FAO's Role In Urban Agriculture

Urban Agriculture

The rapid growth of cities in the developing world is placing enormous demands on urban food supply systems.

Agriculture – including horticulture, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and fodder and milk production – is increasingly spreading to towns and cities. Urban agriculture provides fresh food, generates employment, recycles urban wastes, creates greenbelts, and strengthens cities’ resilience to climate change.

Report: Growing greener cities in Latin America and the Caribbean


Guidelines: Work on urban forestry 


Paper: Aquaponics in Gaza

Presentation: Urban Agriculture and Food Security - Some Facts and Figures

FAO's Role In Urban Agriculture

Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) can be defined as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities.

Urban and peri-urban agriculture provides food products from different types of crops (grains, root crops, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits), animals (poultry, rabbits, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, guinea pigs, fish, etc.) as well as non-food products (e.g. aromatic and medicinal herbs, ornamental plants, tree products).

UPA includes trees managed for producing fruit and fuelwood, as well as tree systems integrated and managed with crops (agroforestry) and small-scale aquaculture.

Food Security

UPA can make an important contribution to household food security, especially in times of crisis or food shortages.

Produce is either consumed by the producers, or sold in urban markets, such as the increasingly popular weekend farmers’ markets found in many cities.

Because locally produced food requires less transportation and refrigeration, it can supply nearby markets with fresher and more nutritious products at competitive prices.

Consumers - especially low-income residents - enjoy easier access to fresh produce, greater choice and better prices.

Urban Farming

Vegetables have a short production cycle; some can be harvested within 60 days of planting, so are well suited for urban farming.

Garden plots can be up to 15 times more productive than rural holdings. An area of just one square metre can provide 20 kg of food a year.

Urban vegetable growers spend less on transport, packaging and storage, and can sell directly through street food stands and market stalls. More income goes to them instead of middlemen.

Urban agriculture provides employment and incomes for poor women and other disadvantaged groups.

Horticulture can generate one job every 100 sq m garden in production, input supply, marketing and value-addition from producer to consumer.

However, in many countries, UPA goes unrecognized in agricultural policies and urban planning.

Growers often operate without permits. Since it is officially "invisible", the sector receives no public assistance or oversight in many cities.

Urban agriculture carries health and environmental risks – potential use of contaminated land and water smells and noise pollution, and inappropriate use of pesticides and of raw organic manure that can leak into water sources. These issues require proper attention.

FAO’s Role

FAO supports the transformation of UPA into a recognized urban land use and economic activity, integrated into national and local agricultural development strategies, food and nutrition programmes, and urban planning.

It helps national and regional governments and city administrations optimize their policies and support services for urban and peri-urban agriculture, and improve production, processing and marketing systems.

Its technical programmes support the work of many UPA partners in cities and urban areas.

It helps member countries to develop the sector via data collection on UPA’s contribution to food security.

More on this topic

• Urban and peri-urban horticulture
• Urban and peri-urban forestry
• International seminar on urban and peri-urban agriculture

A D.C. Urban Farm Takes On Urban Problems

A D.C. Urban Farm Takes On Urban Problems

Dreaming Out Loud's new farm hopes to provide jobs, business incubation, and more in a city ward that has often been overlooked

BY WHITNEY PIPKIN  |  Food Deserts, Food Justice, Urban Agriculture

01.19.17

Little more than grass used to grow on the two-acre plot behind a middle school in the District of Columbia where tomatoes, okra, and infrastructure for food entrepreneurs will begin cropping up this year.

In a ward of the city with just two grocery stores serving more than 70,000 residents, fresh produce is hard to come by. But the Kelly Miller Farm, which will be situated behind a middle school with the same name, aims to offer much more: youth programs, a community garden accessible to seniors, and a commercial kitchen from which area residents can launch food-based businesses.

“It’s like a food system in a box—in one space, in one community,” says Christopher Bradshaw, executive director of Dreaming Out Loud. The D.C. food justice nonprofit is partnering with the city and a half-dozen other organizations to run the farm in a way that generates revenue while also meeting the community’s unique needs. “I don’t know too many places combining those things,” Bradshaw says.

With $150,000 in seed money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—through programs promoting farmers’ markets and specialty crops—and a mix of other local grants, the founders plan to build infrastructure such as hoop houses, and a greenhouse while transforming a gutted shipping container into a commercial kitchen space. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring and be completed by midsummer.

A USDA spokesman said the farm will serve as a model for organizations across the country that want to help consumers understand how their food is produced, especially in urban settings. But what sets the farm apart from a rooftop garden in the District’s restaurant row is that it’s catered to the people who live in this often-underserved part of the city, not just the ones who work or spend money there.

After graduating from the District’s historically Black Howard University, Bradshaw, 35, stumbled into urban agriculture while trying to teach in an after-school program at a public charter school that has since closed. The students would arrive each day with stomachs full of the Teddy Grahams and Kool-Aid the school provided as snacks only to bounce off the walls during his lessons on “character development.” Then, they’d crash.

Realizing he couldn’t teach the children without first addressing their most basic needs, Bradshaw’s nonprofit started a school garden and then a farmers’ market, so parents could buy better food, too. The latter often proved an exercise in staying power more than money-making and, eventually, Bradshaw decided to pursue broader, community-level programs.

Last year, when Bradshaw reached out looking for rentable, farmable land, the District happened to be looking for a partner to help create a model urban farm for the city. The two joined forces.

Bradshaw says he couldn’t have come as far as he has without the help of both city and federal partners who have prioritized food access over the past eight years. Having an outspoken advocate for this brand of work in the White House’s First Lady hasn’t hurt, either—though it’s left him leery about the prospects of a new administration this year.

Involving the Community

Bradshaw started the Kelly Miller Farm project, now months in the making, with a step he now knows is crucial to success: Asking people who live in the community what they want.

A short walk from two housing projects in a neighborhood whose population is 96 percent African American and 11 percent unemployed, the farm will serve many people who lack access to healthy food and rely on federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP, or food stamps. It became clear to Bradshaw and other organizers in the community that residents wanted and needed food options beyond corner stores.

Josh Singer, a community garden specialist with the District’s Department of Parks and Recreation, says the city model needs to go further than growing a lot of food on a little land  to address urban problems like affordable food and housing. If such projects ignore the context in which they’re growing food and the groups that are already at work in those communities, they may do more harm than good, he worries.

“A lot of times, organizations will use these poor communities and their statistics to get grants to do work that the community never wanted in the first place,” Singer says. With the Dreaming Out Loud project, however, “we have a whole coalition focused on making this space serve the local community.”

Given the area’s specific challenges, growing microgreens to sell at high-dollar to the city’s hottest restaurants—as some urban farms do to make money on expensive land—would not be appropriate, Singer says.

From the beginning, the organizers of this farm wanted to do more than show residents how food is grown; they wanted them to be able to do the work themselves. That’s why the space incorporates a kitchen and incubator where entrepreneurs can work on their recipes and business plans alongside a compost space where locals can get dirt under their nails. Bradshaw said the farm is fundraising to hire a manager and assistants from within the community but that volunteer work is welcome, too.

Partner nonprofits will use the space to teach children from the middle school about food production or to host therapeutic gardening sessions for seniors recovering from addiction. The produce will be sold at a nearby farmers’ market Dreaming Out Loud runs in the ward and possibly through a subscription program. (Bradshaw would like parents to be able to pick up a weekly produce box with their kids from the school.)

Initially, some residents were concerned about the project’s impact on their own properties; construction to rebuild the middle school a few years ago involved work with a wrecking ball that some say damaged the foundations of their homes and left them suspicious of new projects. But, after a few meetings during the project’s early stages, many of them began suggesting ideas for the space.

Boe Luther, 52, has lived in the ward’s Clay Terrace neighborhood his entire life and says the farm project couldn’t come at a better time. As the owner of two ice cream trucks and a regular at the neighborhood’s existing community garden, Luther is eager for others to have the chance to become food entrepreneurs. They could use the project’s kitchen space to make salad dressings or salsas, he says, or grow cut flowers to sell at the market.

“We’ll have to do the research and see what people want,” Luther says. “But a lot of citizens of Ward 7 are happy about it.”

Walking the Talk

Beyond the neighborhood, organizations that work to improve access to nutritious food in the city’s poorest areas are rooting for the farm’s success. The city’s newly minted food policy council, of which Bradshaw is a member, sees the farm as a stage for many of the policies they’ve espoused on paper, including growing both farms and food access in the city’s poorest enclaves.

“The Kelly Miller Farm is embodying those values,” says Laine Cidlowski, the District’s food policy director.

After seeing firsthand the big impact of a small garden, Luther thinks a vibrant farm has the potential to bring much more than food to the neighborhood: “Jobs, training, careers, opportunities, peace of mind, serenity—it brings all of that,” he says.

Horticulture Lighting Calculator Speeds Grow Light Development

Horticulture Lighting Calculator Speeds Grow Light Development

January 18, 2017 // By Julien Happich

Designers of grow lights for greenhouses, vertical farms and other horticulture applications can speed up their time to market by using an online calculator freely accessible online Lumileds' website.

The calculator allows the user to input various LED combinations and operating conditions to generate the spectral power distribution, photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), and power usage of a fixture using Lumileds LUXEON SunPlus Series LEDs.

Designed to allow easy modifications of LEDs and operating conditions, the calculator facilitates fixture design by generating real-time feedback on spectral power distribution.

“With the Horticulture Lighting Calculator, fixture manufacturers can test many lighting scenarios in a short period of time, so that their optimum designs can be brought to market much more quickly and efficiently than if each potential fixture were built and tested individually,” explains Jennifer Holland, Product Manager of the LUXEON SunPlus Series LEDs and Horticulture Lighting Calculator.

Try out the Horticulture Lighting Calculator atwww.lumileds.com/horticulture/calculator

The Food Tank Summit in Washington, D.C.

The Food Tank Summit in Washington, D.C.

We are just two weeks away from our Third Annual Washington, D.C., Food Tank Summit, held on February 2 in partnership with The George Washington University and the World Resources Institute. 

Check out our lineup of 35+ speakers, including celebrity chef Jose Andres, actress and advocate Fran Drescher, and organic farmer and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. All panel discussions are being moderated by journalists who are part of major media outlets including Politico, the Washington Post, National Public Radio, VOX, and more. 

If you buy your Washington, D.C., ticket in the next 48 hours, get $100 off by using promotion code: 100OFF. 

Click here to purchase tickets to the D.C. Food Tank Summit.

Also, join us in Boston on April 1 for our Food Tank Summit in partnership with the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. The event will include more than 30 speakers including entrepreneur Kimbal Musk and the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Dean Dariush Mozaffarian.

For a limited time, you can get $100 off your ticket by using promotion code: 100OFF. 

Click here to purchase a ticket to the Boston Food Tank Summit.

Stay tuned for additional Summits this year in New York City, California, Sao Paulo, and more!

Please forward this email to anyone you know who might be interested in participating. All our events are also free to attend via live stream at FoodTank.com. Interact on social media using the hashtag #FoodTank. 

Thank you so much to our sponsors and in-kind donors for making the Summits possible this year, including The Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition, Blue Apron, Elevation Burger, Organic Valley, Panera Bread, Sweetgreen, and VegFund. If you are interested in sponsoring or partnering on these Summits, please email: bernard@foodtank.com.

We're looking forward to seeing you soon!

