilation unit designed to: (i) ventilate said sealed space 101and 293912/ maintain a suitable gas content for Crocus sativus plants (i.e. corresponding to mountain air, with negative and positive ions content), and (ii) cool said space 101and plants within to a temperature of from about 4°C to 25°C; at least one cooling and heating unit designed to control and maintain the temperature inside said space 101 to be from about 4°C to about 25°C; at least one nutrients/salts/ acids reservoir and a pump associated therewith, designed to provide said nutrients/salts/acids into the water according to need; at least one sensor designed to measure at least one of: photosynthesis, light intensity, light-distance, humidity, salinity, temperature, fertilization, plant-image, or any combination thereof; one or more rails 102 equipped with a plurality of vertical plant-growing constructs 103 , each contract comprising multiple plant-growing niches, said rail(s) 102 is designed to rotate and move said contracts within said space 101 , wherein said rotation allows access to all said planting niches located on all said vertical constructs 103 ; and a computerized system comprising a processor and memory, designed to monitor and control environmental conditions within said space 101 , based on: measured parameters obtained from one or more sensors, predefined range of each measured parameter measured, and empiric results and protocols from previous cultivation cycles. [031] In specific embodiments thereof, the one or more rails 102 are monorails. In further or alternative specific embodiments, the computerized system further monitors and controls the plant’s growing conditions in real-time. [032] As noted above, the above system 100 is designed to maximize plant growth per square meter, reduce electricity resources, reduce irrigation water resources, and reduce human/labor resources, wherein all the following growing parameters are optionally maintained identical for all the plants grown in said space 101 : irrigation conditions, light conditions, and gas exchange potential, thereby enabling production of essentially uniform plants. [033] The present invention further provides a method for maximizing Saffron production by maximizing Crocus sativus plants growth per square meter. [034] In certain embodiments, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a system 100 according to any of the embodiments above and connecting same to a water source; (ii) planting Crocus sativus plants in the growing niches within the vertical growing towers; (iii) turning the system on to thereby: enable watering/irrigation and fertilization; activating the light source(s); activating the at least one ventilation unit; monitoring and controlling the 293912/ (growing) conditions within the space 101 ; and alerting a user that the Crocus sativus plants have bloomed and are ready for harvest; and (iv) picking/harvesting the ready flowers, wherein the picking/harvesting of the flowers can be carried out by a single picker by rotating the plant-growing constructs 103 , thereby enabling maximized Saffron production in a very limited area and labor. [035] In alternative embodiments, the method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a Saffron-production system 100 and connecting same to a water source; (ii) planting Crocus sativus plants in all growing niches within the system 100 ; (iii) turning the system 100 on to thereby enable watering/irrigation and fertilization; activating light source(s); activating at least one ventilation unit; monitoring and controlling (growing) conditions within the system as well as the following parameters: temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, electric conductivity, and negative and positive ions content; monitoring and controlling water-quality and water-flow within the system in terms of: pH, dissolved oxygen, various ions concentration, and water level within planting niches; and alerting a user that the Crocus sativus plants have bloomed and are ready for harvest; (iv) after planting the Crocus sativus plants, freezing the plants at least at about 0°C for 10-20 days; followed by gradually raising the temperature for a period of about 3 weeks to reach a temperature of about 16°C, wherein during the freezing period, there is no watering and no lighting; (v) identifying that the Crocus sativus plants have bloomed, followed by drying the plants and flowers at about 28°C for about 10-20 days, wherein during the drying period, there is no watering; (vi) picking/harvesting the ready flowers, wherein the picking/harvesting of the flowers can be carried out by a single picker by rotating the plant-growing constructs 103 , thereby enabling maximized Saffron production in a very limited area and labor. [036] The picking of the flowers in the method according to any of the embodiments above can also be done by a machine, which can either be stationary and let the plants arrive to it by rotation of the towers by the rail(s) 102 , or may be mobile and move along the growing towers, optionally along / by the rail(s) 102 . [037] Since the system 100 is electric, it may require connection thereof to a power source, such as the main electric system. Alternatively, it may be accompanied with a generator, thereby making it completely autonomous and not rely on an external power source. [038] In certain embodiments, the operation of the system 100 according to any of the embodiments above is completely autonomous and is controlled by the computing system and optionally by an algorithm and AI. postdated April 25, 2023 293912/ id="p-39" id="p-39"

