Vertical farming for food, energy and water security?

As part of Energy Futures Lab‘s daytime seminar series Dr Zoe Harris of the Centre for Environmental Policy discusses her research on vertical farming.

Abstract

Vertical farming has exploded into the mainstream media in the past couple of years as a trendy new technology, dominated by young millennial start-up entrepreneurs, with claims it will save the world from starvation and combat climate change.

Vertical farming is intensive indoor agriculture which commonly uses hydroponic techniques to reduce water usage, artificial lighting for plant growth, optimised liquid mineral application, elevated CO2 levels and controlled temperature and humidity. These conditions are finely controlled and optimised in order to ensure minimal waste and maximal plant growth in reduced timeframes compared to traditional agriculture. In this talk I will introduce the pros and cons of vertical farming, discuss how it is being used now and what applications it may have in the future.

I will introduce the idea of using vertical farming for larger crops which may supply food, fuel and fibre, and what the use of this technology may mean for local and global land use.

Venue

The talk will be held in Room 611 of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (building 16 On the campus map). The room is known as the Gabor Suite.

If you are entering the building from Dalby Court/through the building’s main entrance take the lift to the sixth floor, turn right through the double doors and it is near the end on your left hand side.