All the best,

Danielle Nierenberg
President, Food Tank (www.FoodTank.com)

Purchase Your Tickets

2017 Food Tank Summit: Washington, D.C. 
Let's Build Better Food Policy

2 FEB
9:00 am - 5:00 pm EST

Jack Morton Auditorium
805 21st Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20052

Follow Us • Join the Discussion #FoodTank

It’s Time We Get Serious About Organic Farming

It’s Time We Get Serious About Organic Farming

Conventional farming and food production practices in this country are creating serious environmental and public health problems. Every day, an industrial farming system spinning out of control confronts all Americans with serious challenges. Among these are the explosion in toxic algae blooms in sensitive waterways, cancer-causing pesticides on foods we feed our children, the rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs, and, of course, contaminated drinking water, all courtesy of corporate agribusiness.

Thankfully, we have an alternative: organic.

Study after study shows organic food is better for our health, and organic farming is better for our environment.

Organic milk has higher concentrations of beneficial nutrients than its conventional counterpart, and organic foods can have higher levels of antioxidants and far fewer, if any, pesticide residues than conventionally grown crops. In addition to the notable consumer benefits, organic farming consumes far less energy and can reduce water pollution, increase biodiversity, promote healthy soils and sequester significantly more carbon than conventional farming.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has been advocating for organic food and farming for more than two decades, with much of our research documenting how the practices and finished products of both conventional and organic agriculture influence our health and the environment.

In that time, I have worked alongside many pioneers and have seen organic farming grow from a fledgling movement available to few, into a nearly $40 billion a year industry. Organic is now the fastest growing segment of the U.S. food industry with some of the country’s largest retailers struggling to keep up with customer demand and keep their store shelves stocked.

Despite years of double-digit growth, far outstripping that seen in the conventional food sector, the number of certified organic farms in the U.S. is struggling to keep pace with soaring consumer demand. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2012, fewer than 1 percent of American farms were classified as organic. This has forced many organic food companies in the U.S. to turn to foreign suppliers to meet customer demand.

There is no reason why we cannot be meeting the surging demand for organic foods here at home, growing and producing it ourselves. However, if we are going to grow more organic food in this country we will need more organic farmers. That means recruiting new farmers, and helping existing farmers transition to organic.

Easier Said Than Done

We will need to provide farmers with technical assistance to help them transition to organic. We will also need to invest in more science and research to ensure that organic and transitioning farmers are armed with high yielding, regionally adapted seeds, designed with organic systems in mind.

Now, you don’t have to be a D.C. lobbyist or congressional staffer to know that the purse strings on Capitol Hill have been pulled tight in recent years, and funds supporting agriculture are tethered closely to the interests of Big Ag, not organic. While EWG will continue to call on Congress to make serious investments in organic in the next farm bill, there is a lot that can be accomplished in the interim if the organic community pools its resources, and approves an organic research and promotions program.

That is why EWG supports the organic check-off program.

The principle of a check-off program is simple: Producers of a particular commodity pool their resources, and collectively invest in research and promotion of that commodity. These programs are authorized by Congress and directed by industry-driven boards overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. While this sounds simple, it hasn’t always worked out in the best interest of producers.

EWG is fully aware that farmers have been burned by past check-off programs, and we are glad that so many in the organic community have been part of productive discussions about the organic check-off currently under consideration. After all of those discussions one thing is clear: The organic check-off is not your father’s check-off.

It is the first such program that is not based on a specific commodity, but rather on the notion that if everyone pitches in a little, the organic community can address its shared research, education and promotion needs together.

With the funds raised every year from the check-off, the organic community would be able to provide transitioning farmers with greater technical assistance and training to bring more acres into organic production. It would also be able to fill in the research gaps left every year by limited federal research dollars that all too often skew toward outdated and damaging industrial farming practices. And, the check-off will ensure that the organic sector has an opportunity to educate consumers about organic and promote its benefits in the same way that major commodities like milk and pork were able to do with the “Got Milk?” and “Pork. The Other White Meat” campaigns, respectively.

To be clear, both Congress and organic food companies will also have to do their parts to increase funding for research and promotion of organic in the years to come. But that shouldn’t stop the organic community from supporting the organic check-off program and taking organic to the next level.

After all, EWG not only believes that organic farming can help feed the world, we believe that organic systems and practices may be the only way to do so sustainably. However, the footprint of organic on the agricultural landscape and in Americans’ shopping carts must grow significantly if we are to realize organic’s full potential to feed the planet in ways that enhance the environment and public health.

I hope you will join me in supporting the GRO Organic campaign to make this a reality.

Urban Farming Poised to Revolutionize Agri-Food Production, says Professor Dickson Despommier and Leaders in This Market Sector

David Stradling

Urban Farming Poised to Revolutionize Agri-Food Production, says Professor Dickson Despommier and Leaders in This Market Sector

David Stradling, Sales Director, Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture, receives inspiration from a banana boat while getting to grips with the urban and vertical farming movement.                             

The sands that surround the shores of Koh Tao in Northern Thailand are the colour of golden demerara sugar, the surrounding sea is crystal clear, and the wildlife in the sea and on the land seems as plentiful as it is exotic.

But as I snorkel off the southern tip of this divers’ paradise, something is clearly amiss. The corals are often sun bleached, the diversity of fish has been shown to be in decline, and on the island itself, natural fresh water supplies have fallen to an all-time low.

This little corner of heaven has environmental problems that are as pressing to the local ecosystem, and to its three thousand local inhabitants who depend on tourism for their livelihood, as they are to the rest of the planet.

There is no escaping the blight caused by climate change. At 10.0955 degrees west and 99.84042 east, the challenges faced by this tropical paradise are ongoing. Failure to meet them will potentially have as serious an impact on the local environment and its population, as it’ has had on those who made a living from agriculture in what was one of the most fertile regions of the United States - and is now the American dust bowl.

On holiday in Koh Tao recently, I was working out the approach to take in an article exploring urban agriculture and, as a technology sub-set within that, the future of vertical farming. Then inspiration struck in the shape of a banana boat!  I’d been chilling out on a mix of vitamin D-inducing sunshine and coconut and banana smoothies when to my dismay, the island’s stock of the fruit dried up. Suddenly, there was a tap on my shoulder, ‘’Bananas here now, the boat has arrived,’’ declared our friendly beach bar waitress.

I was delighted, but at the same time I pondered the fact the fruit was being shipped in, as I would guess was most of the island’s food. Therein lies one part of the challenge. Not only can agri-food production be a drain on the land and its resources, but shipping it from one destination to another is a contributory factor in climate change.
Enter the age of vertical farming!  It’s this that some believe could be the key to many of the problems that come with industrial scale agriculture, and the use of farming methods which fail to show consideration for the environment.

Last week I talked at length with Dickson Despommier, Professor of Microbiology and Public Health at Columbia University, New York City, USA, and author of The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century. Professor Despommier is widely considered a founder of the vertical farming movement, and is a long-term advocate of urban farming as a potential counterbalance to the negative impact of large scale traditional agri-production. We spoke about the future and he provided me with some useful insights into the positive returns, he, and increasing numbers of experts, foresee will be a direct result of continuing innovation and advancement in vertical food production technology.

Vertical farming; the dawn of a new age

WHILE THE MEDIA'S focus throughout the 1990s and the beginning of this century has been mainly on the role that heavy industry and fossil fuels have played in eroding the ozone layer, the role of agriculture in resource depletion and climate change, has gone relatively unnoticed. Traditional agricultural practices continue to take a major toll on planetary resources and are a key offender in climate change.  Transporting produce from one place to another involves the emission of gases that damage the outer atmosphere, while over-farming has a disastrous impact on the soil and acts as the biggest drain on water reserves.

Professor Despommier believes that agri-crop growing in the traditional sense is often inefficient, citing the United States where the biggest crop is wheat, followed by corn and soya beans, as an example.  He points out that soya beans are often grown as a means of putting nutrition back into the soil, a practice that is extremely inefficient, and is enthusiastic about the use of climate-smart agriculture in outdoor farming. However, all plant life requires water and if that is not available then the only option is to take growing indoors – and to do this locally where the crops which are grown are consumed, so reducing pollution caused by transportation. The Professor has a stark warning for us if we fail to take action.  ‘California is in its sixth year of drought,’ he says. ‘Food prices are going crazy and it’s going to get worse.’  In his view, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is the solution – and vertical farming is the method which could save our environment from disaster.

An efficient greenhouse hydroponics system uses five percent of the water required in the outdoors and can deliver multiple times the yield of farming outdoors. According to Professor Despommier, a vertical farm can deliver the same yield again, using a fraction of the water the greenhouse system requires. So if vertical farming, with all its obvious advantages, has such a role to play, where does that leave the land farmer? ‘’I have a great answer but it isn’t the one that many people want to hear,’’ he says. ‘’Dirt farmers and the big industrial scale producers are struggling to make a living and this will only get harder, given the climate change issues they face.’’  He believes the time is ripe for change in agricultural crop production on an unprecedented scale. The vertical farming industry is moving at an extraordinary pace and he estimates there are currently about 500 successful vertical farms operating globally. In the next few years the number will grow so fast he will lose count.  Technology and innovation in this sector is thriving and there is no stopping the movement toward growing crops in the city – in our homes, at our place of work and within the vertical farms that are emerging as commercial enterprises.

It is an exciting prospect but the advantages of vertical and urban farming do not end here. There are huge social-economic-implications too.  He refers to projects like the AeroFarms facility in Newark, New Jersey, USA - a project that is delivering prosperity to a part of the city that was formerly in decay, and which will revolutionise and revitalise that whole area.
AeroFarms hopes to develop 25 more farms in the USA and overseas in the next five years. The company says the new trend amongst consumers is for locally grown produce and it has no problem in meeting demand.  It can grow plants within twelve to sixteen days, compared with thirty to forty-five days outdoors. A year round controlled environment ‘grow cycle’ allows it to operate at 75 times the production capacity of an outdoor farm.

Other farms that Professor Despommier is optimistic about, include a flag ship, model three- storey farm in Suwon, South Korea, the leading position taken by Sky Greens in Singapore, and a twelve-storey farm in Moscow – all excellent examples of where the sector is heading.  He also cites the case of Pasona Group in Tokyo, Japan, which allocated 43,000 sq feet of office space for crop production that is used to feed employees, although this is more of an example of good urban agriculture production. As well as rice, the Pasona building features over 200 varieties of fruit and vegetables.

Another crucial factor in the advancement of urban agriculture and vertical farming is a preference for urban rather than rural dwelling.  At present, the split is about 50/50 country to city dwelling, but by 2050 he believes this will change to 80/20 in favour of the city. ‘’All we need to see now is a shift in the mind-set of people who make policy within our cities. Once they understand the importance and benefits of this movement in urban agriculture then there will be no stopping its growth, nor that of vertical farming as a critical part of that.”
In a global context, the Professor believes that, together with the US, it is Japan and countries in the Far East that are driving the movement in take-up of new technologies and ideas. Factors which have influenced change in these regions have included incidents like the Kobe earthquake and the tsunami that hit Japan in 2011. For South East Asia, it has been the intensity of monsoons and the impact of adverse weather on farming that have forced city policy-makers to realise the importance of growing food in their own back yard. “This is a major food security issue,” he says. “When the logistical infrastructure for the delivery of produce is no longer there, or when crops are washed away, then you have a big problem.’’

