Farming for Sustainability
How Fruits and Vegetables may be Grown in the Future.
Agriculture hasn’t changed much since World War II. Large fields, large machines, and back-breaking work. But a new awareness and importance of greenhouse gases, water conservation, and food safety and stability call for a serious re-evaluation.
Approach #1
Image Credit: Iron Ox
One viable idea is to move crops indoors and tend them with robots under the watchful eyes of smart cameras. This has been shown to grow more, better, healthier and safer food. That’s what’s happening at Lockhart, Texas start-up Iron Ox.
Today, 40% of the food grown worldwide is thrown away before it even gets to market! Iron Ox is committed to bringing precision to the entire process of farming in order to eliminate this waste, and building a system that works towards a carbon-negative future.
Their philosophy is that the best food is grown locally and recently. Their growing facilities use advanced robotics to cultivate perfect, nutritious produce by giving each plant the specific attention it needs, and then getting it on a store shelf nearby within about a day of harvest.
More importantly, they understand that addressing agriculture’s impact on climate is an immediate need. Precision food production, at scale, is urgently needed to address the impacts of our food system. Fertilizer requires a lot of energy to produce and emits a lot of greenhouse gasses. The total greenhouse gas emissions of world agriculture are comparable to world transportation. To reduce greenhouse gasses, look at the agriculture sector.
Image Credit: Iron Oxm
Renewable food
The result of all this is what Iron Ox refers to as "renewable food." Crops deliver consistent quality and yield, but in addition, residual irrigation water is reused, as are any unconsumed nutrients in it. And more growing centers would result in much shorter transportation distances to market as well as better ties to regional demand to reduce crop waste.
For more information about Iron Ox, visit: www.ironox.com
Approach #2
A second concept growing in popularity, especially in urban areas, is micro farming – small-scale agricultural operations that use much less land than the average commercial or family farm.
No matter the scale, farming is a business, and turning a small plot of land into a sustainable one requires more than an interest in gardening. Successful micro farmers consider their land an investment, and they utilize the latest farming technology to expand productivity and profits. Farming technology continues to develop swiftly, and keeping up with the newest methods and tools is critical to thriving in a competitive market.
Micro farms have the potential to produce a tremendous amount of food per acre, and can also produce big profits. For example, the average corn or soybean farm brings in $400-$600 per acre, but a new wave of micro farmers are thinking more like $100K per acre!
Profitable growers choose short season crops like baby spinach and arugula that can be re-sown several times throughout the season in the same plot of land. A regular crop of spinach can take six weeks to reach maturity, while baby spinach leaves could be harvested in just three to four weeks. By planning succession plantings of baby spinach, micro farmers can maximize their small plots for several rounds of spinach throughout the growing season.
Micro farmers should also keep track of and tailor their crops to their local market’s appetite, in addition to seasonal favorites that can command higher prices.
Farming & Technology
Micro farming has a relatively low cost of entry due mostly to small plots of land. And smaller plots can be managed largely by hand or with smaller tools instead of requiring major machinery investments. While labor intensive, the limited overhead helps increase the profit margin for micro farmers. Cutting-edge advances also provide opportunities for micro farmers to increase profitability.
Aquaponics: One way to maximize output in a small space is to raise fish and leafy greens together in an aquaponics system. Nitrogen-rich wastewater from a fishpond irrigates and fertilizes lettuces, micro greens and herbs like cilantro and basil, which in turn filter the water for a vibrant fish ecosystem.
Irrigation: Knowing when and how much to water is crucial for healthy crops. There are several easy apps that help micro farmers track soil moisture and water usage.
LED Lighting: LEDs save energy with low wattage bulbs that create bright light. New advancements in LEDs provide light across the color spectrum so farmers can “feed” their indoor plants to help them grow.
Solar Panels: Crops may require significant temperature control for either warmth or refrigeration. Investing in solar power can reduce energy costs in the long run.
Vertical Growing: Hydroponics and aeroponics, or growing crops with little to no soil, are well suited for vertical growing, and are rapidly changing the face of farming.
Urban Farming Challenges
There are additional challenges to urban farming. It requires micro farmers to be good neighbors. Understanding zoning limitations in a city plot is necessary to avoid running afoul of local regulations. Organic urban farmers will also need to test their soil for contaminants, as city lots are more prone to pollution. It’s also a good idea to research any municipal pesticide programs and/or winter road salts to make sure these applications don’t contaminate your growing areas.
Micro farming may look like a hobby to the casual observer, but the farmers who make a success of working with a small plot of land understand that farming is, above all, a business. To make a micro farm profitable, it’s crucial to know modern agribusiness as well as the specifics about farming in urban areas.
Approach #3
If you would ever consider micro farming, know that it’s possible to do it successfully on almost any scale. The CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model can make the start-up cost very low and allow you to ramp up pretty quickly. Even better if you can get paid in advance from your first market garden customers. This gives you cash flow right away, and lets you start market gardening with very little out-of-pocket expenses.
The size of your enterprise may change, but the principles remain the same:
Sustainable Production – follow cultural practices that will maintain or preferably improve your plot of land.
Integrated Production – apply brains before brawn (or money) and figure out the inter-relationships that benefit your garden and, of course, yourself.
Organic Production – since we presume you will be living and working in close proximity to your micro-farm, it's best to never introduce harmful chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides to your environment.
Feed Yourself First – start with learning to feed yourself, where your mistakes will be less critical. Don't grow things you don't like or wouldn't eat. That way, if it doesn't sell, at least you won’t be hungry.
Because this CSA approach is the very epitome of local, you’ll be benefiting our planet by cutting down on greenhouse gasses, transportation, and resource use. It will provide a community bonding vehicle. And if managed correctly, a new income stream. It’s a win in so many ways!
In any event, eat well, stay well, and maybe, just maybe, go grow something!