Official archeology tells us that the history of humanity begins with agriculture. This is when our ancestors began storing extra supplies of food, which allowed them to settle down and build the first advanced societies. Today, as the world's population increases and fresh water becomes scarce, we need to rethink our agricultural techniques. A promising solution on the horizon is the concept of floating farms: oceanic structures which, thanks to desalination and solar energy, could well be the answer to growing the fruits and vegetables needed in today's world.
In this article, you will discover:
What is a floating farm?
A floating farm is essentially a structure designed to house all the key elements needed to grow food on the surface of the sea. These modern floating farms typically include the following:
- A main platform which serves as the foundation for all other elements. It can be anchored to the seabed or affixed to a fixed support, such as offshore wind installations.
- A culture centrewhich can be soil or hydroponic solutions.
- A desalination systemfrequently employing passive desalination methods, such as a solar evaporator to condense seawater vapor used in irrigation.
- A electricity generation systemgenerally using photovoltaic panels.
- Irrigation systems and various sensors for process automation.
Although not without challenges, such as susceptibility to corrosion and wave impact, floating trusses offer many advantages. Among the most significant are their fresh water independence for human consumption, suitability for settlement in coastal desert regions and dependence on renewable energy sources. Additionally, they contribute to local food production with a reduced carbon footprint.
From Australia to Japan: two visions of floating farms
Cultivate algaewhether for food or biofuel, is already a well-established practice. However, floating farms innovate by aiming to grow traditional land-based vegetables on the water surface. The idea of using aquatic spaces is also gaining momentum in the field of floating solar panels. This article will look at the inventive visions of diverse research teams and entrepreneurial minds around the world as they strive to grow crops on water.
University of Australia Vertical Marine Farms
One of the newest ideas in this area, with a fully operational prototype, comes from Australia. This ingenious system includes two sections: an upper part resembling a greenhouse and a lower part designed to collect fresh water. Thanks to a passive solar desalination Technically, the system condenses fresh water, which is then transported to the upper chamber using mats, where the plants and growing medium are positioned. So far, researchers from the University of Australia, in partnership with Hubei University of Technology in China, have successfully tested this floating farm. growing lettuce, broccoli and bok choy.
According to the creators of this platform, it is an easy-to-maintain system, powered exclusively by solar energy, and should have a relatively modest price. Currently, they are actively working to increase the productivity of this floating farm by integrating inexpensive substrate materials such as rice waste or straw.
Green Ocean: Japan’s ambitious project
If there is one country that has struggled with the challenge of lack of arable land, it is Japan. It is therefore not surprising that one of the most advanced initiatives comes from this Asian country. Incubated by an agritech startup, the project consists of using colossal floating platforms designed to grow vegetables using hydroponic methods and harnessing renewable energy, all built with materials designed to resist seawater corrosion.
Known as Green Ocean, this system resembles a greenhouse, with solar panels on its V-shaped roof designed to collect rainwater. Departing from the desalination approach seen in previous examples, the creators of this “offshore farming” platform acquire irrigation water by mixing acidic rainwater with alkaline seawater in the required proportions.
In the final stages, different types of crops are combined to absorb nutrients from the air and water. According to the developers, their first tests, spanning eighteen months, yielded positive results in the culture Kaiware Daikon radishes, lettuce and tomatoes.
Water crops: a model rooted in history
While the proposals we've discussed are undoubtedly sophisticated, floating farms are far from a brand-new concept. Faced with the challenges of climate change, farmers in the delta regions of southeastern Bangladesh are resurrecting an ancestral technique passed down from generation to generation. In their case, they turned to floating rafts to grow various fruits and vegetables, including cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkins and even papayas. What is particularly notable is that these rafts are made from woven branches of invasive plants, demonstrating a sustainable approach.
This practice was adopted two centuries ago to cope with the long rainy season, which traditionally lasts around five months. However, with rising sea levels and increased flooding due to climate change, submerged growing areas can remain underwater for up to ten months. In this region, more than 6,000 farmers have opted for water-based farming, covering an area equivalent to 157 hectares.
Whether it's floating farms or exploring other alternatives, like synthetic proteins For astronauts, the coming decades will require us to find imaginative and, above all, sustainable solutions to feed a growing population with limited resources. facing climate change.
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