Skyfarming an ecological innovation to enhance global food security

Abstract

Population growth increases the demand for food and thus leads to expansion of cultivated land and intensification of agricultural production. There is a definite limit to both of these options for food security and their multiple negative effects on the environment undermine the aim for sustainability. Presently the impact of the Green Revolution on crop production is levelling off at high yields attained and even the potential of large scale irrigation programmes and transgenic crops seem to be limited in view of the expected increase in demand for food. Moreover, climate change threatens to affect agricultural production across the globe. Skyfarming represents a promising approach for food production that is largely environment independent and therefore immune to climate change. Optimal growing conditions, shielded from weather extremes and pests are aimed at raising plant production towards the physiological potential. Selecting rice as a pioneer crop for Skyfarming will not only provide a staple for a large part of the global population, but also significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emission caused by paddy cultivation. Multiplication of the benefits could be achieved by stacking production floors vertically. In Skyfarming the crop, with its requirements for optimal growth, development and production, determines the system's design. Accordingly, the initial development must focus on the growing environment, lighting, temperature, humidity regulation and plant protection strategies as well as on the overall energy supply. For each of these areas potentially suitable technologies are presented and discussed

Urban vegetable for food security in cities. A review

“…Germer et al (2011) discuss the possibilities and constraints that arise with farming rice crops vertically. For minimum weight, and therefore lower statistical requirements, an aeroponic system is suggested which would supply the rice roots with a mist enriched with nutrients (Germer et al 2011).…”

“…For minimum weight, and therefore lower statistical requirements, an aeroponic system is suggested which would supply the rice roots with a mist enriched with nutrients (Germer et al 2011). According to Mok et al (2014), the article by Germer et al (2011) is the only one of its kind rationalizing the technical constraints and advantages of Vertical Farming concepts and putting Despommiers (2010) ideas to the test. However, it is also the only article and concept focusing on vertical rice production.…”

Zero-Acreage Farming in the City of Berlin: An Aggregated Stakeholder Perspective on Potential Benefits and Challenges

“…Regarding enclosed forms, scholars investigate general potentials or present practices of building-integrated agriculture (BIA) [18,19,[24][25][26], defined as the practice of locating high-performing hydroponic greenhouse systems on buildings [25]. Additional studies examine the potential and feasibility of indoor or vertical farming as an opportunity for large-scale urban food production in multi-story vertical greenhouses [27][28][29].…”

Farming in and on urban buildings: Present practice and specific novelties of Zero-Acreage Farming (ZFarming)

“…Existing empirical studies mostly focus on single cases or one specific form of ZFarming 9,[12][13][14][15] . Specht et al 11 offer a profound review of the literature on ZFarming, but no empirical evidence on current practices.…”