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Eindhoven Unveils Plans For A Solar-Powered City Block With Living Roofs And Urban Farms
Billed as a contemporary and hyper-modern development, Nieuw Bergen will add 29,000 square meters of new development to Eindhoven city center. The sharply angled and turf-covered roofs give the buildings their jagged and eye-catching silhouettes that are both modern in appearance and reference traditional pitched roofs. The 45-degree pitches optimize indoor access to natural light.
Eindhoven Unveils Plans For A Solar-Powered City Block With Living Roofs And Urban Farms
by Lucy Wang
The Dutch city of Eindhoven just selected MVRDV and SDK Vastgoed (VolkerWessels) to create Nieuw Bergen – a super green block of homes and businesses topped with living roofs and solar panels. Located in the inner city area around Deken van Someren Street, the project’s seven buildings will comprise 240 new homes, 1,700 square meters of commercial space, 270 square meters of urban farming, and underground parking.
Billed as a contemporary and hyper-modern development, Nieuw Bergen will add 29,000 square meters of new development to Eindhoven city center. The sharply angled and turf-covered roofs give the buildings their jagged and eye-catching silhouettes that are both modern in appearance and reference traditional pitched roofs. The 45-degree pitches optimize indoor access to natural light.
“Natural light plays a central role in Nieuw Bergen, as volumes follow a strict height limit and a design guideline that allows for the maximum amount of natural sunlight, views, intimacy and reduced visibility from street levels,” says Jacob van Rijs, co-founder of MVRDV. “Pocket parks also ensure a pleasant distribution of greenery throughout the neighborhood and create an intimate atmosphere for all.”
Related: The Sax: MVRDV unveils plans for a ‘vertical city’ in Rotterdam
Each of Nieuw Bergen’s structures is different but collectively form a family of buildings that complement the existing urban fabric. Gardens and greenhouses with lamella roof structures top several buildings. A natural materials palette consisting of stone, wood, and concrete softens the green-roofed development.
Berlin Startup To Plant Mini Vertical Farms In Supermarkets
The idea of growing fresh local produce in supermarkets has seen a large amount of progress – it was announced earlier in April that Europe’s first commercial vertical farm had begun construction in Dronten.
Berlin Startup To Plant Mini Vertical Farms In Supermarkets
Berlin based startup Infarm intends to distribute smart vertical farming systems to supermarkets, providing customers with the option to hand-pick fresh vegetables and herbs, whilst simultaneously reducing food mileage and transport emissions.
The idea of growing fresh local produce in supermarkets has seen a large amount of progress – it was announced earlier in April that Europe’s first commercial vertical farm had begun construction in Dronten.
Infarm’s hydroponic vertical farms are adaptable and self-regulating – they can be stacked according to space requirements, and they are also monitored to ensure optimal conditions for the plants.
Additionally, these hydroponic systems not only decrease agricultural water usage, but they also reduce wastage and minimise energy usage from transportation and refrigeration, making them an incredibly sustainable option.
Vertical farming allows for the locating of food production close to, and within, urban areas, where food consumption is concentrated.
Infarm, who recently raised €4 million in funding, have already planted their modular vertical farms in a Metro Cash & Carry, and plan to install them in German supermarket chain EDEKA.
Investors are increasingly interested in approaches to growing fresh food locally, and smart startups such as Infarm are proving a good place to start.
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Launching Of Its Start-Up: Agricool Prepares Its Meeting With The Public
Launching Of Its Start-Up: Agricool Prepares Its Meeting With The Public
NICOLAS RAULINE Le 30/05 à 01:00
Strawberries that grow in Agricool containers require neither pesticides nor GMOs and consume 90% less water compared to a conventional crop. - Photo Tony Trichanh
A part of the future of agriculture is perhaps taking shape, at this moment, in the heart of an industrial zone in La Courneuve. It is there, in the suburbs of Paris, in Seine-Saint-Denis, that Agriculture has set up its quarters. It must be said that the start-up needed space to grow its strawberries . Since its creation less than two years ago, its young founders, neither farmers nor agronomists, but themselves sons of peasants, claim to want to revolutionize the sector with a new process. They recycled containers, arranged them for deployment of strawberry walls, separated from LED lighting walls. Temperature, humidity, light ... Everything is measured, controlled. With one goal: "get the best taste in the end". Subjective, The objective? "When we test 10,000 people, subjectivity no longer exists," says Guillaume Fourdinier, co-founder of Agricool. "In our approach, we wanted to eliminate all certainties. This is why we constantly test the sugar content, the vitamin content and so on. If tomorrow we realize that changing the culture temperature by one degree has a positive impact on taste and nutritional value, we will do it. Everything is possible. In containers you can even create shorter days! " We wanted to remove all certainties. This is why we constantly test the sugar content, the vitamin content and so on. If tomorrow we realize that changing the culture temperature by one degree has a positive impact on taste and nutritional value, we will do it. Everything is possible. In containers you can even create shorter days! " We wanted to remove all certainties. This is why we constantly test the sugar content, the vitamin content and so on. If tomorrow we realize that changing the culture temperature by one degree has a positive impact on taste and nutritional value, we will do it. Everything is possible. In containers you can even create shorter days! "
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For example, in the 1,500 square meters of warehouses and offices owned by Agricool in La Courneuve, developers, agronomists, workers who build containers, electrical engineers and plant physiologists are active. The strawberries are never far, measured, observed, tasted permanently ... "We were able to build a unique team," welcomes Guillaume Fourdinier. After the recent € 4 million fundraiser (led by Daphni), the workforce grew to thirty-three . And everything is done internally. Even the LEDs: no solution of the market was really adapted to strawberries, the young shoot decided to create his own. It also disposed of hives,
"Reasonable" Rates
The advantages of the developed technique are manifold. The start-up does not use GMOs or pesticides and consumes 90% less watercompared to a conventional crop, in particular because the water used to irrigate the plants is recovered under the vertical walls. And above all, Agricool wants to reduce the distance between the place of production and the place of consumption , to "twenty kilometers at the most" . "This is the paradox of" organic ", adds Guillaume Fourdinier. Since there are fewer production sites, we travel more kilometers to deliver, with all the consequences that may have on the environment. " The start-up do not short a label behind which it could,
After the R & D phase, Agricool is preparing to face the public. The first strawberries will go on sale in early July. Nearly 8,000 people are already registered . A wait that could put Agricool in a position of strength, but the young shoot wants to keep prices reasonable. "We are doing this so that we consume better and that quality is accessible to all," repeats the young entrepreneur. It therefore ensures that the price will, on average, be 15 to 20% lower than that of organic products .
