vertical farms
TRANSCRIPT
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS!
Stacking up urban farms
in a controlled indoor
environment could provide
food to cities and reduce
carbon footprint
Meera VaidyaScience of Sustainability
M.S. Sustainable Environmental Systems
December 02, 2014
Illustration showing vertical farming in concept, created with a mix of imagesWacots.org (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://wacots.org/nailhed/GrahamPaigeDeSoto/content/bin/images/large/IMG_8818.jpg123rf.com (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://us.123rf.com/450wm/majivecka/majivecka1403/majivecka140301514/27169708-vector-silhouette-of-a-gardener-on-white-background.jpgColourbox.com(n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from https://www.colourbox.com/preview/2761000-151094-collection-of-different-garden-vector-silhouettes-of-plants.jpg
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Introduction
TodayPopulation apx. 7 billion: >50% urban
apx. 842 million: chronic hunger
2050Population apx. 8.3-10.9 billion: >70% urban
apx. ???? million: chronic hunger
Population Division, Department of Economics and Social Affairs, United Nations (2014, August) “Our Urbanizing World”, Population Facts, 2014(3):1-2.
World population overview Today & Future
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Wfp.org (n.d.) “Who are the hungry”, Retrieved November 22, 2014, from http://www.wfp.org/hunger/who-are
50%
20%
10%
20%
Smallholder farming communities
Landless farming families
Herding, fishing or forest resources
Urban poor
World Hunger Distribution: TODAY
to feed growing population
reduce environmental effects
reduce burden on rural farmersHOW
Balance between supply
and demand while
managing the resourcesFIND
Solutions for urban
hunger problems with
built environmentPROVIDE
Introduction
Research questions
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Stacking up farms
Stacking up farms
Stacking up farms
Stacking up farms
Stacking up farms
Urban setting
Urban setting
Components of Vertical Farming
Introduction
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
1915 GREENHOUSE TODAY
Bailey G. (1915) “Vertical Farming”, Wilmington, Del.: E. I. duPont de
Nemours Powder Co.
Vogel, G. (2008, February 8) “Upending the Traditional Farm”, Science, 319:752-
753.
Verticalfarm (n.d.) “The Vertical Farm”, Retrieved November 12, 2014, from
http://www.verticalfarm.com/
Introduction
Vertical Farming: History
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Greenhousegrower.com. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01,2014 from http://files.greenhousegrower.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/rooftop_greenhouse.jpeg
earthlyissues.com. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01,2014 from http://www.earthlyissues.com/images/greenhouse.jpg
Green Infrastructure
Recreational Fruits & Vegetables
Methods
Rooftop Farming
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Hydroponics Aeroponicsshtfpreparedness.com. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01,2014 from
http://www.shtfpreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/nft.gifgreendesert.org. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01,2014 from
http://www.greendesert.org/images/Aeroponic-System.png
Discovermagazine (n.d.) Retrieved November 29, 2014, from http://discovermagazine.com/~/media/Images/Zen%20Photo/V/vertical%20
farms/1148.jpg?mw=738
agrihouse.com (n.d.) Retrieved November 29, 2014, from http://www.agrihouse.com/images/AgriHouse_Aeroponics.jpg
Methods
Hydroponics & Aeroponics
Absence of soil
Essential nutrients provided Computer based control & monitoring
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Despommier D. (2009) “The Rise of Vertical Farms”, Scientific American, 80-87, November
Fischetti, M. (2007) “Growing Vertical”, Scientific American Earth 3.0, 74-79.
Fischetti, M. (2007) “Growing Vertical”, Scientific American Earth 3.0, 74-79.
Methods
Skyscraper farms
Vegetables, fruits, chicken & fish
Mixed use structures
Recycle & reuse of resources
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Greenhouse based technology
World’s first low carbon, hydraulic
driven vertical farm
Tropical leafy vegetables
Sky Greens (2011) “A-Go-GoVertical Farming”, Retrieved November 11, 2014, from http://skygreens.appsfly.com/Media
Aluminum frame growing troughs
Irrigation with flooding methodology
Commercial use
Examples and Proposals
SkyGreens, Singapore
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Mixed use structure
3995 square meters of green space out
of 19,974 square meters of total space
spoon-tamago.com (2013, September 12) “urban farming and corporate culture collide in this Tokyo office building”, Retrieved November 25, 2014, from http://www.spoon-tamago.com/2013/09/12/urban-farming-and-corporate-culture-collide-in-this-tokyo-office-building/
Double skin green façade
Balconies with flowers & orange plants
Used by employees
Examples and Proposals
Pasona headquarters, Tokyo, Japan
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Industrial facility
Controlled environment and use of
renewable energy
Fruits & vegetables
Greenspiritsfarms (n.d.) “Green Spirits Farms”, Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.greenspiritfarms.com/
Hydroponics technology
Locally grown fresh food
Commercial use
Examples and Proposals
Green Spirits Farms, Michigan, USA
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Mixed use skyscraper
Controlled environment and use of
renewable energy
Vegetables, fruits, chicken & fish
Kurasek B. (2008, May) “The Living Skyscraper : Farming the Urban Skyline”, Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://www.blakekurasek.com/thelivingskyscraper.html
Mix of Hydroponics & others
Recycle & reuse of resources
Thesis Proposal
Examples and Proposals
The Living Skyscraper, USA
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Pros ConsCons
Discussion
Reducing farmlandDeforestation reduced
Possibilities of reforestation by incentives
Renewable energy & Recycle
Reduced agricultural contamination
Reduced stress on farmingControlled environment: Better quality
Climate extremes have no/less effect
Reduced transportation
Less pressure on rural farms
Feeding growing urban population Expensive techniques: Urban poor?
Survival issues for rural farmers
Locally grown fresh produce Limitations on type of produce
Social acceptance as a challengeVertical farms: too modified or too industrialized
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Discussion
Technological advancement
Global co-operation
Social & planners awareness
Future
TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya
Illustration showing vertical farming in concept, created with a mix of imagesWacots.org (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://wacots.org/nailhed/GrahamPaigeDeSoto/content/bin/images/large/IMG_8818.jpg123rf.com (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://us.123rf.com/450wm/majivecka/majivecka1403/majivecka140301514/27169708-vector-silhouette-of-a-gardener-on-white-background.jpgColourbox.com(n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from https://www.colourbox.com/preview/2761000-151094-collection-of-different-garden-vector-silhouettes-of-plants.jpg
“Growing crops in city skyscrapers
would use less water and fossil fuel
than outdoor farming, eliminate
agricultural runoff and provide
fresh food”
- Dickson DespommierDespommier D. (2009) “The Rise of Vertical Farms”,
Scientific American, 80-87, November.
Thank You