TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS!

Stacking up urban farms

in a controlled indoor
environment could provide
food to cities and reduce
carbon footprint

Meera Vaidya
Science of Sustainability
M.S. Sustainable Environmental Systems
December 02, 2014

Illustration showing vertical farming in concept, created with a mix of images

Wacots.org (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://wacots.org/nailhed/GrahamPaigeDeSoto/content/bin/images/large/IMG_8818.jpg
123rf.com (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://us.123rf.com/450wm/majivecka/majivecka1403/majivecka140301514/27169708-vector-silhouette-of-a-
gardener-on-white-background.jpg
Colourbox.com(n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from https://www.colourbox.com/preview/2761000-151094-collection-of-different-garden-vector-silhouettes-
of-plants.jpg
Introduction
World population overview Today & Future

2050
Population apx. 8.3-10.9 billion: >70% urban
apx. ???? million: chronic hunger

Today
Population apx. 7 billion: >50% urban
apx. 842 million: chronic hunger

Population Division, Department of Economics and Social Affairs, United

Nations (2014, August) “Our Urbanizing World”, Population Facts, 2014(3):1-2.

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Introduction
Research questions

World Hunger Distribution: TODAY

20% to feed growing population

HOW reduce environmental effects
reduce burden on rural farmers
10% 50%

20% Balance between supply

FIND and demand while
managing the resources

Smallholder farming communities

Landless farming families Solutions for urban
Herding, fishing or forest resources
PROVIDE hunger problems with
built environment
Urban poor

Wfp.org (n.d.) “Who are the hungry”, Retrieved November 22, 2014,
from http://www.wfp.org/hunger/who-are

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Introduction
Components of Vertical Farming

Urban setting
Stacking up farms
Urban setting
Stacking up farms

Stacking up farms

Stacking up farms

Stacking up farms

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Introduction
Vertical Farming: History

1915 GREENHOUSE TODAY

Bailey G. (1915) “Vertical Farming”, Vogel, G. (2008, February 8) “Upending Verticalfarm (n.d.) “The Vertical Farm”,
Wilmington, Del.: E. I. duPont de the Traditional Farm”, Science, 319:752- Retrieved November 12, 2014, from
Nemours Powder Co. 753. http://www.verticalfarm.com/

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Methods
Rooftop Farming

Greenhousegrower.com. (n.d.) Retrieved December

01,2014 from http://files.greenhousegrower.com/wp-
content/uploads/2013/11/rooftop_greenhouse.jpeg

earthlyissues.com. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01,2014 from

http://www.earthlyissues.com/images/greenhouse.jpg

Green Infrastructure
Recreational Fruits & Vegetables

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Methods
Hydroponics & Aeroponics

Hydroponics Aeroponics
shtfpreparedness.com. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01,2014 from greendesert.org. (n.d.) Retrieved December 01,2014 from
http://www.shtfpreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/nft.gif http://www.greendesert.org/images/Aeroponic-System.png

Discovermagazine (n.d.) Retrieved November 29, 2014, from

agrihouse.com (n.d.) Retrieved November 29, 2014, from
http://discovermagazine.com/~/media/Images/Zen%20Photo/V/vertical%20
http://www.agrihouse.com/images/AgriHouse_Aeroponics.jpg
farms/1148.jpg?mw=738

Absence of soil
Essential nutrients provided Computer based control & monitoring

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Methods
Skyscraper farms

Fischetti, M. (2007) “Growing Vertical”, Fischetti, M. (2007) “Growing Vertical”, Despommier D. (2009) “The Rise of Vertical Farms”,
Scientific American Earth 3.0, 74-79. Scientific American Earth 3.0, 74-79. Scientific American, 80-87, November

Mixed use structures

Recycle & reuse of resources Vegetables, fruits, chicken & fish

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Examples and Proposals
SkyGreens, Singapore

Sky Greens (2011) “A-Go-GoVertical Farming”, Retrieved November 11, 2014, from http://skygreens.appsfly.com/Media

Greenhouse based technology

World’s first low carbon, hydraulic Commercial use
driven vertical farm
Aluminum frame growing troughs
Irrigation with flooding methodology
Tropical leafy vegetables

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Examples and Proposals
Pasona headquarters, Tokyo, Japan

spoon-tamago.com (2013, September 12) “urban farming and corporate culture collide in this Tokyo office building”, Retrieved November 25, 2014, from http://www.spoon-
tamago.com/2013/09/12/urban-farming-and-corporate-culture-collide-in-this-tokyo-office-building/

Mixed use structure

Used by employees
3995 square meters of green space out
of 19,974 square meters of total space
Double skin green façade
Balconies with flowers & orange plants

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Examples and Proposals
Green Spirits Farms, Michigan, USA

Greenspiritsfarms (n.d.) “Green Spirits Farms”, Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.greenspiritfarms.com/

Industrial facility
Controlled environment and use of Commercial use
renewable energy
Hydroponics technology
Locally grown fresh food
Fruits & vegetables

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Examples and Proposals
The Living Skyscraper, USA

Kurasek B. (2008, May) “The Living Skyscraper : Farming the Urban Skyline”, Retrieved November 21, 2014, from
http://www.blakekurasek.com/thelivingskyscraper.html

Mixed use skyscraper

Controlled environment and use of Thesis Proposal
renewable energy
Mix of Hydroponics & others
Recycle & reuse of resources
Vegetables, fruits, chicken & fish

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Discussion
Pros Cons
Cons

Reducing farmland
Deforestation reduced
Possibilities of reforestation by incentives

Reduced stress on farming Social acceptance as a challenge

Controlled environment: Better quality
Vertical farms: too modified or too industrialized
Climate extremes have no/less effect

Reduced agricultural contamination

Locally grown fresh produce Limitations on type of produce

Reduced transportation

Less pressure on rural farms Survival issues for rural farmers

Feeding growing urban population Expensive techniques: Urban poor?

Renewable energy & Recycle

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Discussion
Future

Social & planners

awareness

Global co-operation

Technological
advancement

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya

Thank You

“Growing crops in city skyscrapers

would use less water and fossil fuel
than outdoor farming, eliminate
agricultural runoff and provide
fresh food”

- Dickson Despommier
Despommier D. (2009) “The Rise of Vertical Farms”,
Scientific American, 80-87, November.

Illustration showing vertical farming in concept, created with a mix of images

Wacots.org (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://wacots.org/nailhed/GrahamPaigeDeSoto/content/bin/images/large/IMG_8818.jpg
123rf.com (n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from http://us.123rf.com/450wm/majivecka/majivecka1403/majivecka140301514/27169708-vector-silhouette-of-a-gardener-
on-white-background.jpg
Colourbox.com(n.d.) Retrieved November 21, 2014, from https://www.colourbox.com/preview/2761000-151094-collection-of-different-garden-vector-silhouettes-of-
plants.jpg

TALL, GREEN AND DELICIOUS Meera Vaidya