7 Tons of Strawberries Per Year Per Container
At full throttle, the start-up estimates that it will be able to deliver 7 tons of strawberries per year and per container, ie 800 trays per week . "The market is huge," explains Guillaume Fourdinier. To produce 20% of all strawberries consumed by Parisians, we would need 600 containers. " To achieve one day, on this scale, Agricool wants to put its containers available to all those interested: companies, new" urban farmers "... After his first container to Bercy Park, removed from the start-up Has installed one on the site of Vente-privée in Saint-Denis . Another will follow at the entrance of Station F, the start-up campus created by Xavier Niel . "But it will be necessary to fill in a complete specifications , " says Guillaume Fourdinier. "Farmers" will need to be trained, and then engage, for example, to sell locally .
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Since the launch in 2015, our team works day and night to get there.
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Hawking Says Trump's Climate Stance Could Damage Earth
Hawking Says Trump's Climate Stance Could Damage Earth
By Pallab Ghosh | Science correspondent, BBC News
From the sectionScience & Environment | 2 July 2017
Prof Hawking said the action could put Earth onto a path that turns it into a hothouse planet like Venus.
He also feared aggression was "inbuilt" in humans and that our best hope of survival was to live on other planets.
The Cambridge professor spoke exclusively to BBC News to coincide with his 75th birthday celebrations.
Arguably the world's most famous scientist, Prof Hawking has had motor neurone disease for most of his adult life. It has impaired his movement and ability to speak.
Yet through it all, he emerged as one of the greatest minds of our time. His theories on black holes and the origin of the Universe have transformed our understanding of the cosmos.
Prof Hawking has also inspired generations to study science. But through his media appearances what has been most impressive of all has been his humanity.
'Great Danger'
His main concern during his latest interview was the future of our species. A particular worry was President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement to reduce CO2 levels.
What is in the Paris climate agreement?
"We are close to the tipping point where global warming becomes irreversible. Trump's action could push the Earth over the brink, to become like Venus, with a temperature of two hundred and fifty degrees, and raining sulphuric acid," he told BBC News.
"Climate change is one of the great dangers we face, and it's one we can prevent if we act now. By denying the evidence for climate change, and pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, Donald Trump will cause avoidable environmental damage to our beautiful planet, endangering the natural world, for us and our children."
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also highlights the potential risk of hitting climate tipping points as temperatures increase - though there are gaps in our knowledge of this topic.
In its Fifth Assessment Report, the IPCC authors wrote: "The precise levels of climate change sufficient to trigger tipping points (thresholds for abrupt and irreversible change) remain uncertain, but the risk associated with crossing multiple tipping points in the Earth system or in interlinked human and natural systems increases with rising temperature."
When asked whether he felt we would ever solve our environmental problems and resolve human conflicts, Prof Hawking was pessimistic, saying that he thought our days on Earth were numbered.
"I fear evolution has inbuilt greed and aggression to the human genome. There is no sign of conflict lessening, and the development of militarised technology and weapons of mass destruction could make that disastrous. The best hope for the survival of the human race might be independent colonies in space."
And on Brexit, he feared UK research would be irreparably damaged.
"Science is a cooperative effort, so the impact will be wholly bad, and will leave British science isolated and inward looking".
I asked him what he would like his legacy to be.
"I never expected to reach 75, so I feel very fortunate to be able to reflect on my legacy. I think my greatest achievement, will be my discovery that black holes are not entirely black."
"Quantum effects cause them to glow like hot bodies with a temperature that is lower, the larger the black hole. This result was completely unexpected, and showed there is a deep relationship between gravity and thermodynamics. I think this will be key, to understanding how paradoxes between quantum mechanics and general relativity can be resolved."
When asked if money or practicality were no object, what his dream present would be, he said it would be a cure for motor neurone disease - or at least a treatment that halted its progression.
"When I was diagnosed at 21, I was told it would kill me in two or three years. Now, 54 years later, albeit weaker and in a wheelchair, I'm still working and producing scientific papers. But it's been a great struggle, which I have got through only with a lot of help from my family, colleagues, and friends."
Vertical Farming – The Latest Trend For Producing Food !
Vertical Farming – The Latest Trend For Producing Food !
Nowadays, agriculture and food production are under great risk. The major factors for this are as follows
- The land under food cultivation is dwindling so as to give way for real estate activities owing to increase in urban population and their standards of living.
- Climate change is making our food systems vulnerable. Weather has become unpredictable and as a result farmers, especially small and marginal ones suffer from huge crop losses. At some places there are droughts due to delayed or scanty monsoon. At others there are more cyclones and untimely rains flooding the farms.
- The traditional agricultural techniques and practices are getting lost. Aspiring for more profits, farmers are doing mono-cropping and using chemicals in the form of fertilizers and pesticides extensively. This has taken a toll on our soils and has rendered it infertile. Moreover the crop thus raised is harmful for consumption.
Health conscious urban dwellers are switching to organic crops. Few others have gone to the next level of growing their own veggies in their rooftop or kitchen gardens. Demand for healthy and organic food is growing. To cope up with the limitation of land resources and the unpredictability of the weather conditions, scientists and entrepreneurs are developing modern agricultural techniques and technologies. One such innovation is Vertical Farming which is a type of precision farming. The goal of precision farming is to optimize returns on inputs while preserving resources. Vertical farms can produce more crops in less space with minimal environmental damage.
The Characteristics of Vertical Farming Are
- It involves producing crops in vertical stacks of plant beds one above another. This reduces the need for more land and eliminates the need for tilling.
- It is done indoors and environmental conditions are controlled, thus effectively isolating it from the outdoor weather conditions.
- This soil less farming is achieved either by hydroponics or aeroponics. Hydroponics uses water as medium for conveying nutrients to the roots. Mineral nutrients are dissolved in water, pumped and fed directly to a plant’s root system without any involvement of soil. In aeroponics, the roots are exposed to nutrient rich mist. The benefits associated with these technologies are quicker growth, faster harvest, higher yield and low nutrient and water wastage.
- Here, sunlight is replaced by light from LEDs. When plants photosynthesize they convert light of certain wavelength into chemical energy which is not necessary to come from sun. LEDs which are having high acceptance in replacing traditional lights, have been evolved to provide optimum electromagnetic spectrum for photosynthesis, consume less energy and have minimal heat signatures which keeps the energy requirement for temperature maintenance at a minimum.
