The industry of indoor agriculture is gaining momentum. In New York, space is certainly limited, and we have seen urban farms use the space in innovative ways: Brooklyn Grange uses rooftop space or small spaces such as Farm One, as well as floating demonstration farms such as Swale.
Cities that are surrounded by water use their coastal areas to build storm-resistant structures. Aqua Ark, an experienced developer for the construction of commercial and residential water facilities, believes in the concept of floating cities.
Aqua Ark is currently building the largest New York farm with an area of 14,678 m², located near the Hunts Point food distribution center in the Bronx. The facility provides a horizontal growing area, a scale not available in New York.
This is a unique opportunity for farmers to grow food in the vicinity of the world's largest food distribution center.
The aquatic environment also provides energy savings by lowering heating and cooling costs. Thanks to water heat pumps and the possible use of additional heat from a nearby water treatment plant, savings are 30-70% on heating costs and 20-50% on cooling costs, as shown by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
The energy efficiency of the facility is especially important for this region, which suffers from the highest levels of air pollution in New York.
In addition, since this area will be located on the water, natural light will have minimal obstacles, which brings great potential cost savings.
- Earlier we reported that an unconventional farm in Ohio brought together people with disabilities who work by growing aquaponic lettuce.
- The British company LettUS Grow, which is engaged in the cultivation of vegetables without soil, allocated to scientists for the development of pollination technology 2 million pounds, or about $ 2.6 million.
- As a continuing commitment to support ecotourism, Bali Dynasty Resort has set up its own mini hydroponic farm.
- In Montreal (Canada) there is a waste-free enterprise for the production of livestock feed from flour worm protein.
- After Paris and Marseille, a mushroom farm appeared in Avignon, where the Les jeunes pousses association opened the first urban mushroom farm.
