Vertical Farming
February 8th, 2010
Paignton Zoo’s new vertical farming system featured on BBC breakfast time earlier today. The zoo hopes to save £20,000.00 per year on growing salad crops for the animals and claims to have saved £9000.00 pounds last year on lettuce alone.
The system uses hydroponics but unlike more conventional hydroponics systems which are on one level, the vertical farming system has trays on multiple levels.
It is claimed that 10 – 20 times more crops can be produced than conventional farming could produce for the same area.
Another feature of the system is that the racks rotate. This helps to ensure that the plants get an equal amount of light, it also creates air movement. The plants are fed at a feeding station and it is easier to harvest the crop
Vertical Farming systems are being pioneered by Valcent Products (EU) Ltd from their base in Launceston Cornwall.
Video of the Verticrop launch at Paignton Zoo
For more information on the system visit:-
http://www.valcent.eu
Posted in Hydroponics