Crops generally grown in this method are green leafy vegetables. The vertical farming market is estimated to reach USD 3.88 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 30.7% between 2015 and 2020.
In some developed countries, vertical farms are on the verge of starting the next green revolution. The first ever commercial vertical farm was setup in Singapore in 2012. The world’s largest vertical farm is coming up in Newark, New Jersey by a company called Aerofarms which aims to produce about two million pounds of leafy greens a year using aeroponics techniques.
In Japan vertical farm technology gained traction after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown exposed the susceptibility of arable land getting contaminated. Closer home, start-ups such as Futurefarms based in Chennai has setup such farms and has begun promoting it.
Vertical farms can be setup in abandoned factories or warehouses. It promises to create more jobs and attracts public-private investment. The vegetables can be locally grown and thus the cost and emissions due to their transportation can be significantly cut down. These farms also give us the option of year-round harvest. And of course, huge swathes of land can be returned to their natural state by reforestation.
Nevertheless, some scientists are sceptical about this technology. They consider it to be a factory rather than a farm almost like a broiler producing plant. Further, the whole system is vulnerable due to human error and technological malfunction. Considering that these systems use huge number of LED lights, motors and sensors the demand for power increases substantially which can make it unsustainable. Detailed research work has to be done before it gets commercialised in India.
Palais des Congrès de Montréal Wins Prestigious International Innovation Award For Its Urban Agriculture Lab
"We have an immense rooftop surface right in the heart of the city, and we knew that by working with environmental experts, we could make a positive contribution by repurposing this vast space. Scientists, engineers, crop farmers, bee farmers, managers and a host of other specialists worked together with the Palais' building management team to make this project happen, which we believe will inspire other property owners to do the same," mentioned Chrystine Loriaux, the Palais des congrès Director of Marketing and Communications.
Palais des Congrès de Montréal Wins Prestigious International Innovation Award For Its Urban Agriculture Lab
The Urban Agriculture Lab of the Palais des congrès de Montréal (CNW Group/Palais des congrès de Montréal)
MONTRÉAL, July 5, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The Palais des congrès de Montréal was presented with the prestigious AIPC Innovation Award on July 4, 2017 at the AIPC International Association of Convention Centres Annual Conference in Sydney, Australia. The Palais was recognized for its Urban Agriculture Lab and its innovations in sustainable development. The Lab was among the 16 convention centre entries shortlisted for the award. "We are proud of the sustainability leadership role we play within the industry through our tangible actions. By opening the Urban Agriculture Lab in tandem with partners like the Laboratoire sur l'agriculture urbaine (AU/LAB) and Ligne Verte, the Palais is fostering experimentation with new rooftop urban farming technologies and practices, and in the process, is also reducing heat islands in the city's downtown core," declared Raymond Larivée, President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
The AIPC Innovation Award recognizes excellence in convention centre management by showcasing initiatives that represent innovation, namely through the development of a new, more creative or more effective approach to any aspect of convention centre management, operations or marketing. The Palais des congrès was the Overall Innovation Award Winner as selected by the committee, while the Cairns Convention Center was the Innovation Award Delegates' Choice – it won for a promotional item made from steel recovered from their old roof.
Raymond Larivée (right), President and CEO of the Palais des congrès de Montréal, at the July 4 AIPC Annual Awards Dinner, in Sydney, Australia. (CNW Group/Palais des congrès de Montréal)
"We have an immense rooftop surface right in the heart of the city, and we knew that by working with environmental experts, we could make a positive contribution by repurposing this vast space. Scientists, engineers, crop farmers, bee farmers, managers and a host of other specialists worked together with the Palais' building management team to make this project happen, which we believe will inspire other property owners to do the same," mentioned Chrystine Loriaux, the Palais des congrès Director of Marketing and Communications.
According to Eric Duchemin, AU/LAB's Scientific Director: "Partnering with the Palais des congrès on the Laboratory initiative will make it possible to broaden our knowledge of the challenges and constraints associated with rooftop farming, but it will also serve to build rooftop farms, in Montréal and abroad." The project is part of CRETAU, a network created in collaboration with the Québec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which focuses on urban farming research and expertise, and the transfer of urban farming best practices.
In 2016, the Palais des congrès de Montréal became the main showcase in Québec for experimenting with and advocating for urban farming technologies and techniques, when it opened its Urban Agriculture Lab jointly with AU/LAB, an organization associated with the faculty of science and institute of environmental studies at Université du Québec à Montréal. The Urban Agriculture Lab includes:
- Culti-VERT, a technological showcase for green roofs and container gardening;
- Three pollinating beehives; and
- VERTical, an urban agriculture project driven by new vertical farming technology that is based on free-standing structures equipped with experimental wall tarps.
The various components of the Palais Urban Agriculture Lab are primarily tasked with:
- Helping reduce urban heat islands and improving air quality in the Montréal downtown area;
- Encouraging the real estate industry and property owners to adopt concrete steps toward greening their rooftops;
- Promoting Montréal's reputation as a world-class city firmly committed to fostering urban sustainability; and
- Enabling convention participants and the Maison du Père homeless shelter to benefit from the crops grown, with the help of Capital Catering, the Palais' exclusive caterer.
About the AIPC
The International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) represents convention and exhibition centre professionals and managers worldwide. In addition to recognizing convention centre management excellence, the AIPC also provides resources and programs that foster striving for the highest industry standards through research, networking and education.
About the Laboratoire sur l'agriculture urbaine
The Laboratoire sur l'agriculture urbaine (AU/LAB) is a centre for urban agriculture research, training, innovation and activities designed to serve the community and act as a rallying hub for organizations and individuals devoted to urban farming. A non-profit, AU/LAB is also a national and international discussion and action forum for issues related to urbanism and food. With its extensive expertise, AU/LAB fosters emerging ideas, initiatives and businesses focused on the production, processing, distribution and marketing of urban agriculture. AU/LAB is actively involved in the development of urban food systems, viable urbanism and circular economies in cities.
