Image: REUTERS/ Dinuka Liyanawatte
Boxing clever ... Masdar City's stackable steel allotments could be the future of desert farming.
A project underway in Abu Dhabi aims to encourage people to do just that - pairing old shipping containers and high-tech hydroponics to overcome the region’s hostile climate and increase local food production.
A new solution for farming in hostile conditions /Image: CustomWeather
A new solution for farming in hostile conditions /Image: CustomWeather
While food security issues are climbing up the agenda globally, they are felt particularly acutely in the United Arab Emirates, where temperatures are high
and rain levels low. Creating vertical farms inside shipping containers could help communities grow more of their own produce and cut down on the cost of transporting food to the region.
and rain levels low. Creating vertical farms inside shipping containers could help communities grow more of their own produce and cut down on the cost of transporting food to the region.
In Masdar City - an urban development project in Abu Dhabi - Madar Farms
are using hydroponic systems that require much less water than traditional farms, to grow lettuce, herbs and brassicas. The project is being showcased at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
are using hydroponic systems that require much less water than traditional farms, to grow lettuce, herbs and brassicas. The project is being showcased at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Because the plants are growing in a controlled environment inside the container, with nutrients coming from enriched water, pesticides and insecticides are not required. LED lighting with deep red and blue hues mimics sunlight and cycles
on and off to simulate periods of day and night for the plants.
Image: Madar Farms/LED lighting mimics sunlight and switches off to simulate night.
on and off to simulate periods of day and night for the plants.
According to proponents of the idea, shipping-container-based farming
uses 95% less water than traditional farming. The containers, which are
12.2 metres long and 2.4 wide, are stackable, durable and easy to modify.
It’s an idea that’s taking hold elsewhere as well, with CropBox offering
a similar idea in the United States...
[...]
uses 95% less water than traditional farming. The containers, which are
12.2 metres long and 2.4 wide, are stackable, durable and easy to modify.
It’s an idea that’s taking hold elsewhere as well, with CropBox offering
a similar idea in the United States...
[...]
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