Groei verticale professionele service – Fieldlab Vertical Farming

Waarom Vertical Farming

Ever increasing population particularly in urban centers (According to the United Nations Population Division (2009), the world population will increase from about 6.9 billion in 2010 to 9.2 billion in 2050 or an addition of about 2.3 billion more people to feed
The percentage of urban population will likewise increase from 50.46% in 2010 to 68.70% in 2050. It is expected that world population will continue to increase.
Currently, the rate of growth per year is about 80 million (80 million people are added to the world’s population every year).
Almost all of this net population increase -97% – is in developing country
According to, unofficial data Ethiopia population close to 100 million  Ethiopia urban centers are receiving high influx of population due to rural – urban migration
On the other hand there is continues shrinking of land
To this end , food and nutrition insecurity, and poverty are major phenomenon in urban centers which particularly affects the urban poor and unemployed youth
So, urban farming is the best alternative to feed the ever increasing urban population
However, space shortage particularly in congested urban corners restrained urban farming
Congested urban corners mainly occupied by the most poor and destitute population
In this connection, practicing vertical farming is the paramount solution to improve the livelihood situation of the poor and destitute population group
Very much in line with the Ethiopian urban poverty reduction policy and strategy

Advantage of vertical farming

Land maximization: vertical farming maximizes the limited ground spaces which increase the land size so many times. Of course the size of the ground space increment determined by the number of vegetable growing beds constructed above the ground
Environmental benefits: this technology is using disposable plastic bottles to grow vegetables which otherwise would be thrown in to anywhere and spoil and pollute the environment, this in turn contribute to reduce environmental pollution
Beautifies the city and increase urban green space and improves urban physical environment
Increase production: vertical farm used to increase volume of production per unit area of land
Generate in-kind income: urban farmers consume variety of foods from own produces which in turn increase food availability at households level
Generate cash income: create money by turning the surplus produces into cash
Create job opportunity vertical farming can be the best job creation opportunity for urban unemployed youth and provides employment for people with limited skills and formal education
Year-round Production vertical farming technology can ensure vegetable production all year-round (4 rounds and above/year)
Water Conservation: the vertical farming technology uses a combination of drip and hydroponics irrigation system which uses 50 percent lesser water than normal gardening and can retain water
Recycling: urban degradable solid wastes will be used for making compost
Organic vegetable production: The controlled growing conditions will allow a reduction or total abandonment of the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
Health benefits
Vegetable production conducted in Ethiopia in general and Addis Ababa in particular following much polluted rivers which has health hazards both for producers and consumers. So, vertical farming can mitigate this problem Urban farming contributes for outdoor exercise that helps aged people to counteract their physical passivity, while doing routine activities like watering, etc.
Manageability: producing vegetables through vertical farm is easily manageable, and producers don’t have much contact with soil and plant while during management can be practice in every corner of the city including congested urban areas, even on top of buildings, on the wall of buildings, etc. since it needs small space only to fix the vertical farm where vegetables grow
We can produce vegetables even in concert grounds with layers of vertically stacked grow-beds
Not labor intensive: can be run by family labor even by a single person can be practiced by aged people, disabled, women, men, youth, etc. since it needs less labor
Marketability: since vegetables produced on vertical farming are clean and safe and can be preferable for consumption which in turn attract market and generate more profit
Affordability: vertical farm is constructed from locally available materials such as wooden poles, disposable plastic bottles, etc. it request relatively considerable installation cost, however it can be run by minimum cost for the following 3-4 years even more
Sustainable Urban Growth: vertical farming, applied in a holistic approach in conjunction with other technologies, can allow urban areas to absorb the expected influx of more population and yet still remain food sufficient. The technology could provide more employment to the rural populace expected to converge to the cities in the years to come

Why inspire the innovator to focus on vertical farming

He likes vegetable very much, however vegetables that are produced in Addis are not clean and safe because it has been produced following chronically polluted rivers
This situation forced him to seek solutions so as to get fresh, clean and organic vegetables
So, he realize vertical farming is the best solution to mitigate the problem
Again, he thought the technology has not only helping to get fresh, clean and safe vegetables, but also has to contribute towards environment pollutions
Thus, he designed to apply disposable plastic bottles for growing plants

Main components and materials for vertical farm

Water tanker
Water tanker stand
Water line opener
Water filter
Drip line pipes
Drip line fittings and components
Disposable plastic bottles
Wood post and lateral
Canvas or thermal screen
Cement, gravel, soft wire and nails
Bricks (blocket)
Red soil and compost
Plastic bags
Seed & Anti-termite
Etc.

Design of the vertical Farm

Construction cost

Estimated cost per meter square = 3750 birr
The estimated cost includes both fixed and variable cost
The technology has been visited by concerned authorities and experts and has got recognition
And has got supporting and approval letters
Patent is on process