In a world with a growing population and shrinking arable land, farmers are looking for new ways to increase production.
One solution gaining in popularity is vertical farming. Vertical crops are generally multi-storey buildings where crops are stacked vertically, known as an inner chamber.
By manufacturing multiple indoor chambers, vertical mobile cultivation systems protect plants from pests and extreme weather conditions. They can also be equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and irrigation systems to help maximize yield.
In addition, mobile cultivationvertical systems often use hydroponic and aeroponic growing methods, which require no soil. 😱
This reduces the amount of land needed for agriculture and cuts water consumption. 🚰
As food demand continues to rise, vertical farming could be the solution to meeting the world’s needs.
What impact does urban growth have on farms and farmland?
The impact of urban growth on farmland is significant. As cities expand, they encroach on farmland, resulting in the loss of valuable agricultural land.
This loss of agricultural land can have a number of consequences. Firstly, it can lead to food insecurity, as there is less land available for crops. 🧑🌾
Secondly, it can lead to higher food prices, as demand outstrips supply.
Thirdly, it can lead to environmental degradation, as sprawling development reduces the amount of open space and natural habitats.
Finally, it can diminish the quality of life of rural dwellers, who are increasingly cut off from the resources and opportunities offered by cities. 🏙️
As a result, urban growth is having a profound impact on agricultural land, with consequences for both local communities and the global food supply.
How does urban agriculture work?
In its most basic form, urban agriculture is the practice of growing food in an urban environment.
This can be done on a small scale, as in an allotment garden, or on a larger scale, as in a community garden or even a commercial farm.
There are many ways to undertake urban agriculture, and the type of project will often depend on the space and resources available.
For example, hydroponic systems can be used to grow crops in small spaces, while aquaponics combines fish farming and vegetable production.
Urban farmers also often resort to vertical farming techniques, such as stacked planters or hanging gardens, to make better use of limited space.
Whatever the approach, urban agriculture is a creative way of bringing fresh food into cities and improving the quality of life for city dwellers.
Why urban agriculture and what are its objectives?
Urban agriculture is the practice of growing crops and raising livestock in cities. There are many reasons why people engage in urban agriculture.
For some, it’s a way of getting closer to the natural world and creating a sense of community. Others see it as a way to reduce their carbon footprint or save money on groceries.
Still others see it as a way of combating food insecurity in their communities. Whatever the reason, urban agriculture can have a significant impact on individuals and cities as a whole.
Urban agriculture offers many advantages for cities. It can help improve air quality by trapping carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
It can also help reduce noise pollution and provide green spaces for residents. What’s more, urban agriculture can help create jobs and support local businesses.
Which spaces are part of urban agriculture?
When most people think of agriculture, they imagine farmland with open fields and grazing cows. But farming doesn’t have to be confined to rural areas.
In cities, agriculture takes a different form, but can be just as vital to the local economy and ecosystem. Community gardens are one type of urban agriculture. Among other things, you can see them on the roofs of buildings! 🌿
Vertical urban agriculture
Another type of urban farming is vertical farming. This type of agriculture takes advantage of unused vertical space, such as building walls or old storage containers. For our part, the manufacture of independent indoor chambers, for all our customers, has won us over as an innovator in the field.
Vertical farms can produce a variety of crops, including fruits, vegetables and herbs. They often use hydroponic or aeroponic systems, which require no soil.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement towards urban agriculture. This is largely due to the growing demand for locally produced food. As city populations continue to grow, so does the demand for fresh produce.
However, traditional farms are often located far from urban areas, making it difficult for city dwellers to credential fresh food.
Urban agriculture provides a solution to this problem by bringing food production closer to where it’s needed. Here are some of the benefits of urban agriculture.
Why develop urban agriculture?
Urban beautification
Anyone who has ever set foot in a busy city knows that the concrete jungle is not always the most aesthetically pleasing environment. But urban agriculture can help change that.
By planting gardens and green spaces on otherwise empty land, cities can become livelier, more welcoming places to live.
