EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Vertical farming: bringing agriculture to urban areas

Vertical farming: bringing agriculture to urban areas - US

Introduction

Feeding 50,000 urbanites with the produce of a 30-storey vertical farm located in a converted urban property. This may seem futuristic, but students and researchers involved in the Vertical Farm project are aiming to make the concept of vertical farming a reality. Vertical farming is a revolutionary new approach to food production, which could help cities to significantly reduce their environmental ‘foot print’. Using existing and new technologies, it combines composting, recycling waste and farming in a single building. The Vertical Farm website contains fascinating designs of vertical farms, as well as ample background information.

Problem

In 50 years, the human population will increase to 8.3 billion, of which almost two-thirds will be living in cities. There is not enough farmland to feed all these people. In addition, the current agricultural system has led to a significant loss of biodiversity and disruption of ecosystems. Millions of hectares of forests, grasslands and wetlands have been sacrificed to be converted into farmland and the chemical deterrents used by farmers have contaminated the surrounding nature. New approaches to growing food must therefore be employed.

Description

The Vertical Farm project, based at Columbia University in New York (US), was established in 2001 and carries out research on how vertical farms can be made a reality. Vertical farming is an alternative way of food production. It uses high-rise buildings to grow large amounts of edible plants and keep live cattle. This form of agriculture is especially of interest to urban areas, which will have to meet the nutritional needs of 60 per cent of the world’s population by 2030.

Various ‘sky farms’ have been designed so far, which have the following characteristics:

they are located in urban areas, preferably on sites of abandoned buildings
they have multiple storeys for different crops and (mostly small) animals
all food is produced indoors with the help of an advanced climate management system based on hydroponics or aeroponics, generating a far greater yield per acre
all crops are grown without herbicides, pesticides or fertilisers
the energy needed to run the vertical farm is generated through methane digestion of the inedible portions of what is grown, as well as through solar, wind and tidal power. Excess energy will be added back to the grid.
modern waste management strategies ensure that solid waste is recycled and liquid waste is converted into drinkable water
they are learning centres for future generations of urbanites

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Design of a vertical farm by Chris Jacobs. For more designs, please visit the Vertical Farm project website (see link below).

Results

The Vertical Farming project is still in its virtual stages of development. It has, however, survived five years of critical thinking of university students and researchers, as well as worldwide exposure on the internet. It has become an accepted notion, worthy of consideration at the practical level.

Nevertheless, the viability of urban agriculture depends on

the extent to which vertical farms can mimic the ecological process by safely and efficiently recycling both solid and liquid waste
strong, government-supported economic incentives to the private sector, universities and local government to fully develop the concept
the ability of vertical farms to yield profit

Contact info

Vertical Farm project
Dickson Despommier (Project manager)

Project start date

//2001

Links

Vertical Farm project

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Keywords

Environmental sustainability