About the Palais des congrès de Montréal
Recipient of the highest quality standards certification in the industry and shortlisted for the World's Best Congress Centreaward (AIPC), the Palais des congrès de Montréal attracts and hosts conventions, exhibitions, conferences, meetings and other events. It generates major tourism revenues and intellectual wealth for Montréal and Québec, while also contributing to the international reputation of Montréal, the top host city in North America for international events. congresmtl.com
SOURCE Palais des congrès de Montréal
For further information: Source: Chrystine Loriaux, Fellow Adm.A., B.A.A., Director, Marketing and Communications, Palais des congrès de Montréal, Phone: 514 871-3104 ; For information: Amélie Asselin, Advisor, Communications and Public Affairs, Palais des congrès de Montréal, amelie.asselin@congresmtl.com, Phone: 514 871-5897
A Tabletop Hydroponics System For Your Kitchen
A Tabletop Hydroponics System For Your Kitchen
By Shawn Greyling
A couple of local boys and girls are wowing the tech/hydroponics and home appliance industry all in one fowl swoop. Here’s what you need to know about Homefarm.
An Auckland Park-based startup is developing a home appliance that will automatically grow greens in your kitchen. Homefarm’s mission is to inspire and enable urban dwellers across the globe to start growing and consuming their own fresh and healthy produce, to be enjoyed daily and all year round. Currently, they are running a crowdfunding campaign through IndieGoGo. If successful, this will enable Homefarm to start achieving their mission en-route to the total and complete commercialisation of their product.
At the time of writing, Homefarm is 92% in completing their crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo (the campaign has been extended to 07 July 2017) and aims to raise R510 000. There are a range of backer tiers that start from as little as R120. According to the guys behind the project, Homefarm will cost an average of R60 in electricity to run when looking at electricity tariffs for the first half of 2017.
This revolutionary piece of technology is hoped to become as common a household item as the microwave or toaster, and means an immediate supply from harvest to table. This eliminates the regular energy costs like transportation, refrigeration and packaging associated with store-bought herbs and greens. Not only is it a sustainable way of growing your own legumes, herbs and other greens, but you know that the produce has not been treated with harmful pesticides and growth hormones. This product can be used all year round, giving you the upper hand on that old fruit and veg shop.
Have you heard of Homefarm before? What are your thoughts on the interesting product? It’s good to see local guys and girls take on the world like this. Sharing is caring so show this to a buddy on social media.
Does Vertical Farming Make Sense?
Does Vertical Farming Make Sense?
With increased urbanization, vertical farms are often advertised as the food production method of the future. But can we feed the world with fancy lettuce? This, and many other topics provided food for thought at yesterday's Vertical Farming Conference in the Netherlands. A broad audience with architects, horticultural suppliers, growers, retailers and breeders came together at the Brightlands Campus to discuss the next generation farmer.
Vertical farming has become a much discussed topic at horticultural events and summits. While plenty of both commercial, research and institutional vertical and indoor farms are being opened (and closed) at a rapid pace lately, the new industry is struggling to find its place in the market. A good reason for the organizers of the Innovative Food-Agri Event to incorporate a special program dedicated to this pioneering industry.
The Vertical Farming Conference was organized in conjunction with the 3D Food Printing Conference. Both of these new industries advocate that they will provide us the food of the future. In order to highlight the opportunities and underline these potentials, the conference brought in several interesting speakers who shared their success stories, but who also did not shy away to deliver critical side notes.
Lisa J. Newman, AeroFarms, currently wrapping up funding to expand their farm concept worldwide
The day was kicked off by Lisa J. Newman, the COO of AeroFarms who explained how her group ventured one of the largest commercial vertical indoor farms in North America. The 76,000 square foot aeroponic plantfactory of AeroFarms in Newark, NJ, produces a variety of leafy greens, year round. Employing about 120, the company daily harvests and ships its 'Dream Greens' branded produce to major food services like The Compass Group, ShopRite, WholeFoods and FreshDirect.
Newman explained that making profit by growing commercially is not easy, complex and takes a multi disciplined approach. Their vertical farming concepts allow them to be and ag tech centric company that greatly depend on sensors and data to make informed decisions, but they also have invested a lot of time in things like a HACCP food safety plan and other policies and procedures. "We conduct a lot of R&D to adapt new technology and improve our grow cycles. There is a lot more we would like to do within the imaging space, for example by using machine vision to understand the in and outside of plants."
AeroFarms is a good example how a combination of extensive knowledge and dedication towards technology and marketing can be translated into, according to Newman, a profitable business model.
LEDs Deliver Opportunities
If you talk indoor farming, you're talking LEDs. Because growing indoors requires supplemental light and traditional lamps like HPS and HID generate too much heat and electricity related problems when growing indoors. Therefore Celine Nicole of Philips and Stiina Kotiranta ofValoya provided some insights in using LEDs to improve more than just plant growth. They explained how vertical indoor farming allows for more control of the growing environment and enables LED technology and their extensive spectra to have full control of the crop's nutritional compounds, shelf life or taste. "It's a revolution that provides opportunities for human health".
Challenges
Okay, enough about the positive side of vertical farming. Now let's talk about the real challenge; how can a vertical farm solve the world food issue? Can we feed the world with just leafy greens and culinary herbs? An interactive room discussion gave some insight into the public opinion. Participants shared for example an opinion that a wider variety of crops need to be grown in order to make vertical farming a game changer.
And what about the high electricity cost and operational costs of a vertical farm? Does that really make them as sustainable and profitable as often advertised?
According to Jan Westra of Priva, it is very important to determine a certain goal to have a business case. "What do you want to achieve? Do you want to start an urban farm from a social point of view or to deploy a real state strategy and give a new impulse to an existing building? Or do you want to grow food in an impossible location like the south pole? Vertical farming does allow you to grow practically anywhere, but there are a huge amount of factors that will determine whether you have a profitable business case or not. From local utility costs towards marketing situations."
Furthermore, Westra stressed that the new vertical and indoor farming industry is a blue ocean which could learn a lot from the existing greenhouse industry and vice versa. "It is two different industries with a lot of overlap, they should cooperate more often to avoid pitfalls."
Martin Veenstra, Certhon, spoke about the gray area between a greenhouse and an indoor farm.
Pinkhouse
This was also affirmed by the presentation of Martin Veenstra of Certhon. He showed a picture of Jardin de Rabelais, a French greenhouse grower with an LED-lit semi closed greenhouse. When this tomato grower has its screens and vents closed, he is basically growing in a completely controlled environment. "In fact, this is a big indoor farm. So what is the exact definition of an indoor or vertical farm. There is a gray area in between both."