What’s more, urban agriculture can also help improve air quality by providing a natural means of filtering air pollutants.
In addition, plants produce oxygen, which can help offset the high levels of carbon dioxide produced by traffic and other sources.
As a result, urban agriculture not only makes cities more beautiful places to live, it also helps improve the quality of the air we breathe.
Environmental protection
One of the main advantages of urban agriculture is that it can help protect the environment. Growing food in cities reduces the need for energy-intensive transport, as well as the amount of packaging required.
In addition, urban agriculture can help reduce pollution by absorbing carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. By using organic production methods, urban farmers can help reduce the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
As people become more interested in environmentally-friendly practices, urban agriculture is likely to play an increasingly important role in protecting the planet.
Food autonomy
Thanks to food autonomy, citizens are not dependent on supermarkets or restaurants for their food.
Instead, they can grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs. This is particularly beneficial in times of crisis, such as natural disasters or global pandemics.
When traditional supply chains are disrupted, urban farmers can continue to produce food for themselves and their communities.
What’s more, urban agriculture can help reduce the carbon footprint of the food system. Local production requires less energy for transport and distribution, and often uses sustainable growing methods such as composting and rainwater harvesting.
Consequently, urban agriculture is a key element in the creation of a more sustainable and resilient food system.
The certainty of fresh produce under our roof!
One of the most important advantages is the certainty of fresh produce.
As urban agriculture is generally located closer to population centers, farmers are able to sell their produce immediately after harvest, ensuring that it is as fresh as possible.
This not only benefits the consumer, but also enables farmers to obtain the best possible price for their products.
What’s more, urban agriculture often uses hydroponic or aeroponic growing methods, which consume much less water than traditional farming methods.
This is important in regions where water resources are limited. Finally, urban agriculture can help create green spaces in cities, offering a much-needed respite from the concrete jungle.
Encouraging the local economy and creating jobs
Another of the benefits of urban agriculture is that it can help encourage the local economy. ⚜️
When people buy from local farmers, they’re supporting businesses in their community. It also creates jobs and keeps money circulating in the local economy.
When people are able to grow their own food, they’re less likely to need to buy as much from grocery stores or other businesses.
This means more of their money can circulate in the local economy, benefiting businesses and promoting economic growth. 🤑
In this way, urban agriculture can be an important tool for city leaders seeking to promote economic development and reduce unemployment.
Learn more about urban agriculture!
Urban agriculture training in Quebec
Quebec offers a variety of urban agriculture training courses to encourage food production in the city.
Programs range from urban gardening courses to university degrees in urban agriculture.
Students learn to grow vegetables, herbs and fruit using ecological and sustainable methods. These courses offer a unique opportunity to learn how to feed local communities while respecting the environment.
Urban agriculture workshop
Urban agriculture workshop
These workshops cover a range of topics, from creating community gardens to growing vegetables in pots and managing organic waste.
They offer an opportunity to discover eco-responsible practices and get involved in projects that promote the health of the planet and the community.
Get involved as a volunteer!
Volunteering in urban agriculture can offer a unique opportunity to learn and get involved in community projects that promote local, sustainable food production.
Volunteers can gain practical skills in growing, harvesting and processing food while learning about environmental sustainability.
In addition, volunteer experiences can provide opportunities for networking and collaboration with others who are passionate about urban agriculture.
SOMR Group for your innovations in mobile cultivation
When it comes to vertical farming indoors, several planning steps must be established to succeed. First, it’s important to ensure that production is as efficient as possible.
Secondly, space must be used to its full potential to maximize productivity. And finally, all environmental standards must be respected to preserve product quality.
Fortunately, our high-density mobile racking systems are the perfect solution.GREENRAK are designed with all these aspects in mind.
Ergonomic and safe to use, our systems can be easily adapted to meet your specific production requirements.
Whether you need one or several levels, we have a solution to suit you.
So, if you’re looking to increase your profits while meeting all the environmental standards required in your urban setting, look no further than our high-density mobile shelving systems for urban vertical farming.
