Smart Farming - Feeding Large Whilst Taking Less

Since the pandemic pushed us back to our comfort zone - home - and disrupted many things, including the supply chain, something that was urgently needed was the inclusion of technology into the process to speed the entire process. Terms like "self-sustaining urban farming," and so forth have not only gained traction but recognition.

We are also getting to see Urban farming in cities which is done either with the help of the government or by a family at their residence. However, if you are unfamiliar with urban farming and smart agriculture, this one's for you only and we have categorized it into three sections based on which you can be best decided what to explore in the initial stage.

What are urban farming and smart agriculture?

Urban farming and smart agriculture are nothing but growing food products in the busy area of an urban setting - precisely in buildings with the help of technology, a controlled environment and minimum natural resources.

There are different sects to it, with some major differences yet all are aligned towards the same cause - eliminating the conventional agriculture practices to "feed large whilst consuming less".

Three practices that we all can follow are as follows:

• Vertical farming: First and foremost, something that we get the most is vertical farming agriculture which is growing the fresh produce not just locally, in a controlled environment but also vertically stacked in layers on one another to utilize the vertical spaces which could have been otherwise left ignored.
  The practice is gaining traction in the world and a lot of countries both developed and developing are putting their foot forward in embracing this self-sustaining urban farming method due to two of the most common issues - climate change and food insecurity. This is then further divided into hydroponics, aquaponics and aeroponics.
• Hydroponics: It is the cultivation of plants without the use of soil. Flowers, herbs and vegetables are grown hydroponically that are then cultivated in inert growing media and fed nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen and water. This system encourages rapid expansion, higher yields and improved quality. Crops are grown indoors in climate-controlled environments. The use of pesticides is no longer required. Soilless and waterless growth.
• Aeroponics: In aeroponics, plants are grown by suspending their roots in the air and spraying them with nutrient solutions. There is a Tower Garden in aeroponics. A vertical aeroponic tower structure capable of growing up to 20 plants at once, such as fruits, vegetables, spices, or flowers, is known as a tower garden system.
• Aquaponics: Aquaponics is an aquaculture system that feeds hydroponically grown plants with waste from farmed fish or other aquatic creatures, which then purify the water. Aquaponics is a type of aquaculture in which farmed fish or other aquatic species; excrement is used to feed hydroponically grown plants, which then clean the water.

However vertical farming at a large level involves great costs but it can be easily carried out in a family at an abandoned area or farm or say terrace by utilizing vertical spaces effectively.

We know that vertical farming can be a tough term and scary to explore as it requires some investment minimum at an initial stage but if you would like to start simple and easy, you can begin at your home with these two :

• Hydroponic Rooftop farming: You must have grown something at your home for sure. Similarly, growing on the rooftop and utilizing the space is known as rooftop farming and is mostly done hydroponically in a well- designed container.
  Rooftop farming costs are minimal but it definitely depends upon how much space you are involved in. To specify the cost accurately won't be feasible, however, the initial can be starting your garden and as much as you feel like expanding it. To cut short, it's economical, not contaminated and organic.
• Backyard garden/farming: It is just like finding the underutilized space in the backyard of your home and cultivating it for fresh, green and delicious produce.

We gave you an overview of what this is all about, and we understand that the information may not be complete because there are so many terms associated with smart farming and urban agriculture, but we did provide you with information that is feasible, cost-effective, and easy to implement at home or in a building.