A small leap for the imagination; a major step for mankind…
In fact, it does not take a major leap of the imagination to see how quickly vertical farming could develop as the dominant force in urban growing, provided innovators can deliver affordable technology solutions. According to the Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, about 30% of global food supply comes from urban farms. ‘’Most urban farms are small scale and on home plots or in the urban areas of cities,’’ explains Mr Henry Gordon-Smith, Vice Chair of the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF).  AVF was set up to foster the growth and development of the movement and to galvanise the efforts of contributing innovators and leaders through collaboration and knowledge-sharing.  He says vertical farms will allow urban agriculture to progress further, so cities are more independent than ever in their own food production. Vertical farms can be integrated with existing food systems and set up anywhere, including schools, institutions and government cafeterias.  They can also be merged with food distribution hubs, making them more resilient.

Mr Gordon-Smith sees innovation as key to sector development and feels it is moving forward quickly. LED lighting technology and automation and sensor technology are helping to reduce operation costs. LEDS lower the energy consumption, and automation decreases labour costs. He believes that among the companies that stand out for their leadership in these areas are SPREAD Co of Japan and Urban Crops from Belgium. AVF expects there to be a vertical farm in almost every city within a decade.

Neither Professor Despommier nor Mr Gordon-Smith see any drawbacks to vertical farming if costs associated with operating grow-light can be overcome. Both are convinced the potential advantages are huge, and that with the advance of technology and greater political drive from city policy makers, we can look forward to seismic change. ‘’Vertical farms can be pest-free using strict food safety and bio-security protocols and strategic ventilation,’’ Mr Gordon-Smith explained.  He concedes there are challenges ahead, but innovation in technological advancement and bypassing some areas (like lighting and robotics) will pave the way. Vertical farming will become more mainstream as we move to a stage ‘’’where water is no longer considered a ‘free’ resource and when climate change hardens its grip, and when costs for LEDs and robotics drop. ‘’
Among the other challenges he cites are zoning and code interpretation, which is delaying the development of vertical farms in many cities. They are also being hampered by a shortage in skilled labour to operate these facilities. Asked about his vision for urban and vertical farming in the next 10 – 15 years, Mr Gordon-Smith predicts:

• High-tech agriculture will become a central education tool in science, engineering, maths and technology.
• Kitchens will be designed with vertical farming systems embedded as appliances.
• City edges and waterways will become agricultural hubs.
• Restaurants, markets, hotels and office buildings will embed agriculture and it will be a part of a unique experience for tenants and the public .
• Large scale warehouse vertical farms like AeroFarms’ model will be common place on the outskirts of large cities.

Where new ideas are matched by contagious enthusiasm…

Other innovators who are embracing vertical and urban farming enthusiastically are equally ambitious, but their vision of how far the change will go and its relationship to traditional methods varies considerably. Marco Tidona, Managing Director of aponix.eu, based in Heidelberg, Germany (exhibiting in the Vertical Farm Zone at GFIA Europe 2017 in the Netherlands), says, ‘’Urban farming will not replace but will complement, the conventional methods of growing our food which will need to become more sustainable.’’  He believes urban production would become an element within a circular economy in the urban area. It would reduce waste and traffic for distribution and have positive social and nutritional effects. Like Professor Despommier and Mr Gordon-Smith, Mr Tidona believes this will have a positive effect on the fallout from transporting and shipping produce. Food miles would be reduced and commuters collect produce as they pass distribution hubs – perhaps set up inside train stations - so distribution in urban areas would become a part of day-to-day movement in the city ecosystem.

Mr Tidona is the designer and engineer behind Aponix Barrel, a unique system for use in vertical agriculture, which epitomises the kind of exciting innovative concepts that surround this emerging sector of agricultural technology. He explains that the barrel is used as a growing device in an existing nutrient cycle, either hydroponic, using liquid mineral fertilizer, or aquaponics, using fish organic fertilizer.

The aponix barrels are especially suited to growing herbs and lettuces in high density urban farming situations. The parts fit together like a Lego set and provide a means to assemble the barrel and do away with the need for complicated rack-structures. After harvesting, the ring segments can be easily cleaned and immediately replanted. Reflecting on the role of innovators like himself, Mr Tidona points to the nature of urban organic agriculture, an heterogeneous area of business with the challenges faced differing between sites. ‘’All the technologies are already here or developing rapidly, like LED lighting. Many innovators are coming to the market and they are a critical part of how the sector will develop.’’ 

As well as technological advancement and the political will to implement urban agriculture, he believes there are many areas that will need to change so that produce can find a place in the market. In Germany, there are labels such as ‘Öko’ and ‘Bio’, which cannot be used on labelling because they do not apply to crops grown in soilless environments. He suggests an internationally recognised coding system could be set up to help consumers evaluate the produce and compare it with that grown using more traditional means.

Another impressive example of creative thinking in urban agriculture comes from a Vancouver-based start-up company, AVA technologies. AVA has created a tech-enabled and climate-controlled micro farm called the AVA Smart Garden, a smart home gardening appliance that allows the user to produce fresh herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, fruits and vegetables from the comfort of their own home. It isn’t large scale like a vertical farm, but it is sustainable and reduces our personal ‘food print.’ The company has received a very positive response to the product and will be exhibiting in the Telus World of Science in Vancouver in March 2017.

Mr Mike Nasseri, Chief Systems Architect at AVA, says the distances which are travelled by crop vegetables are detrimental to the environment and to the nutritional value of the produce. ‘’By the time most leafy salad arrives with the consumer in Vancouver, it has travelled over 1500 kilometres. The plant enzyme content and nutritional value will have been devalued in that process.’’ With the coming (post-COP21) introduction of pricing for carbon emissions, the cost effectiveness of supply chains will be diminished. He points out that the new market conditions will place heavier demands on local production. This will have the dual effect of lower emissions and higher nutrient content when the product reaches the consumer.

One of the main purposes of the grow-box is to get people thinking about their own food security and to consider the environment, says Ms Valerie Song, joint founder and CEO at AVA. With the world population growing, Ms Song believes there are only a limited number of practical solutions that can address the food security challenge quickly.  She says, ‘’There are two options which can be combined and implemented relatively fast and effectively – smart, vertical agriculture.”’ Her next comment harks back to Professor Despommier’s reference to the Pasona Group headquarters in Tokyo: ‘’What if your workplace cafeteria had a mini-farm full of luscious salad greens instead of a soda machine? What if your local restaurant had walls adorned with fresh heirloom tomatoes, instead of dull white paint?’’

Project4 Living Systems Ltd is another company out of Vancouver. Set up in 2013, the company uses permaculture principles and explores ways of enabling food, water and power independence. Mr Ben Newman, CTO at Project4 Living Systems Ltd, agrees with observations made by the other industry leaders, that limitations to development of urban agriculture and vertical farming are top-down. ‘’As we found in Canada, vertical farms are limited by a lack of general awareness and there is little information available due to the cutting-edge nature of technology and the ecosystems approach that we are used to, rather than the reductionism that science is able to offer. City officials often do not understand the concept. Lack of appropriate zoning and outdated regulations strangle projects attempting to create integrated vertical farms.”
Having had its first farming project rejected by the City of Vancouver in 2014, the company is currently awaiting a building permit for the city’s first ‘Food Hub’, comprising kitchen and dining area and a laboratory and innovation space.  Mr Newman explains that, ‘’The purpose of the Food Hub is to draw attention to, and create a community of, food forward-thinkers, technologists and innovators to support the local food movements and enhance the possibilities of vertical urban farming in Vancouver and elsewhere.” His company is firmly behind vertical farming and he believes the changing political environment will be a driver in its development.

Evergreen Farm Oy of Finland (exhibiting in the Vertical Farm Zone at GFIA Europe 2017 in the Netherlands) is preparing to launch a 12,000 sq metre growing area with a major vertical farm in the city of Nokia in the South of Finland in May 2017. The company’s managing director and system designer, Mr Ali Amirlatifi, claims the growing system for integration into the Nokia site is safer than other hydroponic and aeroponic farming systems. The reason for this is that it is a closed loop, with modules that are self-sustaining and separate from one another. This eliminates the chances of disease spreading across an entire crop. The Evergreen Farm Oy system was developed with support from the Finnish Ministry of Natural Resources and University of Contemporary Technology, with a pilot scheme operated ahead of the full scale roll out.

Mr Amirlatifi says the company plans ten farms in Finland and will issue licenses to growers elsewhere in the world, beginning in Africa and the Middle East. As far as crops are concerned, the company has had major success with strawberries, blueberries, short vegetables and herbs, which can be produced all year round. The system has proved highly efficient at yield-delivery and as an example of this, the company believes that ten farms specialising in strawberry growing, have potential to outstrip the production capacity of even major growing regions like Huelva in Spain. Mr Amirlatifi says the company has also developed downscaled systems for less ambitious businesses that can be used domestically in restaurants, and by small and medium sized growers.

Evergreen Farm Oy is in the process of developing systems that will be capable of growing many other crops, such as wheat, oats and rice. In a single year there would be up to four harvests with a much higher yield than could ever be achieved in soil-based production.
It seems that with vertical farming there are no limits to the ideas reaching the marketplace, nor to the reserves of energy possessed by those making its development a part of their own futures. Provided the sector takes off in the manner our experts predict, then it will offer an as yet unrealised and hugely exciting potential. 

Article written by David Stradling, Sales Director, Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA). David has 18 years experience in business to business trade fairs and exhibitions. He played a key role over an 11 year period in the launch and subsequent development of Automotive Testing Expo, one of the world’s leading automotive engineering events. He joined Turret Media in 2013, to head GFIA in Abu Dhabi from its launch and subsequent business development, with responsibility for the exhibition and event sponsorship. He is focussed now also on the inaugural European Edition of GFIA, to run in Utrecht, the Netherlands, 9-10th May, 2017. In his early career he worked as a journalist for several newspapers, consumer and business to business magazines. A UK citizen, he has lived and worked in Hongkong, Singapore and Thailand and currently resides in Dubai, UAE. 

David welcomes comments and feedback on his article on urban farming and vertical agriculture. Companies wishing to book stand space at either edition of GFIA can contact him through Linkedin, by email at d.stradling@turretme.com or by calling +971 56 320 9377. GFIA Europe features a Vertical farming Zone specifically designed for suppliers in this sector.

City Commission OKs Urban Agriculture Changes

City Commission OKs Urban Agriculture Changes

Jennifer Bowman , Battle Creek Enquirer

7:49 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2017

Gardening on vacant property will be allowed in Battle Creek after city commissioners unanimously approved ordinance changes on Tuesday.

Commissioners cast their adoption vote during their regular meeting, allowing community gardens on vacant parcels that are at least 66 feet wide and that have at least 7,500 square feet. Rules for urban commercial farms also were set, permitting them where adjoining properties are at least two acres in size.

Commissioners support urban agriculture in first vote

A farm stand can operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily once the ordinance goes into effect in seven days.

Commissioners are expected later this year to take on whether to allow farm animals in the city's residential areas.

Commissioner Deb Owens was traveling Tuesday and did not attend the meeting.

Read more of the Enquirer's urban agriculture coverage

• Urban farm animals opposed by Battle Creek rescue group
• Sprout BC acquires it Kendall Street property
• See: Survey shows support for urban farm animals in city
• Farm animals in urban B.C.? The city's listening
• A peck of trouble? Backyard chicken dispute in Bedford

Contact Jennifer Bowman at 269-966-0589 or jbowman@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow her on Twitter: @jenn_bowman. Listen to the podcast she co-hosts, The Jump Page, at soundcloud.com/enquirerpodcasting.

