PlantLab's patent for indoor farming reaffirmed

In June 2017, PlantLab had already successfully defended itself before the European Patent Office (EPO) against the appeals procedure brought by Signify and Certhon Build BV. Later, in November 2021, PlantLab's patent was nevertheless declared invalid in an appeals procedure, although PlantLab made it clear, at the time, that it expected the patent to be fully reinstated in future. That is now the case with the 'divisional' granted by the EPO on the PlantLab patent dating from 2008.

Critical link

The patent for indoor farming applies to the manner in which the evaporation and leaf temperature of the crops are controlled. This is needed to ensure that plants can grow in optimum conditions indoors without any sunlight. "PlantLab is very happy that this decision once again confirms that the original indoor farming patent is innovative and new and that it makes a significant contribution to the global indoor farming sector", explains Eelco Ockers, CEO of PlantLab.

The patent dating from 2008 is therefore once again registered and recognized in 75 countries, including the United States. As PlantLab views this technology as a critical link towards improved food production close to the consumer, the company wishes to make it possible for as many parties as possible to make use of its patent. Interested parties can contact PlantLab in this regard.

About PlantLab

PlantLab specialises in technology for innovative indoor farming, the sustainable source of nutritious food for the future. The company was founded in 2010 in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands, with the goal of improving the global food supply. Over the past 10 years, the company has already invested € 70 million in the development of technology that makes it possible to grow healthy, day fresh vegetables close to the consumer anywhere in the world with a minimum impact on the environment, without the use of chemical crop agents, and a radical reduction in water consumption. Enough crops can be grown on an area no bigger than two football fields to supply a city of 100,000 residents with 200 g of fresh vegetables every day. As the new technology can be used all year all over the world, it also makes it possible to radically rethink and shorten the logistics chain. The benefits: superior product quality, longer shelf life, much less food wastage, and practically no CO2 emissions or nuisance associated with long-distance transport. PlantLab aims to make its technology accessible to everyone and therefore make fresh and sustainably grown food also accessible to everyone.

Photo: PlantLab has again obtained its European patent for indoor farming. The patent applies retroactively from 13 October 2008, the original priority date. The photo shows the first scaled-up production location with an IP licence from PlantLab.

Source: HortiBiz