Also Veenstra stressed that vertical farming creates a lot of possibilities. But what about the feasibility? With the right technology and knowledge, basically anything is possible. Growing bell peppers without daylight?Possible. Growing lettuce in a shipping container? Possible. The options are limitless. But does it make sense? Does it make any sense (and more important: money) when your competitor is growing them next door in a traditional greenhouse with daylight at 50% of the cost? "The purpose of the type of cultivation should be determined. When vertical farming allows you to grow a fresher, local product that you can market with a premium it makes sense, go for it. The goal is then to grow local and a vertical farm allows you to achieve this goal. Growing in a vertical farm simply because it is vertical may never be the goal."
Publication date: 6/30/2017
Author: Bryan Spalinger
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com
Urban Settings Proving To Be Fruitful For Farming
Canadian Demand Exceeds Supply
Urban Settings Proving To Be Fruitful For Farming
When you consider the amount of land given to properties in cities, most would think it only enough for a patio, some furniture and maybe a pool if space (and finances) permit. On the other hand, there are a handful of individuals starting their own urban farms right in their back yards.
3,000 sq ft. of Property
They’re spread few and far between across the province of Ontario; there are maybe three in the city of Hamilton. One such farm, open officially for business as of this past February, is FieldMouse Farms. Owner, Rebecca Zeleney is working with just over 3,000 square feet of property and the biggest piece of equipment she uses is a walk-behind tractor. “Right now we’re in the process of opening one quarter acre of new land,” she said. Not included in the total square footage are the microgreens, which are grown indoors in a nursery attached to the house. Their biggest producer is salad greens (including beet greens, red Russian kale, arugula and spinach). That’s the priority of what I’m growing,” she said. Second to that would be her baby root vegetables (carrots, radishes, salad turnips, beets.)
Massive Demand
Zeleney’s produce is sold locally to restaurants and independent grocery stores. “I also try to price my product so it’s accessible,” she explains, although once produce gets to the grocery stores she has no control over their markup. “Demand in Hamilton is massive for these kinds of products,” she said, adding that she’s nowhere close to meeting it. However with the 120 units of product per week that she moves she feels the farm is doing very well for the land they have. “Off 250 square feet I can harvest about 10 lbs. a week.” While the farm isn’t certified organic, and being in an urban setting it would likely never be, they do grow to organic standards, using non-GMO seeds. “We sell absolutely everything we grow every week,” she said. There aren’t any plans for a brick and mortar storefront or online orders; she doesn’t think selling online would make sense – and maybe that’s just too far down the road.
Surprisingly – and thankfully for the future of the industry - Zeleney says she always wanted to farm but for a long time she thought the barriers were insurmountable. “A lot of people think land ownership is a barrier to farming, or not having the knowledge. I’m lucky in the sense that I grew up around farming.” She had also done many apprenticeships related to farming in the past. “There’s always more to know,” she admits. “I never felt knowledge was my barrier – just land.”
The home they purchased in Hamilton had a backyard, so they decided to go for it. “I didn’t want to sit around and wait until we had money to purchase a parcel of land.” Urban farming has a somewhat altruistic notion about providing food to a certain demographic, according to Zeleney, or being able to provide food within a tighter radius. “I think the majority of people are getting into it because they like to farm but don’t have access to large land. People are having to make due with what they have and actually realizing that it works.”
For More Information:
Rebecca Zeleney
FieldMouse Farms
South African Urban Agri Summit To Showcase Vertical Farming
South African Urban Agri Summit To Showcase Vertical Farming
International experts, regional authorities, investors and stakeholders from the agriculture sector will gather on September 7-8 in Johannesburg, South Africa for the inaugural Urban Agri Summit 2017. The two-day event will serve as a springboard to support the successful launch of Vertical Farming, Greenhouse and Control Environment Agriculture across Africa's urban landscape to help address the needs of the continent's rapidly growing populations.
Dr Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, Food Security Fellow with New Voices, The Aspen Institute and previously Mentor for Agriculture at the Clinton Global University Initiative (CGI U), said, "I believe it is about time Africa has the conversations about vertical farming and other innovative urban agriculture practices. With the urban population expected to rise for most of the African cities, there will be the need for innovative approaches to feed the urban population. I do believe that Africa’s farms have to start going vertical."
Various initiatives have already been undertaken by South Africa to spur innovation in its agriculture sector. Together with other Sub-Saharan African cities in Nigeria and Kenya, South African metropolises are following in the footsteps of many global cities to introduce sustainable urban indoor farming. Africa has unique opportunities for vertical farms and Controlled Environment Agriculture. Vertical farming (including its variations) is one of the most innovative approaches that can be tapped as part of an effort to grow fresh, healthy, nutritious and pesticide-free food for consumers.
Jana Jordaan, Sustainable Agriculture Analyst at GreenCape said: “We are very excited that the Urban Agri Summit will be taking place in Johannesburg this year. Our 2017 Agriculture Market Intelligence Report has shown that there are significant opportunities for farmers, investors and businesses in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in the region. The Urban Agri Summit is a great platform where international experiences and ideas are shared, influencing opportunities and overcoming barriers to the growth of the CEA market. We believe the summit is a great opportunity to not only support the growth of the CEA market in South Africa, but also support South Africa’s transition to a more resilient green economy."
Highlights of the Summit include insightful presentations and engaging panel discussions by international organisations and experts from Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the USA, combined with a technology showcase.
This industry event is supported by the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) and by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).
The AVF's Stephane Razzon said, "The event presents an opportunity for the African continent to be introduced with the most cutting-edge technologies in agriculture. Controlled Environment Agriculture, Vertical Farming and advanced greenhouse methods are bound to completely transform food systems in developing countries and developed countries alike. We at the AVF believe the global Vertical Farming market is now ready to make a notable impact on the agricultural sector in Africa. It will require from us all to be in the right place and in the right time, which is clearly at the Urban Agri Summit 2017.
For more information:
Jose Carpio
Tel: +65 6846 2366
www.magentaglobalevents.com
Publication |date:7/3/2017
This Amazing Farm In A Box Can Pop Up On Any City Street
Over the past decade, urban farming and community gardeninghave grown in popularity, with small gardens sprouting on top of skyscrapers – but they can be complicated and require elaborate supplies. EkoFarmer is a 13-meter long farming module that can be installed where there is a water and electrical supply. Containing ecological
soil developed by Kekkilä, EkoFARMER was designed to produce optimal yields and be used for both commercial and scientific purposes.
This Amazing Farm In A Box Can Pop Up On Any City Street
Over the past decade, urban farming and community gardeninghave grown in popularity, with small gardens sprouting on top of skyscrapers – but they can be complicated and require elaborate supplies. EkoFarmer is a 13-meter long farming module that can be installed where there is a water and electrical supply. Containing ecological soil developed by Kekkilä, EkoFARMER was designed to produce optimal yields and be used for both commercial and scientific purposes.
