# US 2008/0302005 A1 · Method and apparatus for the scheduled production of plant extracts

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- Number: US 2008/0302005 A1
- Document ID: US20080302005A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/137,751
- Filed: 2008-06-12
- Published: 2008-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2005-03-03
- Assignees: Prairie Plant Systems
- Inventors: BRENT ZETTL
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080302005A1

## CPC

- G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management
- G06Q 10/103: {Workflow collaboration or project management}
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method for the just-in-time delivery of harvested plant material and plant compounds grown in a genetically-isolated growth environment is provided. The desired crop is grown in an underground growth chamber according to a predetermined growing model in which all growing conditions are controlled. Component yield and completion time can be accurately forecast such that the harvest time of the plant material, or the completion of upstream plant extract recovery, can be accurately forecast. The use of an underground growth chamber allows for complete control over environmental factors in growth of the plant material, and also allows for the best possible protection of the growing environment against any contamination of genetic material from outside of the chamber, as well as protection of the outdoor environment against any contamination of genetic material from inside of the chamber. The method will be particularly useful in the production of plant-made pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for the scheduled production of at least one plant compound from harvested plant material grown in a genetically-isolated growing environment, said method comprising:
a. Selecting at least one plant compound to be produced from a selected crop;
b. Selecting a predetermined growth profile for growth of the selected crop in a genetically-isolated underground growth chamber, said predetermined growth profile comprising:
i. The type of starting plant material to be planted to grow the crop;
ii. at least one controlled growing condition under which the crop is to be grown; and
iii. the period of time required from the time of planting the starting crop material to the point of the crop being ready for harvest, this period of time being the growth period;
c. Selecting a downstream processing method to be used to recover said at least one plant compound from the harvested plant material, wherein the amount of time required to conduct the downstream processing method in respect of each plant compound, being the downstream processing period, is known;
d. Selecting the scheduled delivery time for at least one said plant compound;
e. Calculating the planting time for the crop in accordance with the predetermined growth profile and known downstream processing period, by subtracting the growth period and the downstream processing period from the scheduled delivery time;
f. In a genetically-isolated underground growth chamber, at the calculated planting time, planting the starting crop material specified in the predetermined growth profile and growing the crop in accordance with said at least one controlled growing condition specified in the predetermined growth profile;
g. At the conclusion of the growth period, harvesting the crop to obtain the desired harvested plant material;
h. Obtaining each desired plant compound from the harvested plant material in accordance with the previously selected downstream processing method, within the known downstream processing period for that compound;
wherein by control of the growing conditions of the crop in the genetically-isolated underground growth chamber in accordance with the selected predetermined growth profile, and by conducting the downstream processing of the plant compounds from the harvested plant material in accordance with the selected downstream processing method and the known downstream processing periods for each compound, the conclusion of the downstream processing period will approximately coincide with the scheduled delivery time;
and wherein by virtue of the genetically-isolated nature of the growth chamber, the crop and resulting harvested plant material are substantially protected from exposure to any genetic material from outside of the growth chamber during the growth or harvest of the crop;
and wherein by virtue of the genetically-isolated nature of the growth chamber, the environment outside of the growth chamber is substantially protected from exposure or spreading of any plant genetic material or byproducts from inside of the growth chamber during the growth or harvest of the crop.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the genetically-isolated underground growth chamber is an underground growth chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the number of desired plant compounds to be recovered is one.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the number of desired plant compounds to be recovered is more than one.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the number of selected crops to be grown is one.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the number of selected crops to be grown is more than one, and the predetermined growth profile includes at least one controlled growth condition for each selected crop.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the number of said at least one controlled growing conditions is one.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the number of said at least one controlled growing conditions is more than one.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said starting crop material is selected from the group: plant seeds, plant cuttings, plant propagating material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said crop is selected from the group: natural plants, genetically modified plants, conventionally bred plants, or transient plants.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said controlled growing conditions are selected from the group comprising:
a. Species of crop to be planted;
b. Physical source of the selected starting crop material;
c. Growth medium in which the starting crop material will be planted;
d. Lighting parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired lighting profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;
e. Temperature parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired temperature profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;
f. Humidity parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired humidity profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;
g. Irrigation parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired irrigation profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;
h. Air quality parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired air contents for the crop being grown at the desired times;
i. Fertilizer parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide desired amounts and types of fertilizer to the crop being grown at the desired times;
j. Hydroponic growing parameters, where hydroponics plant growth techniques are to be employed;
k. Specific types of equipment to be used within the growth chamber at desired times during the growth of the crop.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one controlled growing condition remains static throughout the growth period.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined growth profile includes predetermined adjustments for at least one said controlled growing condition during the growth period.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined growth profile includes parameters for the conditional adjustment of at least one said controlled growing condition during the growth period.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined growth profile also includes the projected yield of harvested plant material from a selected amount of starting plant material.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the amount of starting plant material planted is selected to yield the desired amount of harvested plant material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined growth profile is determined by growing and harvesting one or more test batches of the selected crop in a genetically-isolated underground growth chamber under at least one controlled growing condition, to measure and determine the controlled growing conditions to be replicated upon use of the predetermined growth profile.

### Claim 18 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the downstream processing period which is used to calculate the planting time is the time required to produce a selected one of the desired compounds.

### Claim 19 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the downstream processing period which is used to calculate the planting time is the downstream processing period required for a selected one of said desired compounds.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said downstream processing step is conducted within the growth chamber.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said downstream processing step is conducted remotely from the growth chamber at an downstream processing site, and wherein the calculation of the downstream processing period includes any necessary transportation times and conditions required for the movement of harvested plant material or completed compound to or from the downstream processing site from the growth chamber.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising a transport or storage period following harvesting of the harvested plant material, and in advance of the downstream processing step, wherein the length of said transport or storage period is also calculated into the determination of the planting time for the crop, so that the end of the downstream processing period, taking place following such transport or storage period, approximately coincides with the scheduled delivery time.