Tag: agricultural research
Is Expecting Food Security and RoI from Vertical Farming a Tall Order?
The vertical farming industry is being put to the test as it attempts to resolve challenges of food production with climate change while coping with investor's return-on-investment expectations and market fluctuations.
A Retired Teacher Seeds Organic Farming in India
Watching the graying man work for hours in the rice fields, you would never guess he is actually retired and has been for many years. Since 1998, retired teacher Natabar Sarangi has spent his days collecting native seeds across India. So far, he has collected over 350 seed varieties...
FarmBot Reduces Complexities For Microfarming Growth
Seeking to influence the next generation of food production, FarmBot, the world’s first open-source, CNC small-scale farming machine, gives individuals the power to create and manage a garden using a laptop, tablet, or phone.
“FarmBot is helping consumers produce and grow their own food,” said founder Rory Aronson. “It is...
This Swedish Underground Farm Will Heat The Building Above It
Underneath a 26-floor office tower in Stockholm, an underground space will soon become a farm and, because of a unique business model, the new farm will "pay" for the space in heat.
The Plantagon CityFarm will grow greens in vertical towers under LED lights. By capturing the heat from the...
‘Closed Loop’ Urban Farm In Singapore Tackles Food Waste With Insects
Citizen Farm has been using the black soldier fly to help grow its vegetables, as food for its fish and to help tackle food waste - the first in Singapore to incorporate these insects as part of farming practice.
The "closed loop" farm runs on a circular economy approach, by...
The Variety of Our Food Crops is Declining
Potatoes are native to the Andes, and over 4,000 varieties are grown there now. They come in numerous shapes, sizes and colors – red, yellow, purple, striped and spotted.
This wide array of types is an example of agrobiodiversity – a genetic legacy created by natural selection interacting with cultural...
From Railway Engineer to Organic Farmer
In the eastern Indian state of Odisha, a small bunch of engineers have created a new company to promote organic agriculture called Organic Soch.
Railway engineer Atul Choudhury learnt about all the problems of inorganic agriculture, farmer indebtedness, diseases among farming communities. He decided that organic farming was the only...
The Man Who Saved The Lives of 4 Million Farmers
"In our country people think farmers are from another planet; the way farmers are discussed, as if farmers are not like other human beings," says 65-year-old Subhas Palekar.
"For example," says Palekar, "Prices increase for everything and everyone accepts price rise for everything from toys to petrol, but somehow the...
Michigan Ornamental Growers Are Adding Greenhouse Vegetables
Looking to take advantage of the increased demand for locally-grown and a better quality product, ornamental plant growers in Michigan are adding a variety of greenhouse vegetable crops.
Michigan State University Extension greenhouse and floriculture outreach specialist W. Garrett Owen said he works with ornamental growers who produce bedding plants,...