THE VERTICAL FARM Parsons The New School for Design: Social Entrepreneurship: Spring 2011 Elise F. Sindy V. Cassandra T. Liz I. Alex L. Nicole G. Carly W. Theresa T. Julia S.
THE VERTICAL FARM QUICK FACTS VIDEO INNOVATION SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT DESIGN
Quick Facts
‣Dickson Despommier coined “vertical farming” in 1999 ‣Despommier is a microbiologist, ecologist, and professor farming is not new to the world, but fairly modern ‣to Vertical urban environments Vertical farms build on the idea of rooftop farming by ‣capitalizing on space vertically and utilizing natural light to produce energy. Vertical farms create urban communities in which ‣individuals can both live and work in a sustainable environment.
‣The vertical farm acts as a mini eco-system. With the population increasing and the supplies ‣decreasing, it is necessary that we think of innovative and creative ways to feed and nourish everyone.
vertical farming “the mini eco-system”
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Why is it innovative?
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Vertical farms build on the idea of rooftop farming by capitalizing on space vertically and utilizing natural light to produce energy.
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Vertical farms create urban communities in which individuals can both live and work in a sustainable environment.
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The vertical farm acts as a mini eco-system.
With the population increasing and the supplies decreasing, it is necessary that we think of innovative and creative ways to feed and nourish everyone.
How is it sustainable? space þ 1 acre of vertical farm = 4 to 30 acres of ‣flatSaved land depending on crop
‣ Creation of sustainable spaces in urban environments in “food miles” our produce travels, because ‣weDecrease can grow a larger variety of produce year-round in a controlled environment we will no longer have to import seasonal fruits and vegetables All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, ‣pesticides, or fertilizers
‣ Able to control and recycle any waste created The eventual repair of ecosystems that have been ‣sacrificed for horizontal farming 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.)
Challenges on VF urban vertical farms will initially need large ‣ Building amounts of resources for building and construction
‣ According to VF critic George Monbiot “Unless a new method of solar-powered lighting is developed, light to grow crops will be very expensive- resulting in a non-sustainable business model” the biggest problem, according to Monbiot, is ‣ And LIGHT
“The light required to grow the 500 grams of wheat that 1 loaf of bread contains would cost, at current prices, $15.81. That's just lighting: no inputs, interest, rates, rents or labor. Somehow this minor consideration – that plants need light to grow and that they aren't going to get it except on the top story – has been overlooked by the scheme's supporters.”
How is it designed? Multi-storied buildings growing different crops at each ‣floor
Integrated assembly line including: seed sorting facilities, ‣distribution,
planting system including monitoring growth ‣andContinuous harvesting
creating a 'miniature eco-system' that acts to enable ‣theAllurban population to manufacture and produce food locally.
‣The architecture itself: ‣
Requires innovative design concept & architectural knowledge
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Integrating greenery alongside traditional architectural forms
“Spiral Garden System" Recently won Incheon International Design ‣Award a sustainable public space with ‣anIncorporates easy to maintain self sufficient system.
Impact of VF
‣Reduction of energy costs in transportation Year-round crop ‣production
preparation protection from weather
Crops are then sold within the same infrastructure ‣(reduction of crop waste)
Elimination of: ‣crop machinery
fossil fuel emissions Growth of enough food to replace lost productivity as ‣farmland is urbanized
of land in traditional farming would produce ‣the5 acres same amount of crops to that of a 30 story building (2,400 acres of land)
VF future impact
When the global population increases by 3 billion people, ‣80% of them will live in or near urban areas Our Current land-intensive practices will not be able to ‣support the world’s demanding population
‣Cities currently investing in VF projects:: NYC, L.A, LAS VEGAS, ABU DABHI, PARIS, SEATTLE, ‣BANGALORE, TORONTO, PORTLAND, INCHEON,SURREY