PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The world’s population is forecast to increase by 2 billion by 2050, with food supply increasing by 70%. However, the space needed is not available, since around 80% of the Earth’s surface is already being used. Moreover, the need for freshwater will increase proportionally. Given that 36% of freshwater is used for horticulture, it is vital to find ways to reduce this share. Increased food production has other environmental impacts, such as the greater use of pesticide and herbicides and increased GHG emissions associated with transport. The development of solutions for increasing resource efficiency within the food value chain is therefore vital.
Vertical farming has emerged as an alternative horticultural system, which reduces land surface use by 200%, increases crop yields and reduces resource use in comparison to standard systems (e.g. open fields and greenhouses). However, current vertical farming systems have encountered key entry barriers (e.g., location, costs and logistics), which have prevented it from penetrating the EU horticultural market.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of LIFE FARMITANK is to implement a disruptive vertical farming business model and to demonstrate its environmental and socioeconomic benefits.
Specifically, the project aims to:
- Increase crop yield by 26% by implementing a double transplant system;
- Reduce energy consumption by 17%, mainly thanks to the technology applied and the use of LED light reflectors;
- Increase efficiency of land use by 160%;
- Lower investment costs by 11% and corresponding risks – using a dismountable tank accelerates the process of setting up a horticultural system by avoiding the need for construction permits and making its location and decommissioning much more flexible;
- Reduce labour costs by 6% by implementing more ergonomic and automated processes and technology (e.g. automatic cultivation system); and
- Allow vertical farming systems to be operated by vulnerable social groups, thanks to the use of more ergonomic and automated processes and technology.
The project is in line with the Roadmap for a Resource Efficient Europe since it will implement a new innovative vertical farming model that will reduce the use of resources.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- 17.5 tonnes of green leaf crops produced using 300 m2 of arable area, an increase of 3.5 tonnes on traditional methods for the same area;
- 60,000 kWh of electricity saved, mainly thanks to the double transplant system and the light reflectors;
- 17 tonnes of CO2 eq. saved through lower electricity consumption (assuming 276 g CO2 eq./kWh in Spain);
- Electricity cost saving of €4 800, assuming €0.08/kWh in Spain;
- 82 m2 of land unused to obtain the same production using traditional methods on 300 m2.
- €60 000 saved in investment costs to obtain 300 m2 of arable surface;
- €1 700 in labour costs saved, assuming €8.5/hr in Spain;
- Jobs created for vulnerable social groups (e.g. the disabled) – a disabled person will be hired to carry out prototype operation tasks during the task to show its viability;
- 20% reduction in biowaste thanks to an improvement in horticultural crop growing conditions, a saving of 3.5 tonnes;
- 95% reduction in freshwater consumption per kg of horticulture crop produced – i.e. water consumption of 250 m3 per kilogram instead of 5 000 m3/kg;
- Eliminated use of pesticides and herbicides, thus the avoidance of 11.25 tonnes of pesticides and 1 tonne of herbicides during the project; and
- 10-20% reduction in the growing cycle time for the horticultural crops – i.e. 42 days compared to 50 days for lettuce.
