Francisco Revelles Marín, teacher of the University of Granada, has patented a new greenhouse which does not need plastics. According to the researcher «the invention refers to a type of greenhouse in which more solid structures can be used and they do not have to be renovated like plastics do. This way, we can make brick warehouses, with light entering through the windows. The cost of such warehouses could be higher at the beginning, but they do not have to be redone every so often, so at the end there is an important saving. It does not involve a great water or energy spending neither».
Revelles thought of this invention after reckoning that, from the seventies, greenhouse production has significantly increased «with the consequent increase in maintenance and construction». According to this teacher «Spain, even with its favourable weather, is forced to carry out importations of fruit and vegetables, decorative plants and tree cuttings, with a global amount of thousand million pesetas a year. One of the most to benefit is Holland, which even with an adverse climate exports to Spain». With this invention Francisco Revelles intends to produce in Spain España this kind of plants «and get importations to fall at least 50%». He thinks it would be possible, «as with this greenhouse we can control the whole production cycle, the amount of water, the temperature… at a minimum cost. Classic greenhouse methods need the sun as a heat source and it implies using light structures (plastics) to collect it effectively.
Plastics must be replaced at least every year or even more, with the consequent increase of annual costs. On the other hand, in classic greenhouses leaves receive more sun, although it is less necessary, than roots, where it is very necessary». For these reasons, according to the researcher, “plants do not grow fast enough, production falls and, as leaves receive more heat, they fall ill». This greenhouse, made up for a series of boxes which can have different shapes or sizes both in area and height, would be, according to Revelles, «the solution». This way «each of these boxes is characterized by showing an insulating coating all around delimiting an internal space (internal chamber) with a microclimate surrounding the roots of the plants». This greenhouse patented by Francisco Revelles could be the solution «for hail, wind and the importations of certain plants, creating direct and indirect positions in Spain».
Reference: Francisco Revelles Marín. Department of Cell Biology.
Phone number: 958 243516