[039] In certain embodiments, the method of the invention according to any of the embodiments above is designed to provide Saffron flowers several times a year, e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more times a year, by controlling the various components of the system 100 (e.g. watering, temperature, humidity, ventilation, etc.) to replicate the optimal growing conditions in 2, 3 ,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more cycles (respectively) a year. [040] In certain embodiments of the method according to any of the embodiments above, the Saffron-production system 100being used comprises: a sealed space 101 ; a water source or a water inlet; a watering system; a fertilization system; a water-quality and water-flow control system, wherein said system comprises: at least one water pump for pumping water from a water source; water-quality sensors for measuring the following parameters: pH, electric conductivity, various ions concentration, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water level within the planting niches; a water treatment system that comprises: a water filter, a UV- and/or IR-light source, chloride addition mechanism; and at least one water chiller or heater; at least one light source designed to provide full spectrum lighting for Crocus sativus plants grown within said space 101 ; at least one ventilation unit designed to ventilate said sealed space 101and maintain a suitable gas content for Crocus sativus plants, i.e. corresponding to mountain air, with negative and positive ions content; one or more rails 102 equipped with a plurality of vertical plant-growing constructs 103 , each contract comprising multiple plant-growing niches, said rail(s) 102 is designed to rotate and move said contracts within said space 101 , wherein said rotation allows access to all said planting niches located on all said vertical constructs 103 ; and a computerized system comprising a processor and memory, designed to monitor and control environmental conditions within said space 101 , based on: measured parameters obtained from one or more sensors, predefined range of each measured parameter measured, and empiric results and protocols from previous cultivation cycles [041] In certain embodiments of the method according to any of the embodiments above, the planting of the Crocus sativus plants in the growing niches means seeding, planting Saffron onions (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more times a year), or planting clones/cuttings (produced in a sterile laboratory continuously thereby enabling reaching flowering more than times a year). The planting can be either manual or mechanic using a dedicated planting system/robot/arm, and it can be rapid, thanks to the ability of the growing towers to move along the rail(s) 102 thereby constantly providing empty planting niches before the planter. [042] The method of the invention is characterized in that it reduces: power consumption, required amount of irrigation water; and HR/labor resources. The reduction in HR costs is postdated April 25, 2023 293912/ possible since minimal handling of the plants is needed throughout the growth cycle. In addition, no need for cumbersome movements of the plants from place to place (which is usually needed when the plants grow and have different requirements that forces their displacement and moving). [043] In certain embodiments of the method of the invention, all the following growing parameters are maintained identical for all plants grown therein: irrigation conditions, environment conditions, light conditions, and gas exchange potential, thereby enabling production of essentially uniform plants and blooming. [044] In certain embodiments of the method of any of the embodiments above, the light sources’ intensity, composition, and duration of activation, are determined by said computing system according to the distance of the light source from the plant and according to the plant's growing stage. [045] In certain embodiments, the method according to any of the embodiments above further comprises at least one of the following steps: (i) monitoring and controlling the following parameters within said space 101 : temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and electric conductivity; and/or (ii) monitoring and controlling the following parameters of the irrigation water: pH, dissolved oxygen, various ions concentration, and water level (within the planting niches). In specific embodiments, the controlling of parameters is by a computing system based on data received from sensors within the system. [046] In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method for maximizing Saffron production by maximizing Crocus sativus plants growth per square meter, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a system 100 according to any of the embodiments above and connecting same to a water source; (ii) planting Crocus sativus plants in the growing niches within the vertical growing towers; (iii) turning the system on to thereby: enable watering/irrigation and fertilization; activating the light source(s); activating the at least one ventilation unit; monitoring and controlling the (growing) conditions within the space 101 ; and alerting a user that the Crocus sativus plants have bloomed and are ready for harvest; (iv) picking/harvesting the ready flowers; (v) monitoring and controlling the following parameters within said space 101 : temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and electric conductivity; and (vi) monitoring and controlling the following parameters of the irrigation water: pH, dissolved oxygen, various ions concentration, and water level (within the planting niches), wherein the picking/harvesting of the flowers can be carried out by a single picker by 293912/ rotating the plant-growing constructs 103 , thereby enabling maximized Saffron production in a very limited area and labor [047] In certain embodiments of the method according to any of the embodiments above, the intensity and/or composition of the light source(s) and the duration of their activation, are determined according to the physical distance of the light source from the plants, the plant type, and according to plant's growing stage. [048] In certain embodiments, the method of the above embodiments further comprises a step of controlling the environment within the space 101 . The term "environment" as used herein refers to temperature, humidity, light intensity, CO2 concentration, O2 concentration, air flow velocity, etc. in the grow facility/greenhouse. [049] In certain embodiments of the method of the above embodiments, the temperature and other environmental parameters are determined according to the plant’s type and according to plant's growing / blooming stage. [050] In certain embodiments of the method of the above embodiments, the humidity and CO2 levels, as well as the electrical conductivity (EC), pH, dissolved oxygen and ion concentration of the water are determined according to the plant’s type and according to plant's growing stage. [051] In certain embodiments of the method of the invention, the sensors within the system 100 transmit signals to a computer/computing system, either local or a remote one, for real-time analysis and optimization of the plant’s growing conditions in term of irrigation conditions such as composition of the irrigation solution, amount, fertilizers’ content, pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, etc.; environment conditions such as temperature and humidity; light conditions such as light intensity, dark-light cycle, durations, light wavelength, etc.; and gas exchange potential (e.g. humidity, O2 and CO2). Such real-time analysis and optimization of the growing conditions enable to grow essentially uniform plants, e.g. in term of chemical profile, and optionally physical appearance. In specific embodiments, the above data as obtained by the sensor(s) is monitored in real time by a machine learning algorithm that is constantly adapted and modified according to the type of plant being grown, growing conditions, and any other desired parameter to optimize and improve cultivation results. [052] In specific embodiments of the method of the invention, a machine learning algorithm within the computing system monitors and alters all cultivation and environmental conditions, based on: pre-defined range of each measured parameter, empiric results from 293912/ previous cultivation cycles, genetic data of the plant species grown, and real time processing of the plants’ condition (e.g. obtained by photo images and/or sampling thereof). [053] Accordingly, in certain embodiments of the method according to any of the embodiments above, all growing parameters within the system 100 during the growing of the plants are controlled by a computing system based on data received from sensors within the system 100 . In further specific embodiments, all the following growing parameters are maintained identical for all plants grown therein: irrigation conditions, environment conditions; light conditions, and gas exchange potential, thereby enabling production of essentially uniform plants. [054] The invention will now be illustrated by the following non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying figures. [055] Fig. 1 illustrates a Saffron-production system of the invention with vertical plant-growing towers 103 mounted onto a monorail 102 , wherein growing niches within the towers are in fact individual pots hanging one over the other in a distance that eliminates shading of an upper plant onto the plant below. [056] Fig. 2 illustrates an alternative Saffron-production system of the invention in which the vertical plant-growing towers are vertical tubes with growing niches spread thereacross in a zigzag orientation to eliminate shading of one plant over the other.

