As the population of urban areas continues to increase, the ability to ensure a fresh supply of fruits and vegetables will continue to be a challenge. In response, a food technology company called Plantagon has unveiled designs for what they’re calling plantscrapers.
The structures combine the design of a high-rise office building with the functionality of hydroponic farming on steroids. The first such building is currently being built in Linköping, Sweden. The $40 million, 16-story structure is set to open by 2020 and could produce 550 tons of vegetables annually – enough to feed more than 5,000 people.
Dubbed The World Food Building, plants will be grown in a nutrient-rich, water-based solution. To help keep costs down, leading-edge automation will be used to maintain the plants and harvest produce. Plants will be exposed to a combination of natural sunlight and LEDs via a spiraled conveyor belt that moves the plants vertically as they grow. The front of the tower will house the farm, with office space provided in the back.
In addition to providing a steady supply of fruits and vegetables, early estimates have a plantscraper capable of generating more food than traditional farming with the land of the same size. It’s also projected to require 13 million fewer gallons of water while eliminating the CO2 emissions created by farming equipment. The company did not provide information on estimated electrical usage rates or the associated costs.
Plantagon is currently in talks to develop plantscrapers in Singapore, the United States, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.