Conference “Farm & Food 4.0 - Digital Impact Along The Value Chain”

Conference “Farm & Food 4.0 - Digital Impact Along The Value Chain”

Berlin, 15 December 2016 – Digitization is leading to fundamental changes in the business models of nearly all enterprises. What the EU Commissioner Guenther Oettinger emphasized at the first Farm & Food 4.0 congress in January this year has become a key statement for the German agricultural and food sector. This sector is already well-positioned in several areas. Recent years have seen a rapid increase in technological advances in farm machinery and livestock buildings, and among producers, suppliers and logistics specialists. Smart farming, big data and the networking of all business processes are leading to new business models and bringing profound changes to the agricultural and nutrition sector.

“Even if what we eat always remains ‘analogue,’ its route to our plates will change,“ says Maximilian von Löbbecke, head of 365farmnet, one of the leading developers of farm management software, in the lead-up to the second edition of Farm & Food 4.0, which is taking place in January 2017 in Berlin. In the Berlin Congress Centrum (bcc Berlin) the Deutscher Bauernverlag (dbv), along with farmers, manufacturers and representatives of the food trade, start-ups and quality control organizations, will be discussing the technological and digital development of their sector. The dbv is owned by the two large agricultural publishers Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH (Münster) and Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH (Munich).

Transparency, smart farming, food safety, automation and sustainability are only some of the themes that will be discussed on 23 January 2017. An impressive group of experts has been assembled for the event. Michael Horsch (Horsch Maschinen GmbH), Markwart von Pentz (John Deere), Dr. Roland Leidenfrost (Deepfield Robotics, Bosch) and Simone Strey (Peat) will be discussing digitization in the agricultural sector, the challenges involved and current developments. New digital processes in the food sector will be examined by Andreas Friesch (Vorwerk), Professor Stefan Töpfl (University of Osnabrück), Ulrich Wagner (Wimex), Martin Weber (infarm.de) and Christoph Wenk-Fischer (bevh). And light will be shed on the topic of big data and food security/origins by, among others, Jörg Pretzel (GS1 Germany), Dr. Ralf Herbrich (Amazon), Dr. Jana Moser (datareality.eu), Alexander Zumdieck (Metro AG) and Stephan Tromp (IFS).

A new aspect of this year’s conference is the format World Café, where participants will write, paint and sketch their thoughts on the cafés tablecloths and move between different theme tables. Current themes will be discussed among specialist colleagues, and new ideas and approaches will be developed. Collective knowledge broadens perspectives.

Over 400 people are expected to take part in the “Farm & Food 4.0 – digital impact along the value chain” conference. They will include company owners, directors, managers, scientists, members of start-ups in the agricultural and food sector, political decision-makers, IT specialists, consultants and investors. The congress’s ideational partners are the Federal Federation of the German Food Industry (BVE) and the German Farmers’ Federation (DBV), its media partners are agrarheute and Lebensmittel Praxis, and its premium partner is 365farmnet.

Conference hashtag: #farmfood40

Global Vertical Farming Market- Bright Farms, FarmedHere, Garden Fresh Farms, Gotham Greens

Global Vertical Farming Market- Bright Farms, FarmedHere, Garden Fresh Farms, Gotham Greens

Market.Biz Leading Research Firm has added latest report on “Global Vertical Farming Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2021".

By Parnika Paul -

January 13, 2017 

The Vertical Farming market report covers forecast and analysis for the Vertical Farming market on a global and regional level. The Vertical Farming industry report provides historic data of 2015 along with a Vertical Farming market forecast from 2015 to 2021 based on Vertical Farming industry volume and Vertical Farming revenue (USD Million). The Vertical Farming includes drivers and restraints for the Vertical Farming market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the Vertical Farming market report includes the study of opportunities available in the Vertical Farming market on a global level.

The Vertical Farming market report discusses in details about the vendor landscape of the Vertical Farming market. The Vertical Farming Industry has been analyzed on the basis of Vertical Farming market attractiveness and investment feasibility. The Vertical Farming report lists the key players in the Vertical Farming market and provides crucial information about them such as business overview, revenue segmentation, and product offerings. Through SWOT analysis, the Vertical Farming industry report analyses the Vertical Farming market growth of the key players during the forecast horizon.

In Vertical Farming Market report, all the segments have been analyzed based on present and Vertical Farming market future trends and the Vertical Farming market is estimated from 2015 to 2021. In this Vertical Farming report, regional segmentation covers the Vertical Farming industry current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa.

Get sample research report at https://market.biz/report/global-vertical-farming-market-gir/25651/#requestforsample

This report segments the global Vertical Farming industry as follows:

Global Vertical Farming Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis
1 AeroFarms
2 Beijing IEDA Protected Horticulture
3 Bright Farms
4 FarmedHere
5 Garden Fresh Farms
6 Gotham Greens
7 Green Sense Farms
8 Green Spirit Farms
9 Home Town Farms
10 Indoor Harvest
11 Infinite Harvest
12 Lufa Farms
13 Metro Farms
14 Mirai
15 Sky Vegetables
16 Vertical Harvest
17 Uriah’s Urban Farms
18 UrbanFarmers
19 Urban Crops
20 Urban Barns
21 TruLeaf
22 Sundrop Farms
23 Spread
24 Sky Greens
25 SCATIL
26 Podponics
27 Plantagon
28 Metropolis Farms
29 Kingpeng
30 Harvest Urban Farms
31 GreenLand
32 Greener Roots Farm
33 Farmbox
34 Ecopia Farms
35 CityFarm
36 Brooklyn Grange
37 Atlantic Beach Urban Farms
38 Alegria Fresh
39 Agro Strategies

Global Vertical Farming Market: Type Segment Analysis
1. Lighting
2. Hydroponic Component
3. Climate Control
4. Sensors

Global Vertical Farming Market: Regional Segment Analysis
1. North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)
2. Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)
3. Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)
4. South America, Middle East and Africa

Report on (Global study on Vertical Farming industry) mainly covers 13 Chapters to deeply display the global Vertical Farming market.

Chapter I, to explain Vertical Farming market Intro, product extent, market summary, market opportunities, market threat, market driving force;

Chapter II, to examine the top manufacturers of Vertical Farming market, with sales, revenue, as well as price of Vertical Farming, in 2015 and also 2016;

Chapter III, to display the Vertical Farming market’s affordable circumstance amongst the top key players, with sales, Vertical Farming market revenue and share in 2015 and also 2016;

Chapter IV, to reveal the worldwide Vertical Farming market by areas, with sales, revenue and market share of Vertical Farming, for each region, from 2011 to 2016;

Chapter V, VI, VII & VIII, to analyze the key regions of Vertical Farming market, with sales, revenue and also market share by manufacturers countries in these regions;

Chapter IX and X, to reveal the Vertical Farming market by type as well as application, with sales Vertical Farming market share as well as growth price by type, application, from 2011 to 2016;

Chapter XI, Global Vertical Farming market forecast, by regions, type and also application, with sales as well as revenue, from 2016 to 2021;

Chapter XII and also XIII, to describe Vertical Farming market sales network, suppliers, investors, suppliers, appendix and also data resource.

Browse More Related Category Research Reports at:  https://market.biz/reporttype/market-research/

Tear Down the Barriers to Urban Farming

Tear Down the Barriers to Urban Farming

by: Dwane Jones Special to the AFRO

January 11, 2017

When applied to scenic farms nestled in quiet rural country-sides, the maxim “good fences make good neighbors” might ring true.

But that’s not always the case when you’re trying to build an urban farm. As essential as they can be, we actually find more than a few barriers in their way.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about fences and barriers in my role as Director of the University of the District of Columbia’s Center for Sustainable Development & Resilience inside the Columbia College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences. We call it “CAUSES” for short. In that role, I work on introducing urban agriculture to some of Washington, D.C.’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Given the large amount of vacant properties and unused space in many underserved urban areas (cities like Baltimore and Detroit come to mind), it may sound easy.  But it’s not. Case in point: In 2015, CAUSES leased three acres of vacant property directly across the street from a Metro stop in D.C.’s struggling Ward 7 to construct the East Capitol Urban Farm. A partnership between several agencies and organizations, East Capitol Urban Farm is the District’s largest-scale urban agriculture and aquaponics facility. It’s an ambitious effort to bring healthy produce to an underserved area of the District.

We began planning the project in early 2015. During the University’s initial site visit, the first order of business was to determine how we would actually walk the vacant parcel — considering the 8-foot high chain link fence surrounding it. Residential properties surround the site on the south and west. The Capitol Heights Metro stop is on the east and a vacant parcel is to the north.

That parcel, incidentally, was under construction at the time for use by Wal-Mart. That project was shelved and the lot stayed empty.

What seemed like a straightforward walk through the site became much more complicated since we didn’t have a key to the gate. Searching for a way in, the team eventually climbed over a wall and through a small opening to access the site. But the physical barrier of the fence and our valiant attempts at scaling it led to much deeper questions. What social implications did such a fence have in Ward 7? What was the purpose of erecting it? How was it interpreted or perceived by the community?

We came to realize that the chain link fence, while probably erected as a safety measure, sent a powerful message of exclusion to people in the neighborhood. It’s a message that echoes the larger story of access and food security in places like Ward 7. For a long time, society has sent a message (intentional or not) to underrepresented populations that fresh, local produce, as well as access to community-oriented landscapes, is out of reach – or, at best, a real challenge to access.  The nature of fencing, in this case, may play a role in how the urban farm is perceived and utilized.

So, in our first major site planning for East Capitol Urban Farm, when someone asked “Where do we start?” I couldn’t help but recall those now-famous words from former President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech to West Berliners: “Tear down that wall!” I quickly responded: “Let’s tear down the fence. It sends the message to keep out or stay away.

“That’s the very opposite of what we intend.”

Rather than continue limiting community access, we eventually erected a 4-ft. high wrought iron fence to encompass a portion of the farm which set a boundary around the different zones contained within the space. Since then, the gates are always unlocked and the community has access to the farm from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week.

East Capitol Urban Farm is now embraced, supported, and operated by its community. Removing barriers has afforded Ward 7 residents the opportunity to: plant over 3,600 produce plants; operate 70 garden spaces; engage over 300 D.C. Public School Students in over 2,500 hours of trade learning; launch a Farmers Market; and employ (part-time) three residents and three UDC students.

At the East Capitol Urban Farm, the fence merely delineates a boundary, a line that outlines the zones of each portion of the farm. It does not represent limitations on a better quality of life. For the people of Ward 7, this is a very crucial and important distinction that removes one barrier at a time.

Dwane Jones, PH.D., is the director of the Center for Sustainable Development and Resilience, a division of the University of the District of Columbia College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability, and Environmental Sciences. Dr. Jones conducts research and teaches courses in Urban Sustainability, Urban Design, Urban Planning and Low Impact Development. He is a member of the Urban Resilience Project.

USDA Announces $27 Million in Grants Available to Support the Local Food Sector

USDA Announces $27 Million in Grants Available to Support the Local Food Sector

Wednesday, January 11, 2017 - 9:45am

Peter Wood

peter.wood@ams.usda.gov

202-720-6179

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the availability of $27 million in grants to fund innovative projects designed to strengthen market opportunities for local and regional food producers and businesses. 

