The hot topic - "Urban farms"

By the year 2050, almost 80% of the earth’s population will be living in urban areas. And the human population will shaprly increase to 3 billion people at that moment.If the traditional farming practices continue as they are practised now, around 109 hectares of new land will then be needed to grow enough food to feed them. Therefore urban farmers have to come up with creative ways to maximize space and fit their operations into an urban environment. There are more and more methods to grow crops in urban areas, we will be discussing the methods and find out the pros and cons of urban farming.



Hydroponics  
It means of growing food without soil where the nutrients are provided directly in the water.

The following is a common type of hydroponics - Ebb and Flood Hydroponics. It uses a tray which placed above a separate nutrient solution reservoir, that is periodically flooded with the nutrient solution directly from the reservoir. This directly supplies the roots of plant with nutrients while the hydroponic system is in operation. The tray is always filled with a type of growing media like expanded clay aggregate or rock wool, to anchor and supply structure to the plants growing inside. 



















Aquaponics

It is a system of aquaculture in which the waste produced by farmed fish or other aquatic animals supplies nutrients for plants grown hydroponically, which in turn purify the water.

Aquaponics consists of two main parts: the aquaculture part for raising aquatic animals and the hydroponics part for growing plants. 

Aquatic effluents, resulting from uneaten feed or raising animals like fish, accumulate in water due to the closed-system recirculation of most aquaculture systems.

The effluent-rich water becomes toxic to the aquatic animal in high concentrations but this contain nutrients essential for plant growth.

Vertical farming 

• The practice of growing in a vertical direction
• Usually without soil (hydropnically)
• Usually in urban areas and sometimes will applied in sky scrapers' design)

Example: VERTICAL HARVEST (Jackson Hole, Wyoming )
Three-story, 13500 sq.f hydroponics green house (150' x 30')
Able to produce 37000+ pounds of greens, 4400 pounds of herbs and 44000 pounds of tomatoes
95% future crops already sold to local restaurants, groceries and hospital



Micro-farming
A micro-farm is an independent farmer who operates on a small acreage.15% of the worlds food comes from the micro farmer. Many people know of at least one person in their social network who has a garden that feeds families. Micro-farm can be exist in a small patio garden, a tiny backyard garden or a large garden even on roof or walls, the point is we use as much as the space that is available for growing plants.

So is Urban farming the ultimate solution to solve the food and land shortage problem and is it a sustainable method ?

PROS:

• Less footprint. By reducing the distance in transport to reach the consumer – an average of 1,000 miles – urban farming can reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from food production by up to 15%.
• Less waste.
  Up to 60 pounds of food per person is wasted globally every year in production and distribution. Having a farm in your backyard could significantly reduce this.
• Less heat.
  Urban rooftop farms would provide shade and insulation for cool air, reducing the need for summer air conditioning, which accounts for 20% of urban energy usage.

CONS:

• Gentrification.
   By growing on land that would possible be used for housing or business, urban farming takes up plenty of space in urban area and may increase the land prices and contribute to gentrification.
• Not a cure-all. The production from any urban farming techniques may never be sufficient for the growing populations in cities. And the farming process is not efficient as the traditional farms.
• Disease and pollution.  Improper handling of produce and related agrochemicals could lead to both contaminated foods and environments.
  I personally agree on the concept of urban farming, I think the main concerns is not on solving the food shortage, but raising the awareness of the importance of food and produce less food waste. Also it can provided positive social effect such as strengthens communities through cooperation, and provides people with affordable, healthy foods. But I think the public has to be educated on how to grow food sustainably and what types of foods are suitable to grow in their home, therefore I hope the government can do more to promote the concept of urban farming in different scale.

Reference:

"Hydroponic Growing Techniques - Deep Water Culture & Ebb and Flow / Flood Hydroponics - Hydroponiacs." Hydroponiacs. 2014. Accessed March 09, 2016. http://hydroponiacs.com/hydroponic-growing-techniques-deep-water-culture-ebb-flow-flood-hydroponics/. 

"Aquaponics vs. Hydroponics vs. Ecoponics." Search for a Greener Life. 2015. Accessed March 08, 2016. https://searchforagreenerlife.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/aquaponics-vs-hydroponics-vs-ecoponics/. 

"The Micro Farm Revolution:Think Small." Ready Nutrition. 2009. Accessed March 09, 2016. http://readynutrition.com/resources/the-micro-farm-revolutionthink-small_02112009/.

"Urban Farming Technology." Urban Farming Technology. Accessed March 10, 2016. http://www.slideshare.net/ReneHubbard/technology-in-urban-farming-techniques. 

"City of Sydney - Council - Home." Community Gardens. Accessed March 10, 2016. http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community/participation/community-gardens.

"Is Urban Farming The Ultimate In Locally-Grown Food? - Curiousmatic." Curiousmatic. 2014. Accessed March 10, 2016. https://curiousmatic.com/urban-farming-ultimate-locally-grown-food/.