Exsilio is currently on the lookout for co-creation partners that are interested in developing their own farming modules based on their own requirements. Restaurants and institutional kitchens can benefit from EkoFARMER, which can also function as an excellent complementary solution for farmers to expand their traditional greenhouses.
“EkoFARMER is an excellent option for business fields in need of salads, herbs, (edible) flowers or medicinal plants, for example. The social aspect of urban farming is also prominent. For this reason, our solution is suitable for associations wanting to earn some extra income, or societies wanting to offer meaningful activities for the unemployed, for example. This is an opportunity to create new micro-enterprises”, said Tapio.
Vertical Farming in Africa to Boost Growth at September Urban Agri Summit in Johannesburg
Vertical Farming in Africa to Boost Growth at September Urban Agri Summit in Johannesburg
The two-day event will serve as a springboard to support the successful launch of Vertical Farming, Greenhouse and Control Environment Agriculture across Africa's urban landscape to help address the needs of the continent's rapidly growing populations.
International experts, regional authorities, investors and stakeholders from the agriculture sector will gather on September 7-8 in Johannesburg, South Africa for the inaugural Urban Agri Summit 2017. The two-day event will serve as a springboard to support the successful launch of Vertical Farming, Greenhouse and Control Environment Agriculture across Africa's urban landscape to help address the needs of the continent's rapidly growing populations.
Dr Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, Food Security Fellow with New Voices, The Aspen Institute and previously Mentor for Agriculture at the Clinton Global University Initiative (CGI U), said, "I believe it is about time Africa has the conversations about vertical farming and other innovative urban agriculture practices. With the urban population expected to rise for most of the African cities, there will be the need for innovative approaches to feed the urban population. I do believe that Africa’s farms have to start going vertical."
Various initiatives have already been undertaken by South Africa to spur innovation in its agriculture sector. Together with other Sub-Saharan African cities in Nigeria and Kenya, South African metropolises are joining the footsteps of many global cities to introduce sustainable urban indoor farming. Africa has unique opportunities for vertical farms and Controlled Environment Agriculture. Vertical farming (including its variations) is one of the most innovative approaches that can be tapped as part of an effort to grow fresh, healthy, nutritious and pesticide-free food for consumers.
Jana Jordaan, Sustainable Agriculture Analyst at GreenCape said: “We are very excited that the Urban Agri Summit will be taking place in Johannesburg this year. Our 2017 Agriculture Market Intelligence Report has shown that there are significant opportunities for farmers, investors and businesses in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) in the region. The Urban Agri Summit is a great platform where international experiences and ideas are shared, influencing opportunities and overcoming barriers to the growth of the CEA market. We believe the summit is a great opportunity to not only support the growth of the CEA market in South Africa, but also support South Africa’s transition to a more resilient green economy."
Highlights of the Summit include insightful presentations and engaging panel discussions by international organisations and experts from Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the USA, combined with a technology showcase.
This industry event is supported by the Association for Vertical Farming (AVF) and by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).
The AVF's Stephane Razzon said, "The event holds an unprecedented opportunity for the African continent to be introduced with the most cutting-edge technologies in agriculture. Controlled Environment Agriculture, Vertical Farming and advanced greenhouse methods are bound to completely transform food systems in developing countries and developed countries alike. We at the AVF believe the global Vertical Farming market is now ready to make a notable impact on the agricultural sector in Africa. It will require from us all to be in the right place and in the right time, which is clearly at the Urban Agri Summit 2017.
Contact Info
Jose Carpio - Magenta Global (Singapore)
Block 53 Sims Place
#01-150
Singapore 380053
Phone: +6568462366
Website: http://www.magentaglobalevents.com/urban-agriculture-verticalfarming-cea-africa-summit/
Singapore Turns Vacant Space Into Urban Farms
ENVIRONMENT | Thu Jun 29, 2017 | 7:27am EDT
Singapore Turns Vacant Space Into Urban Farms
Head of farmers at Citizen Farm Darren Ho poses in front of an urban farm in Singapore June 20, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas White
Resource-scarce Singapore is turning vacant pockets of land into space for urban farming as the island city strives to ease its reliance on imported food.
The wealthy Southeast Asian city-state imports more than 90 percent of its food, much of it from neighboring countries, which can leave it exposed to potential supply chain disruptions.
Edible Garden City, a company with a grow-your-own-food message, has designed and built more than 50 food gardens in the tropical city for clients ranging from restaurants and hotels to schools and residences.
One of its projects is Citizen Farm, an 8,000 square meter plot that used to be a prison, converted into an urban farm "where the local community can learn and grow together", according to the project website.
Citizen Farm produces up to 100 kg of vegetables, 20 kg of herbs and 10-15 kg of mushrooms - enough to feed up to 500 people - a day.
It's tiny compared with demand for food in the country of 5.5 million people, but it's a start, said Darren Ho, head of the Citizen Farm initiative.
"No system will replace imports, we are here to make us more food resilient," said Ho, adding that it was "up to the community" to decide how self-sufficient it wants to be.
Government agencies are considering the company's urban farming concept for other parts of the city, including spaces around high-rise public housing.
(Reporting by Fathin Ungku)
Infarm Wants To Put A Farm In Every Grocery Store
Infarm Wants To Put A Farm In Every Grocery Store
By Steve O'Hear (@sohear)
Imagine a future where you go into a grocery store to buy some fresh basil, and, as you traverse the aisle, instead of polythene bags containing mass-produced snippets of the herb that have been flown in from thousands of miles away, in front of you are a stack of illuminated containers, each housing a mini basil farm.
The plants themselves are being monitored by multiple sensors and fed by an internet-controlled irrigation and nutrition system. Growing out from the centre, the basil is at ascending stages of its life, with the most outer positioned leaves ready for you, the customer, to harvest.
Now imagine no more, because, to paraphrase science fiction writer William Gibson, the farm of the future is already here, it’s just not evenly distributed.
When we presented our idea three or four years ago, people looked at us and thought we [had] lost our mind — Infarm co-founder Erez Galonska
Infarm, a 40-plus person startup based in Berlin is developing an “indoor vertical farming” system capable of growing anything from herbs, lettuce and other vegetables, and even fruit. The concept might not be entirely new — Japan has been an early pioneer in vertical farming, where the lack of space for farming and very high demand from a large population has encouraged innovation — but what potentially sets Infarm apart, including from other startups, is the modular approach and go-to-market strategy it is taking.