“These grants will continue USDA’s support for the local food sector as an important strategy for keeping wealth in rural communities,” said AMS Administrator Elanor Starmer.  “Entrepreneurs around the country are creating jobs and new economic opportunities in response to growing consumer demand for local food.  AMS is excited to partner with local food stakeholders to strengthen local economies and improve access to fresh, healthy food for their communities.”

AMS today announced the request for applications for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, which includes Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) grants, and the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP).  These programs and other resources across USDA are helping to revitalize rural America by supporting local and regional food stakeholders.

The FMPP provides funds for direct farmer-to-consumer marketing projects such as farmers markets, community-supported agriculture programs, roadside stands, and agritourism.  Over the past 10 years, the FMPP has awarded more than 870 grants totaling over $58 million.  The successful results of these investments are summarized in the Farmers Market Promotion Program 2016 Report. The LFPP supports projects focused on intermediary supply chain activities for local food businesses. LFPP was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase funding for marketing activities such as aggregation, processing, storage, and distribution of local foods.

The FSMIP provides about $1 million in matching funds to state departments of agriculture, state colleges and universities, and other appropriate state agencies. Funds will support research projects to address challenges and opportunities in marketing, transporting, and distributing U.S. agricultural products domestically and internationally.

AMS will host a webinar for potential FMPP and LFPP grant applicants on Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time, and a teleconference for potential FSMIP grant applicants on Thursday, February 16, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  For more information about FSMIP, FMPP and LFPP, visit: www.ams.usda.gov/AMSgrants.  The website also contains a link to a grants decision tree, "What AMS Grant is Right for ME?”, to help applicants determine which AMS grant fits their project best. 

The grant applications for FSMIP, FMPP and LFPP must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov/  by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, March 27, 2017. 

AMS will also host a webinar to introduce potential applicants to Grants.gov on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  Applicants are urged to start the Grants.gov registration process as soon as possible to ensure that they meet the deadline and encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of the posted due date.  Any grant application submitted after the due date will not be considered unless the applicant provides documentation of an extenuating circumstance that prevented their timely submission of the grant application, read more on AMS Late and Non-Responsive Application Policy. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Innovative Neighborhood Farm Adjacent to Housing Complex Increases Food Access and Grows Community​​​

Innovative Neighborhood Farm Adjacent to Housing Complex Increases Food Access and Grows Community

 

January 9, 2017 | Trish Popovitch

“Beyond growing vegetables, beyond growing soil, we’re building community through agriculture,” says Dave Victor of Orchard Gardens Neighborhood Farm and Community Garden. “That’s a big part of the mission, a big part of the vision for the farm. It’s all about providing healthy fresh local food for low income people.”

Dave Victor, after five years honing his growing skills with Garden City Harvest, became the manager of Orchard Gardens Neighborhood Farm just last year and he couldn’t be happier with his new position.

“Just like any sustainable agriculture farmer the focus is on building soil,” says Victor. “I tell people that I’m a vegetable farmer but first and foremost it’s all about growing soil and building that soil ecology.”

Using a diversity of growing techniques and products, Victor and his team integrate urban food growing with urban community growing focusing on building a firm relationship with the local youth.

The farm sits against the fence of the Orchard Gardens Apartment Complex on the west side of town in Missoula, Montana. Founded in 2005, the farm covers two acres of historically agricultural land in an area now occupied by housing projects and busy roads. The farm is a partnership between Garden City Harvest—Orchard Garden’s umbrella organization firmly established in Montana’s community and urban agriculture movement—and Homeword, a sustainable housing construction company. Together they planned the construction of the farm in unison with the construction of the apartment complex. The land needed for the farm meant that some of the complex’s parking space went underground.

Three paid staff positions, two long term interns and 20 volunteers made up the bulk of the farm’s work force this year. In the last growing season, Orchard Gardens produced 19,000 pounds of food using bio-intensive growing methods on half an acre of land. In addition to growing seasonal vegetables, the farm contains a small fruit orchard, herb and flower gardens, and a community garden.

The farm produces over 30 different varieties of vegetables for its 25 CSA customers and also sells culinary herbs and orchard fruit. CSA members can also participate in a u-pick flowers program during the 18 weeks of their CSA program. Orchard Gardens is a “combination site” also housing a community garden with rentable 15 x 15’ plots. One of those plots is ADA accessible with raised wooden garden beds. ADA plots are common among Garden City Harvest community farms.

The produce is distributed to members of the farm’s CSA as well as to the local community through its farmstand outside the apartment complex every Monday and Thursday night. The CSA operates on a sliding scale and runs from June through October. The surplus produce is sold to the community at a vastly reduced rate. Children living in the housing complex, ranging in age from 3 to 13, spend a lot of time on the farm and around the farmstand helping with set up and learning about the vegetables.

“As soon as they all see us out there setting up, they’ll all come running over immediately,” says Victor. “They like to help us carry out boxes of food or help us set up our tables, spread out the tablecloth and in return we give them carrots and peas and green beans and they just love that.”

The children are a core piece of the puzzle for Victor and one of the main reasons he goes to work in the morning. The opportunity to educate and build relationships while instilling a love of fresh food is important to the mission of the farm and Victor hopes all of its farmers.

“We’re in a cool position where we can take these kids under our wing and teach them more than just farm stuff. We can teach them about being polite, being respectful…you know, just every day lessons. And that’s very unusual for a farmer to have that opportunity to do that but it’s very rewarding,” says Victor. “Even if we can’t make a huge impact on the adult’s life, we’re starting fresh with this young generation, giving them access to fresh food. I think they’ll carry that with them in their life. I think that when they have kids they’ll incorporate that into their kid’s life.”

In addition to the usual urban farm amenities, Orchard Gardens has occasional cooking classes and is a popular field trip location. They operate a program with local physicians where patients trade prescriptions for fresh vegetables. Several veterans took part in this pilot program this past year and Victor believes its success will precipitate growth.

In regards to the farm’s future, Victor is hoping to put in a few more fruit trees this coming season and is researching growing seeds for one of the well known organic seed companies. “It would help raise some income for our program, but also to share our seeds with our community, with our community gardeners, just with Missoulians in general to be able to have locally produced locally adapted seeds for the community…it gives our gardeners another leg up,” he says.

International Congress on Controlled Environment Ag 2017

May 17 - May 19, 2017

Event Navigation

• « Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA Europe 2017)

• Plant Growing and Agricultural Chemistry 2017 »

This second event of its kind, the ICCEA 2017 will continue to be the place to engage, learn and apply the foundations of controlled environment agriculture (CEA) for greenhouse and vertical farm owners and operators.

The many benefits of the ICCEA 2017 include:

• Meet and network with like-minded professionals and industry experts from around the world.

• Learn the latest in CEA advancements, Ag Tech and growing techniques while acquiring in-depth knowledge on the growing of specific products and crops.

• Meet with academics, inventors, innovators, investors, manufacturers and suppliers providing the latest in technology and innovation.

• Attend the culturally exciting Gala and Innovations Awards Dinner.

• The ICCEA 2017 is an event where attendees will have the opportunity to learn from renowned experts in the applied fields of science, horticulture, lighting, robotics and engineering, from some of the most prestigious universities including Chiba University (Japan), National Taiwan University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Arizona, Cornell, Michigan State University, Wageningen University (Holland) and many others including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The FDCEA seeks to make CEA, whether greenhouse or vertical farms, the answer to the future of agriculture with a primary focus on the creation of sustainable and profitable agriculture businesses.

ICCEA 2017 will focus on:

• Understanding Technology Used in Producing Greenhouse and Vertically Farmed Produced

• Understanding Nutrients used in Hydroponics

• Learning the latest research available on controlled environment crops

• How LED Grow Lights impact photosynthesis and plant growth

• Learning new production techniques

• Managing Your CEA Business

• Automation and Robotics

• Integrated Pest Management Strategies

• and more!

A Detroit Urban Farm Preserves Black History In Jam Form

A Detroit Urban Farm Preserves Black History In Jam Form

January 6, 2017 - 10:49 AM ET

Martina Guzman for NPR

On the north side of Detroit, a community farm teamed up with a local arts and culture nonprofit to put its summer harvest to best use — while also honoring the legacy of the city's black families. Their answer: Afro Jam, a line of preserves based on old family recipes.

In the kitchen at Oakland Avenue Urban Farm, just north of downtown Detroit, Linda Carter and Shawnetta Hudson are in the final stages of making their newest jam creation: cranberry-apple preserves. Carter is meticulously wiping down tables while Hudson seals the lids on jars. Then comes the logo — a beautiful graphic of a black woman with afro hair made of strawberries. The kitchen is small and basic, but for the past year it has served as the hub of a community-based product called Afro Jam.

"The name Afro Jam and the logo are empowering, independent and strong," Carter says. "That's what we want our community to be."

Carter, the food safety manager at the farm, recruited Hudson from the local community to help her keep up with making and selling the product. Strawberry, peach and blueberry are Afro Jam's best sellers.

"Strawberry jam, that's my thing," says Hudson. "And when Linda and I work together, we're on point at all times."

Staying "on point" is a goal of Carter's. The jam venture has to be profitable. So in the past year the small group of about a half-dozen women, rotating volunteers and three paid employees has made an aggressive push to sell the spreads at summer festivals and farmers markets.

Afro-Jam is a product of One Mile, a neighborhood arts and culture organization, and Oakland Avenue Urban Farm, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating healthy local food sources for the surrounding community. The farm is a project of Northend Christian Community Development Corporation — both are managed by Jerry Hebron. It has a vegetable garden and an apple orchard. Hebron also oversees a weekly farmers market in the summer.

Roughly 83 percent of Detroit's population is black, an aftereffect of white flight that began in the 1950s. As the people left Detroit, so did the supermarkets — especially in poorer, blacker neighborhoods.

Fresh fruits and vegetables became much harder to come by for many city residents. As a result, gardens started popping up in Detroit, which currently has roughly 1,500 urban farms. Some are large and operate at an industrial scale; others are single lots that have been turned into vegetable gardens for a few families.

The idea for Afro Jam was born out of a need to generate revenue year round while also keeping the community involved, says Hebron. "The community is at the root of everything we do," she says.

So Hebron began spreading the word at the farmers market: They wanted to start a new line of jams using old family recipes. Recipes for making preserves poured in – including some that had been handed down for generations.

Constance King, 67, heard the call and was excited to share her mother's recipe with the folks from Afro Jam.

"My mother brought her jam recipe [from the South] with her — it belonged to her mother and to her mother's mother," King says. "I felt proud about being able to share that recipe. It's a beautiful way of keeping my mother alive."

A lifelong resident of Detroit, King loves the city's rich African-American history. Making biscuits and jam, she says, was part of the Southern black experience – they've been a staple at the Southern supper table since at least the mid-18th century.

"This [growing fruits and vegetables] is a good idea, it's something we can do with all of this empty land," King says. "Our neighborhood used to be full of families — there was not a vacant block. There were hardware stores, delis and grocery stores. It was a Jewish/Black community."

King's family is originally from Georgia but moved to Detroit in the 1940s during the Great Migration, when millions of African-Americans left their homes in the rural South in search of better jobs and an escape from harsh segregationist laws.

Hebron says that among black Detroiters, the tradition of making homemade jams has largely fallen by the wayside in the modern era.

Oakland Avenue Urban Farms used heritage recipes from seven different families – unearthing them from hiding places in attics and long-forgotten recipe boxes.

In the fall of 2015, the ladies of the farm set out to make their first batch of jam. Some of the recipes they received took days to make and weren't practical for production.

