"organic movement", ideas of "returning to the land", increasing interest in sustainable farming as a way of helping curb the negative effects of climate change is that it unrealistic. It is argued that not everyone will want to return to the countryside, leave the urban lifestyle behind. I also pondered this challenge, and wondered how it would be possible to bring local organic food to the masses in cities, in a sustainable way.
Stumbling upon the Vertical Farm Project has given me some hope! It is not the only project tackling this issue, but it shows promise. I am definitely interested in looking into this further, examining the science behind the idea.
For now, here are some links and videos to spark your interest:
The Online Discover Magazine Article that caught my interest. Check out the pictures and captions:
(All very intriguing, and definitely some amazing ideas, but (and this is being said with absolutely NO research done, and no background knowledge) I wonder about the implications of the "unnatural" environment created in some of these places, including not having access to the natural pests, funghi, etc. that exist in ecosystems and that are essential (or at least helpful) to sustainable agriculture. Also would need to be careful to not use chemicals and GMOs, but rather to keep it organic. It is possible these researchers have already addressed these questions and concerns. I will look into it further, and post any answers I find.)
http://discovermagazine.com/photos/02-vertical-farms-high-hopes-for-feeding-the-future
The Online Discover Magazine Article that caught my interest. Check out the pictures and captions:
(All very intriguing, and definitely some amazing ideas, but (and this is being said with absolutely NO research done, and no background knowledge) I wonder about the implications of the "unnatural" environment created in some of these places, including not having access to the natural pests, funghi, etc. that exist in ecosystems and that are essential (or at least helpful) to sustainable agriculture. Also would need to be careful to not use chemicals and GMOs, but rather to keep it organic. It is possible these researchers have already addressed these questions and concerns. I will look into it further, and post any answers I find.)
http://discovermagazine.com/photos/02-vertical-farms-high-hopes-for-feeding-the-future
The following videos and information are taken directly from the Vertical Farm website: http://www.verticalfarm.com/
(This website has many WONDERFUL and informative links)
The basic idea:
The Problem
By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Historically, some 15% of that has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid this impending disaster?
Advantages of Vertical Farming
- Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre = 30 outdoor acres)
- No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests
- All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers
- VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water
- VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services
- VF greatly reduces the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the agricultural interface
- VF converts black and gray water into potable water by collecting the water of
evapotranspiration - VF adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible
parts of plants and animals - VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.)
- VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers
- VF creates sustainable environments for urban centers
- VF creates new employment opportunities
- We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm indoors on
earth - VF may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps
- VF offers the promise of measurable economic improvement for tropical and subtropical
LDCs. If this should prove to be the case, then VF may be a catalyst in helping to reduce or even reverse the population growth of LDCs as they adopt urban agriculture as a strategy for sustainable food production. - VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water
and land for agriculture
