Method and apparatus for the scheduled production of plant extracts

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.

1 . A method for the scheduled production of harvested plant material in a genetically-isolated underground growth chamber, said method comprising: 
 a. Selecting a crop to be produced for harvesting as said harvested plant material;    b. Selecting a scheduled delivery time for said harvested plant material;    c. 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;  
   d. Calculating the planting time in accordance with the predetermined growth profile, by subtracting the growth period from the scheduled delivery time;    e. Planting the starting crop material specified in the predetermined growth profile in a genetically-isolated underground growth chamber at the calculated planting time, and growing the crop in accordance with said at least one controlled growing condition specified in the predetermined growth profile;    f. At the conclusion of the growth period, harvesting the crop to obtain the desired harvested plant material,    wherein by control of the growing conditions of the crop in the underground growth chamber in accordance with the selected predetermined growth profile, the conclusion of the growth 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.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the number of said at least one controlled growing conditions is one.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the number of said at least one controlled growing conditions is more than one.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the starting crop material is selected from the group: plant seeds, plant cuttings, plant propagating material.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the crop is selected from the group: natural plants, genetically modified plants, conventionally bred plants, or transient plants.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the 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. One or more hydroponic growing parameters, where hydroponic plant growth techniques to be employed; or    k. Specific types of equipment to be used within the growth chamber at desired times during the growth of the crop.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one controlled growing condition remains static throughout the growth period.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined growth profile includes predetermined adjustments for at least one controlled growing condition during the growth period.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined growth profile includes parameters for the conditional adjustment of at least one controlled growing condition during the growth period.  
     
     
         10 . 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.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the amount of starting plant material planted is determined in order to yield the desired amount of harvested plant material.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined growth profile is determined by growing and harvesting at least one test batch of the crop in an 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.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the genetically-isolated underground growth chamber is a drift in an underground mine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a downstream processing step comprising recovering at least one desired compound from the harvested plant material, said downstream processing step comprising: 
 a. In advance of calculation of the planting time, selecting a downstream processing method to be used to recover said at least one compound from the harvested plant material, wherein the amount of time required to conduct said downstream processing method on the harvested plant material, being the downstream processing period, is known;    b. Modifying the calculation of the planting time by subtracting both the growth period and the downstream processing period from the scheduled delivery time;    c. At the conclusion of harvesting the crop yielding the desired harvested crop material, performing the selected downstream processing method upon the harvested plant material to yield said at least one compound;    wherein by performance of the downstream processing method as selected and determined in advance, the conclusion of the downstream processing period will approximately coincide with the scheduled delivery time.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the number of desired compounds to be recovered from the harvested plant material is one.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the number of desired compounds to be recovered from the harvested plant material is more than one.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  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.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  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.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said downstream processing step is conducted within the growth chamber.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said downstream processing step is conducted remotely from the growth chamber at a 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.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said genetically-isolated underground growth chamber is a drift in an underground mine.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  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.  
     
     
         23 . 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.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the genetically-isolated underground growth chamber is an underground growth chamber.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the number of desired plant compounds to be recovered is one.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the number of desired plant compounds to be recovered is more than one.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the number of selected crops to be grown is one.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  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.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the number of said at least one controlled growing conditions is one.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the number of said at least one controlled growing conditions is more than one.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said starting crop material is selected from the group: plant seeds, plant cuttings, plant propagating material.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said crop is selected from the group: natural plants, genetically modified plants, conventionally bred plants, or transient plants.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23  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.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said at least one controlled growing condition remains static throughout the growth period.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the predetermined growth profile includes predetermined adjustments for at least one said controlled growing condition during the growth period.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the predetermined growth profile includes parameters for the conditional adjustment of at least one said controlled growing condition during the growth period.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the predetermined growth profile also includes the projected yield of harvested plant material from a selected amount of starting plant material.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the amount of starting plant material planted is selected to yield the desired amount of harvested plant material.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23  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.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26  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.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 26  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.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said downstream processing step is conducted within the growth chamber.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 23  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.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 23  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.  
     
