New Age Agriculture - Vertical Farming

[AMIT GANGULY]

Urban agriculture is fast becoming an alternate model of an industry. The purpose of Urban farming is to respond to the nutritional demands of the city,from within that city.Urban agriculture expands the economic base of the city through production,processing and marketing of consumable products within the city.Also this helps to counter the chronic problem of Food insecurity.

 

The rationales behind Urban Agriculture or Vertical Farming are -
1.Currently more than 50% of the world population reside in the cities.By 2050,nearly 80% of the population will be in the cities.This demographic change will exert a tremendous pressure on Food resources.


2.At present 80% of the land that are suitable for agricultural purposes are used for raising crops.However, with the tremendous rise in the urban population,estimated at 3 Billion by 2030 or so, more than 1 Billion hectares of New agricultural land will be required for food production.


3.Low income urban dwellers spend almost 40-60% of their income on food each year,Yet more than 250 Million people go hungry in the cities at present.


Basics of Vertical Farming 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8O_St95tV8&feature=player_embed...

Technology used in Urban Faming


1. Aeroponics/Hydroponics System
The process of growing plants suspended in a semi closed environment by spraying its roots with a nutrient rich solution is known as Aeroponics.Whereas, the process of using water as a nutrient medium for growing plants is known as Hydroponic system.Ideally the environment is kept free from pests and other disease causing germs so that the plants can grow healthy.The main ecological advantage of such systems is savings in water and energy.When grown commercially these techniques use one tenth of the water used under normal circumstances and one twentieth of the energy used in traditional methodology.


2.Greenhouse System
The primary heating mechanism for such a system is Convection.The system protects crops from pests,and too much of either Heat or Cold.Mainly,two types of Greenhouse systems exist - The Glass one and the Plastic one.This system allows certain crops to be grown throughout the year in high latitude countries.Ventilation design of Greenhouse systems is of prime importance,without a proper design crops may be subjected to different problems.


3.Composting 
Is a key process in organic farming.The modern methods of composting combine measured inputs of air,water,carbon and nitrogen enriched nutrients.The compost acts as a natural pesticide,a fertilizer and a source of nutrients.


4.Phyto-Remediation
It a technique of treatment of plants and other environmental problems using specific plants. Examples where phyto-remediation has been used successfully include the restoration of abandoned metal-mine workings, and mitigation of on-going coal mine discharges.This method is a cost effective,clean and environmental friendly methodology to clean up the environment and to restore the balance of nature.


Thus, Urban farming presents promising methodologies for year around production of crops.This creates sustainable environment in urban areas for sustainable farming.More so, it reduces dramatically our dependency on fossil fuels and other non renewable sources of energy.Hence, Vertical farming offers measurable improvement of the urban economy.

[Gunwant Joshi]

That's a wonderful idea.

But we shall have to modify our existing homes a little bit.

Organic in nature and quite cost effective if done through innovation using local materials

[SANJAY AGGARWAL]

We have been working on vertical or 3D farming for sometime. Look at this link, where we have given ideas on how to it along with many other methods of composting  http://www.slideboom.com/presentations/594335/Methods-of-composting  

[GOPI KANTA GHOSH]

Great idea. Should be popularized.

[Setu Goyal]

Hi Amit

Are you aware of who's working on this idea?

regards,

Setu