Time to grow up!: Implementing innovative Vertical Agritechture to nurture our communities and planet

By: Steffanie Agerkop

Outline● Malthusian Theory & current statistics● What is Vertical farming?● Addressing the Planetary Boundaries● Sustainable Development Goals● Imagine the possibilities● Case Studies

○ Amalie Arena○ Plantagon ○ Sky Greens○ Others

● Ready to grow up?● Question & Comments?● References

Malthusian Theory

Current Statistics● 7.2 billion people and expecting 9.6 billion by 2050 (UN)● 80% will reside in urban areas by 2050 (Population Reference Bureau)● Rising middle class and lifestyle

What is Vertical Farming?“Vertical farming as a component of urban agriculture is the practice of cultivating plant life within a skyscraper greenhouse or on vertically inclined surfaces.”

Planetary Boundaries

Biodiversity loss and land use changeTraditional Agriculture

● Deforestation to provide more agricultural land● Monoculture farming

Vertical farming

● Grow vertically and reforest!● Polyculture farming

Climate Change

Traditional Agriculture

● Destroying carbon sinks by clearing land● Heavy dependence on transporting produce● Plants sensitive to climate change and

differing weather patterns● Use of tractors, heavy machinery, and trucks

for transport that emit CO2

Vertical farming

● More space to replant trees for carbon storage● Growing close to consumer cutting carbon● Indoor, weather controlled for optimal growth and

yields● Use of solar panels to cut the need for fossil-fuel

based machinery

Ocean Acidification, Nitrogen and PhosphorusTraditional Agriculture

● Overuse of nutrients● Runoff into streams, lakes, estuaries, and oceans● Imbalance of ocean pH affects aquatic life● Coral bleaching● Dead zones

Vertical farming

● Specific nutrient per plant● Zero run-off and zero nutrient waste● Zero impact on ocean pH with closed-loop ● Zero contribution to dead zones with

closed-loop

Freshwater useTraditional Agriculture

● Huge water waster● Although, we are starting to widely

implement drip irrigation

Vertical Farming

● Specific water for plants, extra gets recirculated● Use of rainwater for irrigation● Less dependent on aquifers and freshwater

Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030

Imagine exercise

Vertical farmingPros:

● 100% Organic● Closed-loop and weather controlled● Increase Solar energy and rain harvesting● Eliminate need for pesticide resistant and

drought/flood resistant GMO’s● Year round crop growth● 70%+ less water usage● 100% local● Small carbon foot-print● Energy efficient after eliminating transport● No toxic run-off● Increase local jobs● 1 acre = 4-6 acres

Cons:

● Infrastructure costs● Land costs● Maintenance costs● Costly: Vancouver● Human pollination: Polydome● Failure in technology = failure in crops

Case Studies● Amalie Arena-Tampa● Plantagon-Sweden● Sky Greens-Singapore● Hortus Celestia & Polydome-the

Netherlands● Aerofarm-New Jersey

Amalie Arena-Tampa

● 125 towers with seven levels each

● 1 acre of produce with fraction of space

● Providing: Greens, tomatoes, herbs, and assorted vegetables to fans and players

○ Meeting lettuce and herb needs for entire stadium

Plantagon-Sweden

Skygreens-Singapore● Low carbon● Hydraulic driven● Composting food waste from

nation● August 2015: INDEX Award

Hortus Celestia-the Netherlands● Ground floor: Houses, cafes, restaurants,

exhibitions, office spaces, auditorium, and nearby schools

● Expo delivers educational and tourist attraction

● Rooftop garden● Located in Ecological Expo-park● Uses ETFE film● Rainwater harvesting on roof for zero-

energy gravity feeder irrigation

Polydome-the Netherlands

Aerofarm-New Jersey● LED powered● 95% less water usage● 12-16 day crop cycle (leafy greens & herbs)● Usage of Aeroponics● No pesticides or run-off

Ready to grow up?!

Questions? Comments?

References● http://www.kisscathcart.com/images/VIGoffice.jpg● https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/un-report-world-population-projected-to-reach-9-6-billion-by-2050.html● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malthusian_catastrophe ● https://www.idin.org/sites/default/files/Global-Goals-for-Sustainable-Development.png● http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/food/dining/new-organic-garden-at-amalie-arena-feeds-players-fans/2204948● http://inhabitat.com/hortus-celestia-vertical-farm-showcases-the-future-of-dutch-greenhouse-industry/● http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/03/30m_vertical_farm_to_bring_jobs_fresh_greens_to_ne.html● http://image.slidesharecdn.com/1gfep-pres-glf2014-final-141211172012-conversion-gate02/95/new-findings-on-the-dynamics-between-forests-land-use-and-food-security-9-

638.jpg?cb=1420586068● http://image.slidesharecdn.com/1gfep-pres-glf2014-final-141211172012-conversion-gate02/95/new-findings-on-the-dynamics-between-forests-land-use-and-food-security-9-

638.jpg?cb=1420586068● http://kvgktrailblazers.weebly.com/uploads/6/8/9/5/6895534/7898963_orig.jpg?202● http://www.prb.org/Publications/Lesson-Plans/HumanPopulation/Urbanization.aspx● http://mic.com/articles/114516/thanks-to-these-dutch-engineers-we-may-soon-be-getting-our-food-from-skyscrapers● http://plantagon.com/about/business-concept-2● https://hulshofschmidt.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/earth.jpg● https://blue378.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/3-3-05overpopulation1.jpg● https://geiasousuperman.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/population_growth1.jpg● http://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/06/what-is-vertical-farming/● http://www.tutufoundationusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/climate-change.jpg● http://www.hortidaily.com/images/2015/0831/sky.jpg● http://www.agf.nl/nieuws/2013/0410/toren2.jpg● http://www.birdair.com/tensile-architecture/membrane/etfe● http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/08/04/aerofarms-system-rendering.jpg_custom-5c42f8c871c51a88ac0ecfd5094a2f7d44eca601-s900-c85.jpeg● http://www.except.nl/consult/polydome/images/Polydome_greenhouse_supermarket.jpg● http://aerofarms.com/why/technology/● http://www.except.nl/en/#.en.projects.241-hortus-celestia● http://www.stockholmresilience.org/21/research/research-programmes/planetary-boundaries/planetary-boundaries/about-the-research/the-nine-planetary-boundaries.html● http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/02/AECOM-BIG-Navy-Pier-2.jp