Time to grow up!: Implementing innovative Vertical Agritechture to nurture our communities and planet By: Steffanie Agerkop
Outline ● Malthusian Theory & current statistics ● What is Vertical farming? ● Addressing the Planetary Boundaries ● Sustainable Development Goals ● Imagine the possibilities ● Case Studies ○ Amalie Arena ○ Plantagon ○ Sky Greens ○ Others ● Ready to grow up? ● Question & Comments? ● References
Malthusian Theory
Current Statistics ● 7.2 billion people and expecting 9.6 billion by 2050 (UN) ● 80% will reside in urban areas by 2050 (Population Reference Bureau) ● Rising middle class and lifestyle
What is Vertical Farming? “ Vertical farming as a component of urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating plant life within a skyscraper greenhouse or on vertically inclined surfaces.”
Planetary Boundaries
Biodiversity loss and land use change Traditional Agriculture Vertical farming ● Deforestation to provide more agricultural land ● Grow vertically and reforest! ● Monoculture farming ● Polyculture farming
Vertical farming Climate Change ● More space to replant trees for carbon storage ● Growing close to consumer cutting carbon ● Indoor, weather controlled for optimal growth and Traditional Agriculture yields ● Use of solar panels to cut the need for fossil-fuel ● Destroying carbon sinks by clearing land based machinery ● Heavy dependence on transporting produce ● Plants sensitive to climate change and differing weather patterns ● Use of tractors, heavy machinery, and trucks for transport that emit CO2
Ocean Acidification, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Traditional Agriculture Vertical farming ● Overuse of nutrients ● Specific nutrient per plant ● Runoff into streams, lakes, estuaries, and oceans ● Zero run-off and zero nutrient waste ● Imbalance of ocean pH affects aquatic life ● Zero impact on ocean pH with closed-loop ● Coral bleaching ● Zero contribution to dead zones with ● Dead zones closed-loop
Freshwater use Traditional Agriculture Vertical Farming ● Huge water waster ● Specific water for plants, extra gets recirculated ● Although, we are starting to widely ● Use of rainwater for irrigation implement drip irrigation ● Less dependent on aquifers and freshwater
Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030
Imagine exercise
Vertical farming Pros: Cons: ● 100% Organic ● Infrastructure costs ● Closed-loop and weather controlled ● Land costs ● Increase Solar energy and rain harvesting ● Maintenance costs ● Eliminate need for pesticide resistant and ● Costly: Vancouver drought/flood resistant GMO’s ● Human pollination: Polydome ● Year round crop growth ● Failure in technology = failure in crops ● 70%+ less water usage ● 100% local ● Small carbon foot-print ● Energy efficient after eliminating transport ● No toxic run-off ● Increase local jobs ● 1 acre = 4-6 acres
Case Studies ● Amalie Arena-Tampa ● Plantagon-Sweden ● Sky Greens-Singapore ● Hortus Celestia & Polydome-the Netherlands ● Aerofarm-New Jersey
Amalie Arena-Tampa ● 125 towers with seven levels each ● 1 acre of produce with fraction of space ● Providing: Greens, tomatoes, herbs, and assorted vegetables to fans and players ○ Meeting lettuce and herb needs for entire stadium
Plantagon-Sweden
Skygreens-Singapore ● Low carbon ● Hydraulic driven ● Composting food waste from nation ● August 2015: INDEX Award
Hortus Celestia-the Netherlands ● Ground floor: Houses, cafes, restaurants, exhibitions, office spaces, auditorium, and nearby schools ● Expo delivers educational and tourist attraction ● Rooftop garden ● Located in Ecological Expo-park ● Uses ETFE film ● Rainwater harvesting on roof for zero- energy gravity feeder irrigation
Polydome-the Netherlands
Aerofarm-New Jersey ● LED powered ● 95% less water usage ● 12-16 day crop cycle (leafy greens & herbs) ● Usage of Aeroponics ● No pesticides or run-off
Ready to grow up?!
Questions? Comments?
References ● http://www.kisscathcart.com/images/VIGoffice.jpg ● https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/un-report-world-population-projected-to-reach-9-6-billion-by-2050.html ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthusian_catastrophe ● https://www.idin.org/sites/default/files/Global-Goals-for-Sustainable-Development.png ● http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/food/dining/new-organic-garden-at-amalie-arena-feeds-players-fans/2204948 ● http://inhabitat.com/hortus-celestia-vertical-farm-showcases-the-future-of-dutch-greenhouse-industry/ ● http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/03/30m_vertical_farm_to_bring_jobs_fresh_greens_to_ne.html ● http://image.slidesharecdn.com/1gfep-pres-glf2014-final-141211172012-conversion-gate02/95/new-findings-on-the-dynamics-between-forests-land-use-and-food-security-9- 638.jpg?cb=1420586068 ● http://image.slidesharecdn.com/1gfep-pres-glf2014-final-141211172012-conversion-gate02/95/new-findings-on-the-dynamics-between-forests-land-use-and-food-security-9- 638.jpg?cb=1420586068 ● http://kvgktrailblazers.weebly.com/uploads/6/8/9/5/6895534/7898963_orig.jpg?202 ● http://www.prb.org/Publications/Lesson-Plans/HumanPopulation/Urbanization.aspx ● http://mic.com/articles/114516/thanks-to-these-dutch-engineers-we-may-soon-be-getting-our-food-from-skyscrapers ● http://plantagon.com/about/business-concept-2 ● https://hulshofschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/earth.jpg ● https://blue378.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/3-3-05overpopulation1.jpg ● https://geiasousuperman.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/population_growth1.jpg ● http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/06/what-is-vertical-farming/ ● http://www.tutufoundationusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/climate-change.jpg ● http://www.hortidaily.com/images/2015/0831/sky.jpg ● http://www.agf.nl/nieuws/2013/0410/toren2.jpg ● http://www.birdair.com/tensile-architecture/membrane/etfe ● http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/08/04/aerofarms-system-rendering.jpg_custom-5c42f8c871c51a88ac0ecfd5094a2f7d44eca601-s900-c85.jpeg ● http://www.except.nl/consult/polydome/images/Polydome_greenhouse_supermarket.jpg ● http://aerofarms.com/why/technology/ ● http://www.except.nl/en/#.en.projects.241-hortus-celestia ● http://www.stockholmresilience.org/21/research/research-programmes/planetary-boundaries/planetary-boundaries/about-the-research/the-nine-planetary-boundaries.html ● http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/02/AECOM-BIG-Navy-Pier-2.jp
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