Farming in the City: Higher Up and With No Soil?
Over 54% of the world’s population live in cities today, and increasingly so. As seen previously, the longer food has to travel from farm to plate, the larger its C footprint. Growing food where most people live can hence reduce the emissions of the food supply, and can improve food security.
But open space is often scarce in cities; vertical farming offers a way to maximize production per square meter: stacking cultivated layers in buildings and in multistory rooftop greenhouses.
But open space is often scarce in cities; vertical farming offers a way to maximize production per square meter: stacking cultivated layers in buildings and in multistory rooftop greenhouses.
GrowUp, a vertical farm occupying an old underground car park in London.
This allows producing fruits and vegetables year-round in controlled, enclosed environments that prevent from climatic and infectious risks, and maximize yields through optimal conditions.
Far less freshwater is used, as irrigation efficiency is maximized. It can be done in three ways: drip irrigation (nutrient-laden water delivered directly to the plants' roots), aeroponics (roots suspended in the air are fed with water vapor and nutrients) and hydroponics (roots lay in water with dissolved nutrients). Soil is not needed in the two latter! And last, it often uses very efficient LED that only produces the light spectra required for the plants to grow, hence saving unnecessary energy.
Far less freshwater is used, as irrigation efficiency is maximized. It can be done in three ways: drip irrigation (nutrient-laden water delivered directly to the plants' roots), aeroponics (roots suspended in the air are fed with water vapor and nutrients) and hydroponics (roots lay in water with dissolved nutrients). Soil is not needed in the two latter! And last, it often uses very efficient LED that only produces the light spectra required for the plants to grow, hence saving unnecessary energy.
As they are delivered in situ, products can be harvested ripe and delivered ultra-fresh. And although this promising technology sounds very expensive, its high yields make it economically feasible. We may be seeing farmed skyscrapers in the short term.
Diego Garcia-Vega - January 7th 2018