Densely Populated Countries Could Find Food Independence With Vertical Floating Farms (xpost fr. GD)

[KamaAina]

http://www.iflscience.com/technology/densely-populated-countries-could-find-food-independence-vertical-floating-farms

Singapore has roughly 5.4 million people crammed into 716 square kilometers (276 square miles), making it the most densely populated country in the world. This country—whose area is less than a quarter of that of Rhode Island—does not have enough room for agriculture and thus imports over 90% of its food from other countries all over the world. Not only does this add considerable cost to food prices for Singaporeans, but the reliance on others might become problematic in the future if availability is low.

While Singapore might not have much land to spare to grow food, it is surrounded by plenty of water. Barcelona-based architect Javier Ponce of JAPA Architects (now under the name of Forward Thinking Architecture) has designed what he calls Floating Responsive Agriculture (FRA). Essentially, they’re large L-shaped structures that float, providing some much-needed space to grow food.

They were imagined to help Singapore—as well other densely populated countries unable to produce enough food for their citizens—gain some independence over their food supply while taking up as little room as possible. The FRA is not designed to be a standalone unit or two; a network of the towers would surround Singapore, allowing all residents to have quick access to locally-grown produce.

The FRA is designed to be incredibly efficient. The structure is oriented in such a way that maximizes sunlight exposure while simultaneously minimizing shadows. The efficiency of sunlight collection is matched by the waste-reduction system. It is envisioned to have an advanced networking system to facilitate between the FRAs and the local markets, ensuring that supply does not dramatically exceed demand. About a third of all food produced around the world goes to waste, so real-time communication about the consumers’ needs will help the FRA cut down on that waste.

I could make a fortune floating a few of these in San Francsico Bay and selling "locally-sourced organic produce" to all the restaurants the technoyuppies frequent.

[msongs]

1. will be in Singapore in October. maybe I should pass this along lol nt

[KamaAina]

2. Just be sure not to eat a durian in the subway

[NYC_SKP]

3. No no no..More technology is not the the solution to too much technology, too many people.

No no no no no.

[KurtNYC]

4. Something that is available now and that I use on-going

is Aerogarden:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_nkw=aerogarden+7&_frs=1

They made it stone simple to grow greens and strawberries hydroponically. It is easier than a fish tank and still kind of fun. Lettuces grow quickly in this and keep producing if you pick leaves only.

I use 2 aerogardens to test seeds and produce some salad greens at home even though I have been farming on rented acreage for 2 years now. Great all winter for salads, sandwiches and burritos. The floating farm idea is in an idea stage but apartment dwellers in a city like Singapore can augment their fresh greens right now.

Farming is almost always done where it is cheapest, which in practice translates into easiest -- ideal conditions for a crop like for example celery are found in Ventura County and no other area in the US can compete on price with the farms in Oxnard. So something like 86% of all the celery in the US comes from Oxnard. Towers like the ones in the artwork would be very expensive to construct, would likely not survive the first good Monsoon, would need access to lots of fresh water and present a variety of other pragmatic and economic challenges.

But the good news is mini hydroponic systems are here now. Zero mile diet.