This means that the company can do vertical farming on a small but infinitely expandable scale, and is seeing Infarm place farms not in offsite warehouses but in customer-facing city locations, such as grocery stores, restaurants, shopping malls, and schools, enabling the end-customer to actually pick the produce themselves.
“When we presented our idea three or four years ago, people looked at us as though we [had] lost our mind,” says Infarm co-founder Erez Galonska. “We are the first company in the world that has put vertical farming in a supermarket. We did it last year with Metro Group, which is one of the biggest wholesalers in Europe, and now we are facing very big demand from other supermarkets that want to do the same”.
Each farming unit is its own individual ecosystem, creating the exact environment our plants need to flourish— Infarm co-founder Osnat Michaeli
That demand — which has also seen Infarm recently partner with EDEKA, Germany’s largest supermarket corporation — is driven by a change in consumer behaviour in which “people are seeking more fresh produce, more sustainable produce,” says Osnat Michaeli, another of Infarm’s three founders (the other is Guy Galonska, brother to Erez). More generally, she says, the food industry is looking to technology that can help solve inefficiencies in the supply chain and reduce waste.
“Our eating habits have created a demand for produce that is available 365 days a year, even though some varieties may only be seasonal and/or produced on the other side of the globe… The food that does survive the long journey is not fresh, lacks vital nutrients, and in most cases is covered in pesticides and herbicides”.
In contrast, the Infarm system is chemical pesticide-free and can prioritise food grown for taste, colour and nutritional value rather than shelf life or its ability to sustain mass production. Its indoor nature means it isn’t restricted to seasonality either and by completely eliminating the distance between farmer and consumer, food doesn’t get much fresher.
“Behind our farms is a robust hardware and software platform for precision farming,” explains Michaeli. “Each farming unit is its own individual ecosystem, creating the exact environment our plants need to flourish. We are able to develop growing recipes that tailor the light spectrums, temperature, pH, and nutrients to ensure the maximum natural expression of each plant in terms of flavor, colour, and nutritional quality. Weather that be an arugula from Provence, Mexican tarragon or Moroccan mint”.
The Infarm vertical farming system has been designed to enable a “perpetual daily harvest”. Taking inspiration from the petal constellation of the sunflower, the growing trays move plants from the centre to the outer perimeter according to their size and growth. Replenishing the plant food is as simple as changing a cartridge and water supply can also be automated.
In addition, a matrix of sensors collect and record data from each farm so that Infarm’s plant experts and tech team can remotely monitor crops and optimise the plants’ growth in real-time or troubleshoot any peculiarities, such as a change in atmosphere.
“The system is smart. It can guide you where to harvest and can notify you when the produce needs to be harvested, and this is your part in the game,” says Galonska. “Machine learning can help us understand and predict future problems”.
When a new type of herb or plant is introduced, Infarm’s plant experts and engineers create a recipe or algorithm for the produce type, factoring in nutrition, humidity, temperature, light intensity and spectrum, which is different from system to system depending on what is grown.
The resulting combination of IoT, Big Data and cloud analytics is akin to “Farming-as-a-Service,” whilst , space permitting, Infarm’s modular approach affords the ability to keep adding more farming capacity in a not entirely dissimilar way to how cloud computing can be ramped up at the push of a button.
This makes Infarm potentially scalable, both in terms of biodiversity and supply: from a small number of units in-store, where customers can get up close to the produce, to additional capacity at the back of a supermarket, to a large online retailer that may require 1000s of units and grow 100s of varieties.
None of which has gone unnoticed by investors.
The startup has just closed a €4 million funding round led by Berlin’s Cherry Ventures. Impact investor Quadia, London’s LocalGlobe, Atlantic Food Labs, design consultant Ideo, Demand Analytics, and various business angels also participated.
Christian Meermann, Founding Partner at Cherry Ventures, says the distributed nature of Infarm’s system is one of the things that made the startup stand out from other vertical farming companies the VC firm looked at. This, he says, is seeing Infarm create a network of farms that are centrally controlled and monitored from the cloud and do not require the startup to build huge farming warehouses of its own.
Meermann also talked up the machine learning behind Infarm, which he says is enabling it to figure out the most optimum recipe for different plant types to not only significantly enhance flavour but also let crops grow in parts of the world they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
“When we started out, we were looked at as ‘idealistic dreamers’. In part, this might have been because we were self-taught and not many believed that we had the necessary expertise needed to invent a new agricultural solution,” adds Michaeli.
“The challenge [now] is in finding the right partners. Our initial focus is on supermarket chains, online food retailers, wholesalers, hotels, and other food-related businesses, for whom the superior quality and range of produce — with no fluctuation in costs — makes Infarm an attractive partner. In return, we can reintroduce the joy of growing to the urban population”.
Greenhouse Pioneer Featured in Canada's 150th Anniversary Celebrations
Greenhouse Pioneer Featured in Canada's 150th Anniversary Celebrations
Celebrating Canada’s 150th also includes celebrating the industry leaders which Canada is known for. This includes the booming greenhouse business in which Canada is a major player. Recently, the National Post, a national news source in Canada, featured a pioneer in the industry, Mastronardi Produce and the Mastronardi family, with anarticle titled “Canada 150: Hunger for tomatoes turns Canada into greenhouse superpower”.
CEO Paul Mastronardi was interviewed for the piece at the company’s test greenhouse in Kingsville, ON. This greenhouse, which houses over 500 tomato varieties, is the largest trial centre in North America. It’s the key to Mastronardi’s success which is based on innovation and flavor. As Mastronardi describes it, “It’s more of a research program. Flavor means repeat sales”.
Mastronardi also explains the evolution of greenhouse growing and his family’s deep history in the field which dates back four generations. His great grandfather, Armando Mastronardi, who immigrated to Canada in the 1920’s, started the family’s produce empire by wisely selecting the country’s southernmost spot which was perfect for farming. In the 1940s, his grandfather, Umberto, evolved this farming by bringing Dutch greenhouse technology to Canada allowing year round growing.
Mastronardi then describes how in the early 1980’s the family became modern farmers, getting out of the dirt and advancing the greenhouse industry by using modern technology and processes. This in turn, minimized environmental impacts while improving yields, working conditions, and overall flavor. The online video titled, “Tomato Zsar” features Mastronardi as he explains the process of modern greenhouse growing and the future of the industry.
