How a Microgreen Farm Saves Time with Automated Systems
This farm grows and distributes microgreenery to local restaurants every seven to twenty-one days, requiring equipment that needs minimal labor.
Edited by EE Staff
Cool Stuff
May 18, 2026
Food
Hua Momona Farms is located on the Hawaiian island of Maui and focuses on the cultivating of microgreens for the local restaurant industry. This process uses a greenhouse to facilitate the growth of hundreds of trays of microgreens over the course of a seven to twenty-one day period.
High volumes of loading and unloading of the trays in which the microgreenery is grown is facilitated through the use of a conveyor system. Depending on the operation, the conveyor needed to feature both automated and manual control of its movement.
The automated movement of the conveyor system is controlled by American Control Electronics’ PAT450-10, a single quadrant SCR industrial motor control that features a dust and water resistant NEMA 4X enclosure with forward and reversing capabilities. The PAT series is versatile and robustly designed. It’s a full-featured drive for PM or shunt-wound motors available for use in harsh environments.
Horizontal movement of the conveyor system allows for manual positioning over the many rows of tables where the microgreens will grow until they are ready to be cultivated. The variable speed and directional control of the PAT450-10, and the novel conveyer positioning method, allow this entire growing process to be completed from start to finish with only two attendants, which saves costs in the day-to-day business of the farm.
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