Microgreens Grow Kit: A Novel Pilot Study to Improve Nutrition Awareness

Abstract

Obesity and associated non-communicable illnesses including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and stroke have steadily increased in prevalence over the last decade. Previous studies identified the involvement of individual, family, and community support intervention strategies used to prevent and manage obesity. Additionally, education on nutrition from the early stages of development is crucial for obesity prevention and control. Therefore, new preventative methods are needed to further engage and educate individuals and communities about health-conscious diets. Microgreen cultivation utilizes a reduced cost, low-footprint, recyclable, weather-independent, and transportable method to provide less nutrition-privileged communities with exposure to healthy foods within one week. A pilot microgreens outreach event, held at a medical school, tested for feasibility, and assessed for potential complications from utilizing microgreen cultivation as a teaching tool. Ninety-four first- and second-year medical students elected to participate in the pilot event and received a microgreen growing kit and a pre-and post-planting survey. Upon survey completion, nutrition attitudes and awareness levels were tracked. Analysis of survey results reveals that participants met this low-cost and easy teaching tool with enthusiasm, high levels of engagement, and minimal complications.

Factors Affecting Production, Nutrient Translocation Mechanisms, and LED Emitted Light in Growth of Microgreen Plants in Soilless Culture

“…The agricultural and horticultural microgreen plant requires specific temperatures and humidity for production in closed and open systems. Temperature and humidity of 30–33 °C, 75–80% for rice grass, 15–32 °C, 80–85% for barley grass, 16–27 °C, 75–80% for oat grass, 23–28 °C, 60–70% for wheat grass, 29–32 °C, 30% for jowar grass, 25–34 °C, 52–88% for maize grass, 10–21 °C, 8–80% for buckwheat, 21–26 °C, 14–16% for chickpea, 18–21 °C, 50–60% for mint, 17–27 °C, 60–70% for coriander, 21 °C, 50–60% for basil, 24–29 °C, 75% for rosemary, 32 °C, 95–100% for parsley, 9.2–23.8 °C, 50–100% for saltwort, 21 °C, 50–70% for shisho, −1.11 °C, 50–75% for sorrel, 18–23 °C, 60–70% for sage, 18–23 °C, 40–60% for beet, 15–24 °C, 50–70% for chard, 24–26 °C, 11–96% for quinoa, 22–26 °C, 100% for spinach, 33–36 °C, 80% for chives, 32–50 °C, 65–75% for garlic, 18–23 °C, 95–100% for leek, 55–75 °C, 40–50% for onion, 15–21 °C, 60–70% for carrot, 14–26 °C, 90–95% for celery, 16–18 °C, 58–63% for dill, 60–70 °C, 50–65% for fennel, 10–29 °C, 50–60% for radish, 15–17 °C, 50–60% for aster cress, 15–21 °C, 76% for mustard, 7.2–29.4 °C, 55–65% for kale, 25–30 °C, 40–70% for kohlrabi, 7.2–18 °C, 90–95% for arugula, 25 °C day/23 °C night, 60% for sunflower, 25–34 °C, 50–60% for linseed, 23–25 °C, 90–95% for chicory, 15–18 °C, 95–98% for endive, 20 °C, 80% for lettuce, 15–21 °C, 40–50% for beans, 12–25 °C, 40–50% for welsh onion, 12–25 °C, 40–50% for long green onion, and 23–32 °C, 90–95% for red swiss chard are required for microgreen plant production.…”

“…95,96 The agricultural and horticultural microgreen plant requires specific temperatures and humidity for production in closed and open systems. Temperature and humidity of 30−33 °C, 75−80% for rice grass, 97 15−32 °C, 80−85% for barley grass, 98 16−27 °C, 75−80% for oat grass, 99 23−28 °C, 60−70% for wheat grass, 100 29−32 °C, 30% for jowar grass, 101 25−34 °C, 52−88% for maize grass, 102 10−21 °C, 8−80% for buckwheat, 103 21−26 °C, 14−16% for chickpea, 104 18−21 °C, 50−60% for mint, 105 17−27 °C, 60−70% for coriander, 106 21 °C, 50−60% for basil, 107 110 21 °C, 50−70% for shisho, 111 −1.11 °C, 50−75% for sorrel, 112 18−23 °C, 60−70% for sage, 113 18−23 °C, 40− 60% for beet, 114 15−24 °C, 50−70% for chard, 115 24−26 °C, 11−96% for quinoa, 116 22−26 °C, 100% for spinach, 117 33−36 °C, 80% for chives, 118 32−50 °C, 65−75% for garlic, 119 18−23 °C, 95−100% for leek, 120 55−75 °C, 40−50% for onion, 121 15−21 °C, 60−70% for carrot, 122 14−26 °C, 90−95% for celery, 123 16−18 °C, 58−63% for dill, 124 60−70 °C, 50−65% for fennel, 125 10−29 °C, 50−60% for radish, 126 15−17 °C, 50−60% for aster cress, 127 15−21 °C, 76% for mustard, 128 7.2−29.4 °C, 55−65% for kale, 129 25−30 °C, 40−70% for kohlrabi, 130 7.2−18 °C, 90−95% for arugula, 131 25 °C day/23 °C night, 60% for sunflower, 132 25−34 °C, 50−60% for linseed, 133 23−25 °C, 90−95% for chicory,…”