     
         45 . A method for modeling a growth profile for a crop for use in the scheduled production of harvested plant material from which a plant compound can be recovered, said method comprising growing a quantity of starting crop material of the crop in a genetically-isolated underground growth chamber under at least one monitored and controlled growth condition until said crop is ready to be harvested, wherein said growth profile comprises: 
 a. the type of starting crop material used;    b. details of said at least one controlled growing condition such that said controlled growing conditions can be subsequently replicated;    c. the time required from planting the starting crop material to the harvest of the plant material therefrom, being the growth period; and    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein said at least one controlled growing condition is maintained in a static fashion throughout the growth period.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45  wherein said at least one controlled growing condition is selected from the group comprising: 
 a. Growth medium in which the starting crop material will be planted;    b. Lighting parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired lighting profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    c. Temperature parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired temperature profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    d. Humidity parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired humidity profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    e. Irrigation parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired irrigation profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    f. Air quality parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired air contents for the crop being grown at the desired times;    g. 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;    h. Hydroponic growing parameters, where hydroponics plant growth techniques to be employed;    i. Specific types of equipment to be used within the growth chamber at desired times during the growth of the crop.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45  wherein at least one controlled growing condition is modified during the growth period, and wherein the relative times at which such modifications take place are also a part of said growth profile.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45  wherein conditional logic is developed for the growth profile whereby at least one of the controlled growing conditions can be modified in a subsequent replication of the growth profile upon detection of the requisite conditions for such a modification.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the yield of harvested plant material from a selected quantity of starting plant material is determined and contained within the growth profile such that a subsequent use of the growth profile could include a yield-based selection of the quantity of starting plant material.  
     
     
         51 . A genetically-isolated underground growth chamber for use in the scheduled production of harvested plant material, said underground growth chamber being equipped to control the growth environment for plants planted therein, and wherein said underground growth chamber is equipped to replicate at least one predetermined controlled growing condition under which crops may be grown therein; 
 wherein at least one selected crop can be grown in said underground growth chamber, in accordance with a predetermined growth profile comprising at least: 
 i. the type of starting plant material to be planted to grow the selected 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;  
   b. and wherein upon planting of a selected crop in accordance with such a predetermined growth profile, said underground growth chamber being capable of replicating said at least one predetermined growing condition contained therein;    c. and wherein upon planting a crop in said underground growth chamber at a planting time calculated by subtraction of the growth period from the scheduled delivery time for the crop, upon completion of the growth period under the predetermined controlled growing conditions specified in said growth profile the crop will be ready for harvest, yielding harvested plant material at approximately the scheduled delivery time;    d. and wherein by virtue of the genetically-isolated nature of the underground 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;    e. and wherein by virtue of the genetically-isolated nature of the underground growth chamber, the environment outside of the underground 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.    
     
     
         52 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  wherein the number of controlled growing conditions which the chamber is capable of replicating is one.  
     
     
         53 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  wherein the number of controlled growing conditions which the chamber is capable of replicating is more than one.  
     
     
         54 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  wherein the controlled growing conditions which the chamber is equipped to replicate and control are selected from the group comprising: 
 a. Growth medium in which the starting crop material will be planted;    b. Lighting parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired lighting profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    c. Temperature parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired temperature profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    d. Humidity parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired humidity profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    e. Irrigation parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired irrigation profile for the crop being grown at the desired times;    f. Air quality parameters for use within the growth chamber to provide the desired air contents for the crop being grown at the desired times;    g. 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;    h. Hydroponic growing parameters, where hydroponics plant growth techniques to be employed;    i. Specific types of equipment to be used within the growth chamber at desired times during the growth of the crop.    
     
     
         55 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  wherein said at least one controlled growing condition remains static throughout the growth period.  
     
     
         56 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  wherein the predetermined growth profile includes preset adjustments for at least one said controlled growing condition during the growth period.  
     
     
         57 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  wherein the predetermined growth profile includes parameters for the conditional adjustment of at least one said controlled growing condition during the growth period, upon detection of the triggering conditions of same.  
     
     
         58 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  further comprising downstream processing equipment capable of recovering at least one desired compound from the harvested plant material, wherein by performance of the downstream processing step as selected and determined in advance, the conclusion of the downstream processing period will approximately coincide with the scheduled delivery time.  
     
     
         59 . The genetically-isolated underground growth chamber of  claim 51  wherein said genetically-isolated underground growth chamber is a drift in an underground mine.