LED + Water and No Soil.
Key words of solution we are looking for areproductivity,sustainableand helping the vulnerable
what if there isa ready to technologyout there which solves all challenges and ready to beused?
No needfor waiting idea stage to implementation.
The answer is, some might have guessed from the title, it is indoor vertical farming.
More specifically, It is Hydroponic Farming and Aeroponic Farming.
Here is quick Q&A to explain how these 2 types of technologies are aid to the rural transformation and hunger issue.
1. How canthetechnologyachievethe production of higher yields with less land, water, and labor inputs?
I).Indoor /climate controlled means year around, 24/7 production.eliminating the climatechange impact and loss.
ii). Vertical means multi layer of production space inthe same sqft area. it's simple calculation really. 5 stacked system will provide 5 times higher than transitional produce. depending on type of crops and height of the farming building, production yield can be improved more than 100 times than traditional agriculture with combining productive again from led light receiptsandloss control by pest or by the climate change
iii)Mist means less water. *The company called AeroFarm has achieved 95 % less water usage with Aeroponic Farming technology.
iV)Automation means lessLabor inputs. Vertical farming process can be automated and eliminate labour intensive work of traditional agriculture.
ex) good example can be found on following CNC news link on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjCDQgjRcMo&t=77s
V) There is a plus. as the title describes it, Hydroponic farming and aeroponic farming does not use soil to delivernutrition to corps. Difference between two technology is that hydroponic uses water and aeroponic farming uses cloth and mist to deliver nutrition tocorps
2. so How the technology can Improve coordination within the value chain of rural farmers, which supports sustainable food production, reduces post-harvest losses, and facilitates market access in favor of farmers?
well, climate control eliminates all variable and loss risk of traditional agriculture. this new way of farming eliminate use of pesticides as well. 24/7 year around worry free production. I am not sure what can be more sustainable.
while the technology doesn't solve post-harvest losses that may happenduring transportation buttheyieldgain is far greaterso itwill be able to absorbthe same rate of post-harvest losses.
Vertical farming allows organic certified, more nutritious corps withteak of light receipt. this shouldallowfarmers to sell their products inhigher price range market.
3. What about helping vulnerable populations, especially women?
-. Less labor meanstechnology is open to anyone including women.thetechnologyallows smart farming, meaning digging,watering,seedingalllabor intensive work into push of buttons.rural famers and specially women canget theeducation and participate the productionof the corps.
4. sounds all good but what is the limitation?
the technology requires electricity and supply of water which means basic infrastructurehas to be there where this solution is implemented. Solution for the areas where there is no electricity involves research work of combining solar energy andbattery solution by MIT professor Donald Sadoway, which could take longtime to implement.
5. feasibility?
Vertical farming has not been considered to be a solution for hunger in the past due to high initial investment. This great initiative and $1M start up investment cancertainly be a starting kick-off point and will not require another phase of investment as the vertical farming hasproven to be making profitby many existing businesses.
Detail business plan needs tobe checked with group of expertise with location set-upbutbased on theindustry average of 3.5 year ROI for any investment, each vertical farming can grow every 3.5 year. Farmers can share the profit by providing their land and participating the production and be part of each vertical farming company.
*AeroFarm water usage data was from CBC news.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/vertical-farms-indoor-farming-1.3911835
Thank you,
Glenn Hoh
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