To grow organic, chemical-free vegetables up in the air.
That is the concept behind the idea of vertical farming — growing plants literally in the air, several stories above ground.
It’s the science of aeroponics or literally growing plants in air.
Aeroponics, is growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil. The word “aeroponic” is derived from the Greek meanings of aer (ἀήÏ, “air”) and ponos (πόνος, “labor”).
“Aeroponic culture differs from both conventional hydroponics, aquaponics, and in-vitro (plant tissue culture) growing. Unlike hydroponics, which uses a liquid nutrient solution as a growing medium and essential minerals to sustain plant growth, or aquaponics, which uses water and fish waste, aeroponics is conducted without a growing medium,” according to Wikipedia.
It is also a type of hydroponics, since water is used in aeroponics to transmit nutrients.
Using gravity, aeroponics allows computers to feed plant roots with mist rich in nutrients.
Because the nutrients are in the water, liquid nourishments are recycled in a closed-loop.
The system uses 95 percent less water than the irrigation used to water plants in soil.
There is no growing medium such as soil in aeroponics. Instead, foam holds the stem and root in place.
Exposed roots hang down while the leaves shoot up. The extra oxygen they are exposed to means faster growth.
The concept comes from hydroponic farming where the roots are held in a medium without soil. In aeroponics, seeds planted in a foam are exposed to light on one end and nutrient mist on the other.
The basic equipment are an enclosure that maintains humidity and protects roots from light and a tank to hold the liquid nutrient solution.
Vertical farms negate logistical wisdom of moving farm produce sometimes over 900 kilometers to reach the bagsakan centers of Balintawak and Divisoria in Manila.
When grown in Metro Manila, vertical farms cut the travel time by 90 percent, said Simon Villalon, president of Good Greens + Co.
Good Greens is a Filipino company whose mantra is to grow more food in less space and put more food on the table.
The vertical farm management system integrates computers, nourishment pumping systems, seedling nursery, storage, test plot and administrative office — all on a minimum 150 square meters of space.
Four towers can produce 680 kilograms of vegetables a month or 8.1 tons a year, about as much as a 3-hectare conventional horizontal farm.
“We can comfortably fit two more towers in that space,’’ Villalon said. “While we have limited our towers to four stories, there is nothing to stop us from going several more stories high.”
Structures are designed, tested and rated with typhoons and local climate conditions in mind, he said. “We built a self-sufficient structure that shields our vegetables from droughts and floods, effectively producing stable, year-round harvests.”
Plants are grown at a 90-degree angle and spaced inches from each other. Sensors indicate when and what nutrients to feed the plants.
“No pesticides or fertilizers are used in growing the vegetables,” Villalon said. “All nutrients are organic.”
Nutrients, including the appropriate mix, are determined by computers based on the plant variety, the stage of growth and so on. Everything is tracked and monitored on computer systems.
After nutrients and water are applied, what’s left is recycled. This is why 95 percent less water is used compared to traditional agriculture.
“We climate regulate the towers and the plants, allowing for interesting varieties,” Villalon said.
Vertical rows of arugula, basil, pechay, butterhead and iceberg lettuce, chili, coriander, spinach, kale, and cabbage can grow together.
“We are living in this extraordinary period. It requires us to explore new and sustainable ways to ensure food supply. It’s a time to reframe farming,” Villalon said.
Vertical farming provides a stable source of homegrown edible greens even in congested communities with limited space to grow vegetables, he added. “The COVID-19 pandemic is a wake-up call for Philippine agriculture, and Good Greens + Co. is ready to answer.”