PROJECTS & COLLABORATIONS
Precision-controlled vertical farm drives strawberry and vanilla research
Grow Dynamics, specialists in vertical farming and controlled environment systems, delivered a research facility in Suffolk for strawberry and vanilla cultivation. Requiring precise, low- temperature control, the project saw them collaborate with Panasonic to integrate advanced heat pump technology, supporting optimal growing conditions and crop testing
G
row Dynamics, specialists in vertical farming and controlled environment systems, delivered a research facility in Suffolk for strawberry and vanilla
cultivation. Requiring precise, low- temperature control, the project saw them collaborate with Panasonic to integrate advanced heat pump technology, supporting optimal growing conditions and crop testing The Grow Dynamics scope included full system design and integration across climate control, irrigation and fertigation, grow lighting, automation and centralised monitoring. Alfonso Cenname, head of engineering, and Vlad Petryk, director at Grow Dynamics, led the design, specification and installation of four Panasonic 14kW adaptive ducted twin split systems. This configuration delivers precise and consistent climate conditions, enabling accurate control of the crop environment and supporting the testing of new crop varieties. The fully enclosed facility comprises four independent grow rooms constructed from insulated, food-grade panels, each designed to house approximately 4,000 plants. Achieving consistent, high-quality yields required meticulous control of temperature, humidity, lighting and irrigation within each room. Three rooms were dedicated to strawberry cultivation and one to vanilla, each with distinct environmental requirements. Strawberries thrive at 10-12°C at night and 22°C during the day
with 60–70% humidity, while vanilla requires warmer, more humid conditions to replicate a tropical climate. Rob Towell recommended the Panasonic
PACi NX low-temperature units for their energy efficiency, performance and reliability. Each grow room was equipped with two adaptive ducted indoor units paired with a dedicated outdoor condenser. Grow Dynamics integrated its proprietary VertiOne control and fertigation platform to synchronise climate, irrigation and lighting systems within a fully closed-loop growing environment. The advanced irrigation system delivers fertilised water through a closed-loop recycling process, achieving a
90-95% reduction in water usage compared to traditional growing methods. Lighting systems were configured to replicate natural daylight cycles and synchronise with temperature changes to reflect day and night states. Since installation at the end of June 2025,
the Grow Dynamics designed controlled environment has consistently delivered high- quality strawberry production year-round. Panasonic’s units have enabled stable, repeatable climate conditions that support consistent crop performance, and Grow Dynamics plans to continue using Panasonic solutions on future projects due to their sustainability and reliability.
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BSEE Vol.45 No4 April 2026 CONSULTANT
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ON THE NEW CITY MULTI R32 VRF YXM RANGE
Delivering market-leading performance, our enhanced and expanded range helps you plan for the future.
Mitsubishi Electric’s City Multi R32 VRF range is evolving and will soon be available in system capacities from 12 to 112kW, with both Heat Pump and Heat Recovery options. We’ve re-engineered our popular plug and play VRF system with a new ultra-compact modular YXM chassis design, flexible piping configurations, market-leading low noise levels and BS EN 378 part 3 compliant safety measures. Incorporating a unique patented Vertical Flat Tube (VFT) heat exchanger, the new City Multi R32 VRF YXM range delivers high seasonal efficiencies, low operational costs and a significant reduction in whole life carbon.
Available to install from Spring 2026, if you are a Consultant and have a medium to long term specification project suitable for our new City Multi R32 VRF YXM range and would like to speak to a Mitsubishi Electric Account Manager, or simply to register for future updates, please visit:
CityMultiYXM.com NEW YXM RANGE Check out all the latest building services products - starting on page 25
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