Carter and Hebron settled on strawberry jam as their first batch, which took several days and four people to make. "We bonded over making jam, laughing and sharing old family stories," Hebron says.

"Gathering is what it's all about," Carter says. "There is nothing greater than bringing people together over food."

Proceeds from the jam venture go to Northend Christian CDC, a nonprofit that's aimed at revitalizing Detroit's North End historic district, where One Mile and Oakland Avenue Urban Farm are based.

For Hebron, Carter and the rest of the women who make Afro Jam, this is a way to preserve the legacy of Detroit's black families.

"It's one of the most amazing projects I've ever worked on," Hebron says.

Martina Guzman is a journalist based in Detroit. She's currently the race and justice journalism fellow at the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University.

UAE Innovators Invited to Present Game-Changing Solutions at Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture

UAE Innovators Invited to Present Game-Changing Solutions at Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture

Open call for innovations to join fight in feeding growing population, improve agricultural productivity in MENA

Cutting edge businesses, start-ups, researchers, scientists and entrepreneurs of the UAE are being encouraged to present their game-changing agricultural innovations to an influential audience who have the ability to take their solutions to the next level and help tackle food security.

The Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture (GFIA) is the world’s influential event for the future of sustainable agriculture.  The two-day event returns to Abu Dhabi in March 2017 and the Call for Innovations is now open for anyone who believes they can help make a difference to the way in which farmers and growers work and produce food in the MENA region.

From pioneering entrepreneurs to established businesses, more than 300 innovators have presented their solutions and technologies on stage in front of thousands of investors, food producers, retailers, government delegations, scientists and NGOs since the launch of GFIA in 2014.  

Facing water scarcity supply and limited availability of fertile land, the Middle East heavily relies on food imported from abroad and the UAE, Egypt as well as Saudi Arabia are among the top fifteen global importers of food, according to a 2015 World Trade Organisation report.

While The Global Food Security Index, developed by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in partnership with DuPont, indicates that the MENA region made improvements in food affordability, availability, quality and safety between 2014 and 2015, the progressing impacts of climate change will pose new challenges to the region with its soaring population.

According to Alpen Capital's 2013 GCC Food Industry Report, the region will require 49.1 million tonnes of food per year by the end of 2017 with the UAE leading as the largest consumer at 1,486kg per capita annually.
To address this demand, the private sector in partnership with governments should be actively seeking innovative solutions that tackle food security, nutrition and distribution challenges.

“We’re seeking applications from budding entrepreneurs, innovators and practically anyone who has an idea they think can challenge conventional methods of agricultural farming,” said Nicola Davison, GFIA Event Director.

“We’re especially encouraging those from Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE community to come forward.  Now is the time to share your ideas and innovations that can help farmers improve productivity in our region in a sustainable way and help to counter global hunger through pioneering developments in sustainable agriculture.”

All entries should be made online at www.innovationsinagriculture.com before the 31August 2016 deadline, and will be judged by a network of international partners including Anterra Capital, McKinsey, the University of Wageningen, CGIAR and the University of Arizona.

The programme for next year’s event will cover the entire agricultural spectrum, with a particularly strong focus on themes most relevant to the MENA region including climate-smart agriculture, disease and pest management, salt water agriculture, water management, ICT solutions and organic agriculture.

New features to the show include an expanded livestock area, a start-up pavilion to help emerging ag-tech companies meet potential investors, an AgriFood Leaders Forum and a Demo Zone where exhibitors will give live and practical demonstrations of their products and systems.

Speakers from the 2016 edition included His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, His Excellency Rashed Mohammed Khalfan Al Shariqi from Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Aidan Cotter from the Irish Food Board, Mamadou Biteye from the Rockefeller Foundation in Kenya, and Haydar Alsahtout from the Arabian Shrimp Company in Saudi Arabia.

“Earlier this year, more than 6,000 visitors from 96 countries descended upon Abu Dhabi to take part in dozens of presentations and panel discussions uniquely designed to tackle world hunger and food security in the face of climate change and resource scarcity,” added Davison.  

“We saw more than 80 game-changing innovations for agriculture presented on stage and many of these innovators have met investors, science partners and technology buyers to take their innovations to the next level.

“This year, we plan to present even more solutions and technologies that have the ability to influence the way in which food is produced.  We have to collaborate if we are to feed 9 billion people by 2050 while facing the challenges caused by changing climate.”

Urban Farming Org Transforms 9 Empty Greenhouses to Tackle Food Insecurity and Grow Meaningful Jobs

Urban Farming Org Transforms 9 Empty Greenhouses to Tackle Food Insecurity and Grow Meaningful Jobs

January 2, 2017 | Vanessa Caceres

When Lynchburg, Virginia resident Paul Lam’s beloved garden was destroyed inadvertently in 2003, residents rallied around him to find a new space. With the help of community members, Lam, who is disabled, eventually found a seven-acre site with nine empty greenhouses on it that had been the home of a large rose supplier.

The farm site needed a bit of rehab, so a call was put out for volunteers. Hundreds showed up from local area schools and universities to help clean it up. From this community outpouring for Lam, Lynchburg Grows, a nonprofit urban farming organization whose dual mission is to increase access to healthy food in the community and provide meaningful jobs to individuals with disabilities, was born.

Lynchburg Grows cultivates 54 raised beds that grow tomatoes, greens, and the occasional specialty item. The raised beds are 90 to 100 feet long and 3 feet wide. They are of varying depth–some are about a half-foot deep for lettuce and others are deeper for root veggies. The organization can grow greens year-round and is especially known for its spring mix, says Farm Manager Shelly Blades. Items that fare well in the heat, such as okra, grow prominently in the summer. The greenhouses are neither heated nor cooled, and that affects what they can produce at certain times of the year.

Much of the produce grown in the greenhouses is destined for distribution to the residents of Lynchburg, a designated food desert in which nearly 24% of the population lives in poverty and where 18% of residents are not sure where their next meal will come from, says Blades.

To help further alleviate this food insecurity, in 2015, Lynchburg Grows in collaboration with Live Healthy Lynchburg launched a mobile produce delivery service called Veggie Van. The van now makes deliveries to 10 locations in the city, three days a week, and through a partnership with USDA SNAP program accepts WIC and EBT card payments. Lynchburg Grows leaders worked with area churches to map out the places most in need of healthy food access.

In addition to selling affordable produce via the Veggie Van, Lynchburg Grows also supplies about five area restaurants, and maintains a summer CSA with about 90 members and a winter CSA made up of approximately 40 members. Any leftover produce is donated to local food banks and homeless shelters.

Although there’s an interest in higher quality food among Lynchburg chefs and residents, the foodie scene in town is not as developed as in bigger cities. So, Blades and others on staff often find themselves introducing “designer veggies,” such as Hakurei turnips. Blades became familiar with such specialty items while working as a garden coordinator for Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City before coming to Lynchburg about a year ago.

She feels that the farmers and staff at Lynchburg Grows should relish their role in educating others—be it top area chefs or everyday residents—about produce items as it solidifies their role as a food and nutrition resource in the area.

Lynchburg Grows employs 11 people, three of whom are full-time. All but two employees live with disabilities and came to Lynchburg Grows from local placement agency, Stand up, Inc., which specializes in vocational training programs. Some of the employees are in wheelchairs, while others have Down syndrome, or are capable of performing farm work, but have trouble with logic. Job coaches from the placement agency often work beside them. The jobs that they do include caring for plants, bagging lettuce, and cleaning. “We like to find what works for one person and help them become an expert at it,” says Blades.

Senator Stabenow Introduces Urban Agriculture Act of 2016

Senator Stabenow Introduces Urban Agriculture Act of 2016

This fall, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow announced plans to introduce the Urban Agriculture Act of 2016, legislation that would support urban farming initiatives and increase access to healthy food. “Urban agriculture is steadily growing in cities and towns across Michigan and across our country, creating new economic opportunities and safer, healthier environments,” said Senator Stabenow. “The Urban Agriculture Act will continue this momentum by helping urban farmers get started or expand their business, so they can sell more products and supply more healthy food for their neighbors.”

Michigan's urban agriculture leaders are hopeful that the Act will increase the number of urban farms in Michigan and around the country. “We have an abundance of available land in Detroit and groups like D-Town Farms are putting it to productive use in a way that promotes good health and economic opportunity,” said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “I hope that Sen. Stabenow's bill will help efforts like this expand and allow others to follow in their footsteps." Malik Yakini, Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, commented, “As we rethink how we provide food in an environmentally sustainable way for an increasingly urban population, urban agriculture is an important component. Growing food closer to centers of population-density not only provides people with fresher, more nutrient-rich foods but also reduces the carbon released into the atmosphere by transporting food long distances. Finally, urban agriculture, and the associated businesses needed to support it, helps local economies to thrive. We appreciate Senator Stabenow's awareness of the great importance and potential of urban agriculture.”

Specifically, the bill would create new economic opportunities through agriculture cooperatives, encouraging rooftop and vertical farms, and invest millions of dollars for cutting-edge research to explore market opportunities and technologies for lowing energy and water needs. It would also provide new financial tools and support for urban farmers by expanding farm loan programs, providing affordable risk management tools to protect against crop losses, and create a new urban ag office at USDA. Furthermore, it invests $5 million for the development of community gardens, expands resources for technical and financial support to test and clean up contaminated soils and creates a pilot program for urban composting.

Premier Indoor Agriculture Conference Returns to Singapore For An Expanded Indoor Ag-Con Asia On January 24-25, 2017

Premier Indoor Agriculture Conference Returns to Singapore For An Expanded Indoor Ag-Con Asia On January 24-25, 2017

Indoor Ag-Con Asia features plant factory & vertical farming leaders such as Prof. Kozai of Chiba University, 808FACTORY, Autogrow, Kajima Corporation, MIRAI & Pegasus Agriculture.

SINGAPORE, SG (PRWEB) DECEMBER 29, 2016

Indoor agriculture is one of the fastest-growing industries in Asia as consumer demand for “clean food” benefits this form of farming that uses few pesticides and shields crops from environmental pollution. Indoor Ag-Con – the premier industry conference – will be returning to Singapore for the second year on January 24-25, 2017 to discuss the prospects for this increasingly important contributor to the global food supply chain.

The two-day seminar will be hosted at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, and is tailored toward corporate executives from the technology, investment, vertical farming, greenhouse growing, and food and beverage industries, along with hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic startups and urban farmers.

The event will consist of keynotes from industry leaders and extended networking breaks, along with an exhibition hall. More than 20 confirmed speakers include Professor Kozai of Chiba University, author of ‘The Plant Factory’, and executives from 808FACTORY, Autogrow, Intravision, Kajima Corporation, MIRAI, Pegasus Agriculture, and Urban Crops. “Our speakers will cover topics as diverse as automation for plant factories and financing an indoor agriculture startup” commented Nicola Kerslake, founder of Newbean Capital, the event’s host. Participants will receive an exclusive hard copy of the newest edition in our popular white paper series, which is sponsored by Pegasus Agriculture and will be the first published on global indoor agriculture policy. Agriculture technology companies, suppliers and automation companies will have the chance to meet and mingle with leading vertical farmers and commercial greenhouse operators at a drinks party on the first evening of the event. The platinum sponsor for the event is Lighting Science Group, and other sponsors include Autogrow, Kennett Township, Microsoft BizSpark, Pegasus Agriculture, Upgrown Farming and Urban Crops.

