By: Steffanie Agerkop Outline Malthusian Theory & current - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

• Deforestation to provide more agricultural land
• Monoculture farming

Vertical farming

• Grow vertically and reforest!
• Polyculture farming

Climate Change

Traditional Agriculture

• Destroying carbon sinks by clearing land
• 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 Vertical farming

• More space to replant trees for carbon storage
• Growing close to consumer cutting carbon
• Indoor, weather controlled for optimal growth and

yields

• Use of solar panels to cut the need for fossil-fuel

based machinery

Ocean Acidification, Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Traditional Agriculture

• Overuse of nutrients
• Runoff into streams, lakes, estuaries, and oceans
• Imbalance of ocean pH affects aquatic life
• Coral bleaching
• Dead zones

Vertical farming

• Specific nutrient per plant
• Zero run-off and zero nutrient waste
• Zero impact on ocean pH with closed-loop
• Zero contribution to dead zones with

closed-loop

Freshwater use

Traditional Agriculture

• Huge water waster
• Although, we are starting to widely

implement drip irrigation Vertical Farming

• Specific water for plants, extra gets recirculated
• Use of rainwater for irrigation
• Less dependent on aquifers and freshwater

Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030

Imagine exercise

Vertical farming

Pros:

• 100% Organic
• Closed-loop and weather controlled
• Increase Solar energy and rain harvesting
• Eliminate need for pesticide resistant and

drought/flood resistant GMO’s

• Year round crop growth
• 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

Cons:

• Infrastructure costs
• Land costs
• Maintenance costs
• Costly: Vancouver
• Human pollination: Polydome
• Failure in technology = failure in crops

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
• f 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