Claims (7)

293912/ CLAIMS

1. A method for maximizing Saffron production, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a Saffron-production system 100 and connecting same to a water source; (ii) planting Crocus sativus plants in all growing niches within the system 100 ; (iii) turning the system 100 on to thereby: - enable watering/irrigation and fertilization; - activating light source(s); - activating at least one ventilation unit; - monitoring and controlling (growing) conditions within the system as well as the following parameters: temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, electric conductivity, and negative and positive ions content; - monitoring and controlling water-quality and water-flow within the system in terms of: pH, dissolved oxygen, various ions concentration, and water level within planting niches; and - alerting a user that the Crocus sativus plants have bloomed and are ready for harvest; (iv) after planting the Crocus sativus plants, freezing the plants at least at about 0°C for 10-20 days; followed by gradually raising the temperature for a period of about weeks to reach a temperature of about 16°C, wherein during the freezing period, there is no watering and no lighting; (v) identifying that the Crocus sativus plants have bloomed, followed by drying the plants and flowers at about 28°C for about 10-20 days, wherein during the drying period, there is no watering; (vi) picking/harvesting the ready flowers, wherein the picking/harvesting of the flowers can be carried out by a single picker by rotating the plant-growing constructs 103 , thereby enabling maximized Saffron production in a very limited area and labor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the Saffron-production system 100comprises: - a sealed space 101 ; - a water source or a water inlet; - a watering system; - a fertilization system; postdated April 25, 2023 293912/ - a water-quality and water-flow control system, wherein said system comprises: • at least one water pump for pumping water from a water source; • water-quality sensors for measuring the following parameters: pH, electric conductivity, various ions concentration, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and water level within the planting niches; • a water treatment system that comprises: a water filter, a UV- and/or IR-light source, chloride addition mechanism; and • at least one water chiller or heater; - at least one light source designed to provide full spectrum lighting for Crocus sativus plants grown within said space 101 ; - at least one ventilation unit designed to ventilate said sealed space 101and maintain a suitable gas content for Crocus sativus plants, i.e. corresponding to mountain air, with negative and positive ions content; - one or more rails 102 equipped with a plurality of vertical plant-growing constructs 103 , each contract comprising multiple plant-growing niches, said rail(s) 102 is designed to rotate and move said contracts within said space 101 , wherein said rotation allows access to all said planting niches located on all said vertical constructs 103 ; and - a computerized system comprising a processor and memory, designed to monitor and control environmental conditions within said space 101 , based on: measured parameters obtained from one or more sensors, predefined range of each measured parameter measured, and empiric results and protocols from previous cultivation cycles.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the planting of the Crocus sativus plants in the growing niches means seeding, planting Saffron onions, or planting clones/cuttings.

4. The method of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it reduces: power consumption, required amount of irrigation water; and HR/labor resources.

5. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light sources’ intensity, composition, and duration of activation, are determined by said computing system according to the distance of the light source from the plant and according to the plant's growing stage.

6. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said controlling of parameters is by a computing system based on data received from sensors within the system. 293912/

7. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein all the following growing parameters are maintained identical for all plants grown therein: irrigation conditions, environment conditions, light conditions, and gas exchange potential, thereby enabling production of essentially uniform plants and blooming. For the Applicant Paulina Ben-Ami Patent Attorneys