What's the large scale viability of something like this (1 Viewer)

[NutterButter]

http://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-largest-indoor-farm-produces-10000-heads-of-lettuce-a-day-in-japan/

Energy use is obviously a lot higher with an operation like this. I figure we could just litter the south with these factories along with solar arrays right next to them. What's the estimate on how many setups like this we would need to feed everyone in the US for starters. Any idea of what the cost difference would be per unit of fruit or vegetable grown? Obviously the initial startup cost would be huge, but let's say for just day to day operations. What other pros or cons are there? Pro side, low water usage, low if not none herbicide and pesticide usage.

 

[NCCommish]

Well according to the article it is far more efficient and way faster than outdoor farming so you'd have to figure that onto any cost analysis.

This is something people have been talking about for a while. In a city like New York you have vacant highrises where you could conceivably grow tons of vegetables each year. Being local transportation costs are extremely low also reducing the carbon footprint of the farms. I think this kind of thing is the future of food production.

 

[cstu]

I think this kind of thing is the future of food production.

Agree.

Indoor growing combined with increasingly efficient solar energy and lower desalination costs* is going solve a lot of the world's food problems.

*This company is building a solar desalination plant to produce water at $450/acre foot from unusable drainage water.

 

[cstu]

Eventually we'll see our food being grown underground with solar panels above to collect the energy to grow the plants and desalinate water.

 

[NutterButter]

Well according to the article it is far more efficient and way faster than outdoor farming so you'd have to figure that onto any cost analysis.

This is something people have been talking about for a while. In a city like New York you have vacant highrises where you could conceivably grow tons of vegetables each year. Being local transportation costs are extremely low also reducing the carbon footprint of the farms. I think this kind of thing is the future of food production.

Yeah, you could pretty much do this anywhere. I'd love to know the difference between the cost of a solar array as well as factoring in transportation costs vs the energy cost if you did it locally with the energy being predominantly from fossil fuels. You hear all about the necessity of gmo's to increase yield to feed an ever expanding population and concerns about the supply of water, but it seems that at least at face value this approach to farming mitigates both of those concerns.

Right in my backyard

 

[Brony]

Let-us see if this works in the US of A before we turn-ip any buildings into farms.

 

[El Floppo]

very cool.

knee-jerk cons, IMO:

- build the buildings

- power the lights, environmental systems

- pay for upkeep.

but solar or alternative would definitely help offset the last two.

 

[NutterButter]

Let-us see if this works in the US of A before we turn-ip any buildings into farms.

Link above

 

[NCCommish]

I remember reading that the federal government owns 100s of thousands of sq ft in DC that is sitting empty. Might make for an interesting pilot program.

 

[berndog]

The pot growers certainly make this work on a smaller scale.

One thing to note about hydroponically grown vegetables is they have little/no taste when compared to ones grown in soil.

 

[El Floppo]

The pot growers certainly make this work on a smaller scale.

One thing to note about hydroponically grown vegetables is they have little/no taste when compared to ones grown in soil.

yeah- that was an interesting point in the linked article... 50% waste for typical, 10% when grown indoors.

 

[Black Box]

The pot growers certainly make this work on a smaller scale.

One thing to note about hydroponically grown vegetables is they have little/no taste when compared to ones grown in soil.

Even McDonalds needs ingredients.

 

[Mr. Ected]

http://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-largest-indoor-farm-produces-10000-heads-of-lettuce-a-day-in-japan/

Energy use is obviously a lot higher with an operation like this. I figure we could just litter the south with these factories along with solar arrays right next to them. What's the estimate on how many setups like this we would need to feed everyone in the US for starters. Any idea of what the cost difference would be per unit of fruit or vegetable grown? Obviously the initial startup cost would be huge, but let's say for just day to day operations. What other pros or cons are there? Pro side, low water usage, low if not none herbicide and pesticide usage.

I would bet it would be even more successful in places like Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Being able to control atmosphere (temps, moisture, etc) would be huge. Lots of sun/wind for renewable energy!

very cool.

knee-jerk cons, IMO:

- build the buildings

- power the lights, environmental systems

- pay for upkeep.

but solar or alternative would definitely help offset the last two.

I think one positive was reusing existing buildings. The one in the original article was in a "former Sony Corporation semiconductor factory in Japan."

 

[El Floppo]

http://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-largest-indoor-farm-produces-10000-heads-of-lettuce-a-day-in-japan/

Energy use is obviously a lot higher with an operation like this. I figure we could just litter the south with these factories along with solar arrays right next to them. What's the estimate on how many setups like this we would need to feed everyone in the US for starters. Any idea of what the cost difference would be per unit of fruit or vegetable grown? Obviously the initial startup cost would be huge, but let's say for just day to day operations. What other pros or cons are there? Pro side, low water usage, low if not none herbicide and pesticide usage.

I would bet it would be even more successful in places like Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Being able to control atmosphere (temps, moisture, etc) would be huge. Lots of sun/wind for renewable energy!

very cool.

knee-jerk cons, IMO:

- build the buildings

- power the lights, environmental systems

- pay for upkeep.

but solar or alternative would definitely help offset the last two.

I think one positive was reusing existing buildings. The one in the original article was in a "former Sony Corporation semiconductor factory in Japan."

good point.

working in the building industry- it's been my experience that retrofitting things can sometimes be more expensive than building new.

buildings aside- less water and less waste is a win, IMO, especially if the power is pulled from the sun or otherwise.

 

[NutterButter]

The pot growers certainly make this work on a smaller scale.

One thing to note about hydroponically grown vegetables is they have little/no taste when compared to ones grown in soil.

That may no longer be the case as they experiment with the conditions they are grown in.

 

[El Floppo]

The pot growers certainly make this work on a smaller scale.

One thing to note about hydroponically grown vegetables is they have little/no taste when compared to ones grown in soil.

That may no longer be the case as they experiment with the conditions they are grown in.

lol... I read that as "little no/WASTE" not taste.

 

[bakes]

very cool.

knee-jerk cons, IMO:

- build the buildings

- power the lights, environmental systems

- pay for upkeep.

but solar or alternative would definitely help offset the last two.

Not an issue at all. Take a look at how many abandoned K-Marts, Borders, Circuit City, and other big box stores exist out there. With vast unused parking lots for solar arrays in addition to the rooftop space. The biggest fight would be clearing out the produce every September for Spirit of Halloween to take up their ubiquitous two month stay.

 

[berndog]

The pot growers certainly make this work on a smaller scale.

One thing to note about hydroponically grown vegetables is they have little/no taste when compared to ones grown in soil.

That may no longer be the case as they experiment with the conditions they are grown in.

lol... I read that as "little no/WASTE" not taste.

Your comment makes much more sense now

 

[McGarnicle]

That's a rot of rettuce.

 

[cstu]

The pot growers certainly make this work on a smaller scale.

One thing to note about hydroponically grown vegetables is they have little/no taste when compared to ones grown in soil.

That may no longer be the case as they experiment with the conditions they are grown in.

Don't worry, Monsanto is on top of it.