Beginning farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs can win passes to the event through the Nextbean program, which awards a limited number of complimentary passes to the event to those who have been industry participants for less than two years. Applications are open through December 31, 2016 at Indoor Ag-Con’s website. The program is supported by Newbean Capital, the host of Indoor Ag-Con, and Kennett Township, a leading indoor agriculture hub that produces half of the US’s mushrooms.

In the lead up to the main event, Indoor Ag-Con has partnered with Startup Weekend Singapore to add an indoor agriculture theme to a Startup Weekend on January 20-22, 2017, and will host a VIP reception with local fresh salad restaurant chain SaladStop!.

Indoor Ag-Con has also hosted events in Las Vegas, NV and New York, NY in the past year, and will host its first event in Dubai – in partnership with greenhouse major Pegasus Agriculture – in November 2017. Since it was founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con has captured an international audience and attracted some of the top names in the business. Events have welcomed over 1,500 participants from more than 20 countries.

Newbean Capital, the host of the conference, is a registered investment advisor; some of its clients or potential clients may participate in the conference. The Company is ably assisted in the event’s production by Rachelle Razon, Sarah Smith and Michael Nelson of Origin Event Planning, and by Michele Premone of Brede Allied.

2nd Annual Indoor Ag-Con Asia
Date – January 24-25, 2017
Place – Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Exhibition Booths – available from US$1,599 at indoor.ag
Registration – available from US$349 at indoor.ag
Features – Two-day seminar, with keynote speakers, an exhibition hall, an after-party, and VIP reception

For more information, please visit http://www.indoor.ag/asia or call +1.775.623.7116 in the US and +65.3159.1305 in Singapore

Designing An Aquaponic Unit

Designing An Aquaponic Unit

Summary

Aquaponics is the integration of recirculating aquaculture and hydroponics in one production system. In aquaponics, the aquaculture effluent is diverted through plant beds and not released to the environment, while at the same time the nutrients for the plants are supplied from a sustainable, cost-effective and non-chemical source. This integration removes some of the unsustainable factors of running aquaculture and hydroponic systems independently. The technology presented in this document, provides a description of the concept of aquaponics and an overview of the three most common methods of aquaponics being utilized at present. In addition, the factors to consider when selecting a site for an aquaponic unit and the components essential for any method of aquaponics are described in details in this document.

Description

Introduction:

Aquaponics is a technique that combines hydroponics and aquaculture in a single system that cultivates plants in recirculated aquaculture water (Figure 1). 

Hydroponics is the most common method of soil-less culture (growing agricultural crops without the use of the soil), which includes growing plants either on a substrate or in an aqueous medium with bare roots. The substrate provides plant support and moisture retention. Irrigation systems are integrated within these substrates, thereby introducing a nutrient solution to the plants’ root zones. This solution provides all of the necessary nutrients for plant growth.

Aquaculture is the captive rearing and production of fish and other aquatic animal and plant species under controlled conditions The four major categories of aquaculture include open water systems (e.g. cages, longlines), pond culture, flow-through raceways and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). A RAS is the most applicable method for the development of integrated aquaculture agriculture systems because of the possible use of by-products and the higher water nutrient concentrations for vegetable crop production.

Aquaponics is a form of integrated agriculture that combines two major techniques, aquaculture and hydroponics. In one continuously recirculating unit, culture water exits the fish tank containing the metabolic wastes of fish. The water first passes through a mechanical filter that captures solid wastes, and then passes through a biofilter that oxidizes ammonia to nitrate. The water then travels through plant grow beds where plants uptake the nutrients, and finally the water returns, purified, to the fish tank. The biofilter provides a habitat for bacteria to convert fish waste into accessible nutrients for plants. These nutrients, which are dissolved in the water, are then absorbed by the plants. This process of nutrient removal cleans the water, preventing the water from becoming toxic with harmful forms of nitrogen (ammonia and nitrite), and allows the fish, plants, and bacteria to thrive symbiotically. Moreover, the converted fish waste provides all of the fertilizer required by the plants. Thus, all the organisms work together to create a healthy growing environment for one another, provided that the system is properly balanced.

Aquaponics is a technique that has its place within the wider context of sustainable intensive agriculture, especially in family-scale applications. It offers supportive and collaborative methods of vegetable and fish production and can grow substantial amounts of food in locations and situations where soil-based agriculture is difficult or impossible. Aquaponics is most appropriate where land is expensive, water is scarce, and soil is poor. Deserts and arid areas, sandy islands and urban gardens are the locations most appropriate for aquaponics because it uses an absolute minimum of water.

Aquaponic systems are expensive because they require the installation of a full aquaculture system and a hydroponic system. Despite this, units can be designed and scaled to meet the skill and interest level of many farmers. Aquaponics is quite adaptable, and can be developed with local materials and domestic knowledge, and to suit local cultural and environmental conditions. It will always require a dedicated and interested person, or group of persons, to maintain and manage the system on a daily basis.

Types of aquaponic units:

a) Media Bed Technique (MBT):

Media-filled bed units are the most popular design for small-scale aquaponics. This method is strongly recommended for most developing regions. These designs are efficient with space, have a relatively low initial cost and are suitable for beginners because of their simplicity. In media bed units, the medium is used to support the roots of the plants and also the same medium functions as a filter, both mechanical and biological. There are many designs for media beds, and this is probably the most adaptable technique. Moreover, recycled materials can easily be repurposed to hold the media and the fish (Figure 2).

b) Nutrient Film Technique (NFT):

The NFT is a hydroponic method using horizontal pipes each with a shallow stream of nutrient-rich water flowing through it. Plants are placed within holes in the top of the pipes, and are able to use this thin film of nutrient-rich water. This technique is far more complicated and expensive than media beds, and may not be appropriate in locations with inadequate access to suppliers. It is most useful in urban applications, especially when vertical space or weight-limitations are considerations. In addition, this technique requires separate mechanical and biofiltration components, in order to respectively remove the suspended solids and oxidize the dissolved wastes (ammonia to nitrate) (Figure 3).

c) Deep Water Culture (DWC):

The DWC method involves suspending plants in polystyrene sheets, with their roots hanging down into the water. This method is the most common for large commercial aquaponics, growing one specific crop (typically lettuce, salad leaves or basil), and is more suitable for mechanization. On a small-scale, this technique is more complicated than media beds, and may not be suitable for some locations, especially where access to materials is limited. As in the NFT, separate mechanical and biological filters are needed (Figure 4, and 5).

However, the aquaponic DWC units can be designed without a filtration system. These units carry a very low stocking density of fish (i.e. 1–1.5 kg of fish per m3 of fish tank), and then rely mainly on the plant root space and the interior area of the canals as the surface area to house the nitrifying bacteria. Simple mesh screens capture the large solid waste, and the canals serve as settling tanks for fine waste. The advantage -of this method is the reduction in initial economic investment and capital costs, while at the same time eliminating the need for additional filter containers and materials, which can be difficult and expensive to source in some locations (Figure 6).

Consideration while designing an aquaponic unit:

1. Site Selection:

Be sure to choose a site that is stable and level. Some of the major components of an aquaponic system are heavy, leading to the potential risk of the legs of the system sinking into the ground. This can lead to disrupted water flow, flooding or catastrophic collapse. Find the most level and solid ground available. Concrete slabs are suitable, but do not allow any components to be buried, which can lead to tripping hazards. If the system is built on soil, it is useful to grade the soil and put down material to mitigate weeds. In addition, place concrete or cement blocks under the legs of the grow beds to improve stability. Stone chips are often used to level and stabilize soil locations. Moreover, it is important to place the fish tanks on a base; this will help to provide stability, protect the tank, allow for plumbing and drains on the tank bottom, and thermally isolate it from the ground.

a) Exposure to wind, rain and snow:

Extreme environmental conditions can stress plants and destroy structures. Strong prevailing winds can have a considerable negative impact on plant production and can cause damage to stems and reproductive parts. In addition, strong rain can harm the plants and damage unprotected electrical sockets. Large amounts of rain can dilute the nutrient-rich water, and can flood a system if no overflow mechanism is integrated into the unit. Snow causes the same problems as heavy rain, with the added threat of cold damage. It is recommended to locate the system in a wind-protected zone. If heavy rains are common, it may be worth to protect the system with a plastic-lined hoop house, although this may not be necessary in all locations.

b) Exposure to sunlight and shade:

Most of the common plants for aquaponics grow well in full sun conditions; however, if the sunlight is too intense, a simple shade structure can be installed over the grow beds. Some light sensitive plants, including lettuce, salad greens and some cabbages, will bolt in too much sun, go to seed and become bitter and unpalatable. Other tropical plants adapted to the jungle floor such as turmeric and certain ornamentals can exhibit leaf burn when exposed to excessive sun, and they do better with some shade. On the other hand, with insufficient sunlight, some plants can have slow growth rates. This situation can be avoided by placing the aquaponic unit in a sunny location. If a shady area is the only location available, it is recommended that shade-tolerant species be planted.

On the contrary, the fish do not need direct sunlight. In fact, it is important for the fish tanks to be in the shade or covered with a removable shading material that is placed on top of the tank. However, where possible, it is better to isolate the fish tanks using a separate shading structure. This will prevent algae growth and will help to maintain a stable water temperature during the day. Moreover, fish tanks are vulnerable to predators. Using shade netting, tarps or other screening over the fish tanks will prevent all of these threats.

c) Access to utilities:

In site selection, it is important to consider the availability of utilities. Electric outlets are needed for water and air pumps. These outlets should be shielded from water and equipped with a residual-current device (RCD) to reduce the risk of electrical shock. Moreover, the water source should be easily accessible, whether it is municipal water or rain collection units. Similarly, consider where any effluent from the system would go. Although extremely water efficient, aquaponic systems occasionally require water changes, and filters and clarifiers need to be rinsed. It is convenient to have some soil plants located nearby that would benefit from this water. The system should be located where it is easy for daily access because frequent monitoring and daily feeding are required. Finally, consider if it is necessary to fence the entire section. Fences are sometimes required to prevent theft and vandalism, animal pests and for some food safety regulations.

2.  Water quality in aquaponics:

Water is the life-blood of an aquaponic system (Figure 7). It is the medium through which plants receive their nutrients andfish receive their oxygen. It is very important to understand water quality and basic water chemistry in order to properly manage aquaponics.

There are five key water quality parameters for aquaponics: dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, water temperature, total nitrogen concentrations and hardness (KH). Each organism in an aquaponic unit has a specific tolerance range for each parameter of water quality. The tolerance ranges are relatively similar for all three organisms, but there is need for compromise and therefore some organisms will not be functioning at their optimum level.

Ideal parameters for aquaponics as a compromise between all three organisms

Water testing is essential for maintaining good water quality in the system. This starts from the selection of the water source: rainwater, aquifer water, tap water. Continue to test and keep records of the following water quality parameters each week: pH, water temperature, nitrate and carbonate hardness. Ammonia and nitrite tests should be used especially at system start-up and if abnormal fish mortality raises toxicity concerns.

3.  Essential components of an aquaponic unit:

a) Fish tank

Fish tanks are a crucial component in every unit. As such, fish tanks can account for up to 20 percent of the entire cost of an aquaponic unit. Although any shape of fish tank will work, round tanks with flat bottoms are recommended. The round shape allows water to circulate uniformly and transports solid wastes towards the centre of the tank by centripetal force.

