PolarPonics
105 8th Street Southeast N0G1L0 Chesley, ON, Canada

Food waste is a colossal problem throughout the world, but various initiatives are helping to reduce the amount of wasted food that needlessly winds up in landfills. Beyond reuse/recycling programs, community level 'ecologies' are driving the development more effective composting and 'bioreactor' technologies that promote local agriculture. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-pacific-56606143 #foodwaste #sustainability #singapore

Although tulips are not a food security issue, flower production can form the basis of a profitable microbusiness. "With cut tulips, the most important qualities are vibrant colors, strong stems and freshness. With these qualities typically degrading with time and transportation, La Ferme Nomade produces tulips of a high-quality. Our competitors cannot deliver within the same day, explains Simon." https://www.verticalfarmdaily.com//montreal-out-of-season/... #urbanfarming #microbusiness #flowers

Community partnerships between agriculturalists and schools create opportunities to engage students with STEM subjects, to impact poverty gaps and to promote good nutrition. "Taylor said there will be four components, or four different farming practices, involved aquaponics, hydroponics, traditional soil gardening and a permaculture food forest." https://www.orangeobserver.com//community-partnership-cult... #communityspirit #urbanfarming #STEM #aquaponics #hydroponics #permaculture

Universal Aquaculture in Singapore is applying the principles of vertical farming to prawn production. "...as the high-tech system is modular and can be easily deployed at a larger industrial plot, chief executive Jeremy Ong said some 1,000kg of the prawns can be produced per day when the firm opens an additional site some time in the third quarter of next year." https://www.straitstimes.com//prawn-farm-scales-new-height... #aquaculture #verticalfarming #singapore #urbanfarming

Multi-purpose developments and the co-location of different activities at the same site provide significant opportunities for vulnerable populations. "[There ar...e] converging economic, climate, and health crises that are rooted in people’s access to healthy food, resilient, nourishing jobs, and fair housing, Yehia says. And we saw this as an urban redevelopment tool that has the potential to address all three. https://www.fastcompany.com//these-buildings-combine-affor #urbanfarming #verticalfarming #foodsecurity #AffordableHousing

Does vertical farming actually reduce the carbon footprint of agricultural production? This presents a nicely quantified comparison that challenges this idea based on the very high power consumption of indoor systems. However, some important factors were left out include the impacts of soil degradation and the use of mechanized farm equipment for soil-based production which will significantly increase the estimated carbon footprint of conventional outdoor farming. https://www.verticalfarmdaily.com//comparing-the-carbon-f/ #verticalfarming #hydroponics #carbonfootprint

Despite the many challenges that vertical farming needs to overcome, there may be hope for the future. https://medium.com//is-vertical-farming-a-fad-or-the-futur #verticalfarming #hydroponics

An often overlooked aspect of vertical farming and other agricultural innovations is that it may give us the opportunity to change how we use land. With a significantly more efficient use of space for agricultural production, we could turn vast tracts of land back into wilderness for the benefit of natural ecosystems and the enjoyment of all. https://www.fastcompany.com//why-we-need-to-rewild-our-env #verticalfarming #hydroponics #landuse #wilderness

"...negative events have closed off some appetite for investments in CEA [Controlled Environment Agriculture] , which is a shame. It is a good investment in general, but every time we see a less than a reputable company or a technology that fails, it holds the industry back. https://www.verticalfarmdaily.com//sharing-technology-is-/

Containerized farms present many economic challenges but can be successful if they can find a 'niche' market. Owner Jud Blout and Executive Chef Eric Rivera stacked two Freight Farms containers behind at the Vintage Year restaurant, meaning the kitchen gets access to just-harvested produce year-round. Not only does this produce taste better, but it also lasts significantly longer than what Jud and Eric can source from their usual vendors." https://www.verticalfarmdaily.com//why-chefs-prefer-hydro/