“We’re very excited that Canada’s celebrating its 150th and that various media outlets, including the National Post, are highlighting key industries in which Canada plays a leadership role” said CEO Paul Mastronardi. “It’s especially satisfying to have the spotlight on the Canadian greenhouse industry and on the Mastronardi family who have been recognized as greenhouse pioneers. We thank the National Post for visiting our greenhouse facilities to better educate the public on this innovative and growing business.”
For more information:
Daniela Ferro
Tel: +1 519 326 1491
Mob: +1 519 990 6933
danielaf@sunsetgrown.com
sunsetgrown.com
On Top Of Hong Kong's High Rises, Rooftop Gardens Take Root
Client Gina Ma (left) stands with Rooftop Republic's Andrew Tsui (center) and Pol Fàbrega amid the rooftop garden of a French restaurant in central Hong Kong. Rob Schmitz/NPR
On a typical block in Hong Kong, thousands of people live on top of each other. Pol Fàbrega thinks about all these people as he looks up at the towering high rises above the streets. And then he thinks about all that space above all these people.
"The square footage here is incredibly expensive," says Fàbrega, staring upwards. "But yet, if you look at Hong Kong from above, it's full of empty rooftops."
It is, he says, a big opportunity for growth.
Fàbrega is not a developer. In a city full of bankers, he's a gardener. He helps run a gardening cooperative called Rooftop Republic that aims to make the best use out of Hong Kong's thousands of roofs.
"In Hong Kong, currently there're around 700 hectares of farmland that are being farmed," explains Fàbrega, "So the amount of rooftop space is almost the same as the amount we're using today to farm – like, actual farmland."
Hong Kong's agricultural contribution to its GDP is 0.02 percent. Fàbrega's goal is to boost that tiny number by filling Hong Kong's 1,500 acres of rooftop space with vegetable gardens.
He's starting small, by giving tutorials to city residents. On the roof of Fringe, a French restaurant in Hong Kong's Central district, Fàbrega and Rooftop Republic co-founder Andrew Tsui give a tour of garden containers full of Romaine lettuce, kale, cherry tomatoes, and carrots.
Rooftop Republic has helped fill more than 26,000 square feet of rooftop on 22 rooftop farms. The biggest one is on the roof of Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific, where 40 employees manage container vegetable plots on a daily basis.
Expat resident Gina Ma's rooftop garden is tiny by comparison, but she's spreading the word at her children's school. "I was like Johnny Appleseed. I was calling everyone up, called the school and I was like, 'I have seedlings they're amazing! And they're all, like, organic and stuff that you can't get here. Take them!' "
It's that last point, being organic and healthy, that's important to Rooftop Republic's clients. "In the case of Hong Kong, we also face a particular challenge that 98 percent of our vegetables and fruits come from China," Fàbrega says. "There's endless amount of scandals surrounding food that's from mainland China."
And that's why Rooftop Republic's first clients were a handful of restaurants and hotels in a city where returning to the land can be as simple as a quick trip up the stairs to the roof.
New Research: Mediterranean-Style Diet Leads to Healthier Outcomes in Children
New Research: Mediterranean-Style Diet Leads to Healthier Outcomes in Children
Researchers at the University of Pharma, Italy, recently published a study in Nutrients identifying a link between a Mediterranean-style diet and key health outcomes in children. Children who more closely follow a Mediterranean-style diet are more likely to exhibit other healthy behaviors and outcomes such as increased physical activity, higher academic achievement, and better quality and quantity of sleep, the research reveals. The study analyzed the behaviors of approximately 700 school-aged children enrolled in the Giocampus educational program, created by Barilla and the University of Parma to improve the wellbeing of future generations through healthy eating education and promotion of physical activity.
The study adds to a growing body of research showing a positive association between a Mediterranean-style diet, healthy weight status, and sleep quantity and quality in children and adolescents. That is, better adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet may be associated with healthier weight status as well as more sleep and better-quality sleep.
“The Mediterranean Diet and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle do not mean just eating well and exercising, but also sleeping well. In fact, the word ‘diet’ in ancient Latin and Greek actually implied a lifestyle, rather than exclusively a dietary regimen,” says Kristen Wilk, MS, RDN, Senior Account Executive at Edelman, Food & Nutrition.
A Mediterranean-style diet incorporates the traditional healthy living habits of people from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, including Italy, France, Greece, and Spain. While Mediterranean cuisine varies by region, a Mediterranean-style diet is largely based on a high intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, cereal grains, olive oil, and fish, and small portions of meat and dairy. Pasta tossed with other healthy ingredients such as vegetables, beans, lean proteins, olive oil, and herbs is an easy, balanced Mediterranean-style meal. The Passion for Pasta Advisory Council, a project of Barilla bringing together scientists, nutritionists, and researchers to encourage sustainable consumption of pasta, provides a range of Mediterranean diet-friendly recipes on their website.
Other studies have revealed that following a Mediterranean-style diet can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and help fight against depression.
$4.4 Million Is Being Spent to Protect the Global Seed Vault From Global Warming
Crop Trust
WRITTEN BY Tom Ward
IN BRIEF
A melting permafrost caused by global warming has raised concerns over the security of the global seed vault. To ensure its integrity, the Norwegian government has pledge to spend $4.4 million on improvements to the structure.
The Global Seed Vault was designed as a back-up plan for humanity in the case of an apocalyptic event. The seeds in its collection would allow future societies to maintain the planet’s botanical diversity while covering the spectrum of nutrition in case no other sources of food were available. 50,000 more seeds were recently added to the collection, but now, climate change is threatening the world’s Plan B.
Click to View Full Infographic
The vault, which is owned by the Norwegian government, was designed to function in a permafrost. However, global warming made 2016 the hottest year on record, and melting permafrost due to the rising temperatures caused water to flood the entrance to the enormous vault, undermining its “failsafe” status.
In response, the Norwegian government has pledged to spend $4.4 million to upgrade the vault. The first $1.6 million will got toward investigating the problem and potential solutions, efforts that will be spearheaded by consultancy firm Dr. Techn. Olav Olsen.
Current suggestions for future improvements include building an entrance tunnel that slopes upward toward the seed vault to drain water away. For now, the government is attempting to improve the situation by relocating a heat-emitting transformer station inside of the tunnel to decrease thaw, and plans are in place to dig drainage ditches around the complex and build a waterproof wall within it as well.
The silver lining of the situation is that these concerns have arisen at a time when there is still sufficient human infrastructure to repair and plan. Running into these problems post-global disaster would no doubt be much more troubling.