It is recommended to use strong inert plastic or fibreglass tanks, because of their durability and

long life span. If using plastic containers, make sure that they are UV-resistant because direct sunlight can destroy plastic. In general, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) tanks are preferable because of their high resistance and food-grade characteristics. Other options include second hand containers, such as bathtubs, barrels or intermediate bulk containers (IBCs). It is very important to make sure that the container has not been used previously to store toxic material. Contaminants, such as solvent-borne chemicals, will have penetrated into the porous plastic itself and are impossible to remove with washing.

Regarding the tank color, white or other light colours are strongly advised as they allow easier viewing of the fish in order to easily check behaviour and the amount of waste settled at the bottom of the tank. White tanks will also reflect sunlight and keep the water cool. Alternatively, the outside of darker coloured tanks can be painted white. All fish tanks should be covered. The shade covers prevent algae growth. In addition, the covers prevent fish from jumping out (often occurs with newly added fish or if water quality is sub-optimal), prevent leaves and debris from entering, and prevent predators such as cats and birds from attacking the fish. Often, agricultural shading nets that block 80–90 percent of sunlight are used. The shade cloth can be attached to a simple wooden frame to provide weight and make the cover easy to remove.

b) Sump tank

The sump tank is a water collection tank at the lowest point in the system; water always runs downhill to the sump. This is often the location of the submersible pump. Sump tanks should be smaller than the fish tanks, and should be able to hold between one-fourth and one-third of the volume of the fish tank. For ebb-and-flow type media beds, the sump needs to be large enough to hold at least the entire volume of water in the grow beds.  External sump tanks are mainly used in media bed units; however, for DWC units the actual hydroponic canal can be used as a sump tank / pump house also.  

On the other hand, very small units with fish tanks up to 200 litres can simply pump water from the fish tank to the grow beds, from where water trickles back down into the fish tank. In this case the use of a sump tank is not required.

c)  Filtration system

Some level of filtration is essential to all aquaponics, although fish stocking density and system design determines how much filtration is necessary. Mechanical filters separate solid wastes which are then removed from the system to prevent toxic gases from being released by harmful bacteria that feed on accumulated solid wastes. Moreover, the wastes can clog systems and disrupt water flow, causing anoxic conditions to the plant roots. For aquaponics, mechanical filtration is arguably the most important aspect of the design.

There are several types of mechanical filters. The simplest method is a screen or filter located between the fish tank and the grow bed. This screen catches solid wastes, and needs to be rinsed often. Similarly, water leaving the fish tank can pass through a small container of particulate material, separate from the media bed; this container is easier to rinse periodically. These methods are valid for some small-scale aquaponic units, but are insufficient in larger systems with more fish where the amount of solid waste is relevant. There are many types of mechanical filters, including sedimentation tanks, radial-flow clarifiers, sand or bead filters and baffle filters; each of them can be used according to the size of solid wastes that needs to be removed. For small-scale aquaponics, clarifiers or radial swirl filters are the most appropriate filters.

Biofiltration is the conversion of ammonia and nitrite into nitrate by living bacteria. Most fish waste is not filterable using a mechanical filter because the waste is dissolved directly in the water, and the size of these particles is too small to be mechanically removed. Therefore, in order to process this microscopic waste an aquaponic system uses microscopic bacteria. The biofilter is installed between the mechanical filter and the hydroponic containers. Many types of media can be used, including purpose-designed plastic pieces, volcanic gravel, plastic bottle caps, nylon shower poufs, netting, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shavings and nylon scrub pads.

The media beds themselves act as both mechanical filters and biofilters when using this technique, but additional mechanical filtration is sometimes necessary for higher fish densities (15 kg/m3). In a unit without the media beds, such as in NFT and DWC units, standalone filtration is necessary.

d) Aeration system

Another required component for aquaponics is aeration. Fish and plants need oxygen to breath, and nitrifying bacteria need adequate access to oxygen in order to oxidize the ammonia. One easy solution is to use air pumps, placing the air stones at the bottom of the container. This ensures that all the living organisms have constantly high and stable dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations.

Venturi siphons are another technique to increase the DO levels in aquaponics. Venturi siphons use a hydrodynamic principle that pulls in air from the outside (aspiration) when pressurized water flows with a faster speed through a pipe section of a smaller diameter. As the water in the main pipe is forced through the narrower section, it creates a jet effect.

e) Water movement

Water movement is fundamental for keeping all organisms alive in aquaponics. As mentioned before, the flowing water moves from the fish tanks, through the mechanical separator and the biofilter and finally to the plants in their media beds, pipes or canals, removing the dissolved nutrients. If water movement stops, the most immediate effect will be a reduction in DO and accumulation of wastes in the fish tank.

It is recommended to use a standard pump as the heart of an aquaponics unit. Most commonly an impeller-type submersible water pump is used. When installing an aquaponic unit, be sure to place the submersible pump in an accessible location because periodic cleaning is necessary.

Airlifts are another technique of lifting water. They use an air pump rather a water pump. Air is forced to the bottom of a pipe within the fish tank, bubbles form and burst, and during their rise to the surface the bubbles transport water with them.

Some aquaponic systems have been designed to use human power to move water. Water can be lifted in buckets or by using pulleys, modified bicycles or other means. A header tank can be filled manually and allowed to slowly drain throughout the course of the day. These methods are only applicable for small systems, and should only be considered where electricity is unavailable or unreliable.

f) Plumbing materials

Every system requires a selection of PVC pipe, PVC connections and fittings, hoses and tubes. These provide the channels for water to flow into each component. Bulkhead valves, uniseals, silicone sealant and Teflon tape are also needed. In addition, some general tools are needed such as hammers, drills, hand saws, electric saws, measuring tapes, pliers, channel-locking pliers, screwdrivers, levels, etc. One special tool is a hole-saw and/ or spade bit, which is used in an electric drill to make holes up to 8 cm, necessary for inserting the pipes into the fish tanks and filters, as well as for making holes in the PVC or polystyrene grow beds in NFT and DWC systems.

Make sure that the pipes and plumbing used in the system have never previously been used to hold toxic substances. It is also important that the plumbing used is of food-grade quality to prevent possible leaching of chemicals into the system water. It is also important to use pipes that are black and/or non-transparent to light, which will stop algae from growing.

g) Water testing kits

Simple water tests are a requirement for every aquaponic unit. Colour-coded freshwater test kits are readily available, fairly economical and easy to use, and thus these are recommended.

These can be purchased in aquarium stores or online. These kits include tests for pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and water hardness (GH and KH). Be sure that the manufacturers are reliable and that the expiration date is still valid.

Other methods include digital meters or test strips. If using digital meters for pH or nitrate, be sure to calibrate the units according to the manufacturer’s directions. A thermometer is necessary to measure water temperature. In addition, if there is risk of saltwater in the source water, a cheap hydrometer, or a more accurate but more expensive refractometer, is worthwhile.

The basic aquaponic system works in a wide range of conditions, and units can be designed and scaled to meet the skill and interest level of many farmers. However, its success is derived from the appropriate selection of the locations while considering its limitations, the maintenance and management of the system on a daily basis by a motivated farmer or group of farmers..

There is a wide variety of aquaponic designs, ranging from high-tech to low-tech, and from high to reasonable price levels. The three most common methods of aquaponics and their management are described in the following technologies:

1.   Designing an Aquaponic unit

2.   Media Bed Aquaponic Unit - Step by Step Description

3.   Nutrient Film Aquaponic Unit – Step by Step Description

4.   Deep Water Culture Aquaponic Unit – Step by Step Description

5.   Management of the Aquaponic Systems

See also

Management of the Aquaponic Systems

Deep Water Culture Aquaponic Unit – Step by Step Description

Nutrient Film Aquaponic Unit – Step by Step Description

Media Bed Aquaponic Unit - Step by Step Description

Further reading

Small-scale aquaponic food production - Integrated fish and plant farming (FAO, 2014): http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4021e/

7 rules-of-thumb to follow in aquaponics: http://www.fao.org/zhc/detail-events/en/c/320156/

Keywords

Aquaculture

hydroponics

aquaponics

Efficiency

soilless culture

Category

Fishery & aquaculture

Region

Central Asia

East Asia and Pacific

Latin America and Caribbean

Created date

Wed, 03/06/2015 - 16:19

Source(s)

Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (FI) in FAO

Fisheries and aquaculture have the capacity – if supported and developed in a regulated and environmentally sensitive manner – to contribute significantly to improving the well-being of poor and disadvantaged communities in developing countries and to achievement of several of the Millennium Development Goals, especially those related to poverty reduction and food and nutrition security, environmental protection and biodiversity. As part of a long-term strategy, the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department (FI) is envisioning a world in which responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources makes an appreciable contribution to human well-being, food security and poverty alleviation. In this regard, FI works towards strengthening global governance and the managerial and technical capacities of members and to lead consensus-building towards improved conservation and utilization of aquatic resources. The activities of FI reflect the main FAO mandate of managing knowledge and information, assuring a global neutral forum for Members and providing technical assistance at national, regional and global levels.

In addition, the FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department undertakes capacity development activities for marine and inland fisheries as well as aquaculture. These include training at different levels, preparation of training and extension materials for general or targeted training, awareness raising through workshops, and collaboration with partner training institutions.  The FI is also involved in the development of appropriate technical guidelines and the promotion of participatory approaches in sustainable and responsible aquatic resources management, including gender aspects.

The Aquaculture Branch of FI (FIAA) is particularly responsible for providing technical assistance towards sustainable and responsible aquaculture development and management in support of improving food and nutrition security and alleviating poverty, globally.

The Products, Trade and Marketing Branch (FIAM) of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of FAO, assists FAO member countries on all aspects related to post-harvest. FIAM provides technical assistance in areas such as marketing, trade, handling and processing and preservation of fish products, food safety and nutrition. As such, FIAM supports activities along the value chain aiming at a sustainable supply of fish and fishery products in the market, while securing greater benefits for actors in the value chain. FIAM has broad experience in the field of promotion fish consumption, through the dissemination of knowledge on the nutritional value of fish and fishery products, including the promotion of good hygienic practices at any level of the supply chain (on board canoes/vessels, landing sites, aquaculture farms, factories and sales points).  Local fishermen and processors are assisted to adapt best practices in order to reduce food losses and waste, and to promote an optimal use of their fishery by-products, improving their returns, minimizing the environmental impacts and contributing to food security. Finally, as fish and fishery products are among the most traded food commodities worldwide, FIAM coordinates the implementation of Globefish, a programme collecting and disseminating information on markets and fish trade. Globefish produces a number of publications including fish price reports (European Fish Price Report), market studies (GLOBEFISH Research Programme) and trend analysis (GLOBEFISH Highlights).

Contacts: 

Contact person: 

Aquaculture Branch of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resource Division

Contact email: 

FIAA-Chief@fao.org

Contact person: 

Alessandro Lovatelli (Aquaculture Branch)

Contact email: 

alessandro.lovatelli@fao.org

Contact person: 

Aina Randrianantoandro (Products, Trade and Marketing Branch)

Contact email: 

Aina.Randrianantoandro@fao.org

Web: 

http://www.fao.org/fishery/en

Country: 

Italy

USDA Urban Agriculture Toolkit

USDA Microloans, a program that offers funding up to $50,000, is specifically geared toward urban farmers.  Established in 2013, the program has awarded 23,000 loans worth $518 million to farms in California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Though it is open to all farmers, urban farmers often apply for it because it offers the money on a smaller scale than other programs. Seventy percent (or about 16,100 of those loans) have gone to new farmers, many of them in cities.

USDA Urban Agriculture Toolkit