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Growth Environment: Architect’s Role in Modernizing Farming Practices and Smart Agriculture
CategoriesArchitecture

Growth Environment: Architect’s Role in Modernizing Farming Practices and Smart Agriculture

By Zarkon Group,

The judging process for Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards is now away. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive updates about Public Voting, and stay tuned for winners announcements later this spring.   

In the realm of agrarian economies, a crucial revolution is unfolding, connecting food education, production and transformative agricultural practices. Tackling hunger and malnutrition demands strategic investments in development and research, paving the way for advanced technologies to reach farmers and enlighten the wider public. Concurrently, global challenges like climate change, population growth, conflicts and resource depletion accentuate threats to food security, underscoring the need for urgent innovation and adaptation.

Within this landscape, smart agriculture technology is emerging in visionary projects. This transformative approach integrates advanced technologies into agricultural landscapes, inspiring architects to craft living laboratories rooted in precision farming. Moving beyond physical infrastructure, architects are envisioning collaborative spaces that foster research and education.

As the principles of circularity and sustainability take root in the industry, the harmonious relationship between food production and the environment is coming into sharp focus. Embarking on this journey, the convergence of innovative technologies, circular practices and community engagement is the key to a more resilient, sustainable and interconnected future.

Architectural Transformations: RIO ECO2 Venture and Smart Agriculture

Rio Eco2 Venture

RIO ECO2 Venture by KRAUSE Architecture/Interior, Phoenix, Arizona | Concept.

Smart agriculture technology in architectural design undergoes a concrete manifestation in projects like the RIO ECO2 Venture. This transformative approach integrates advanced technologies into the landscape of agricultural spaces. Architects draw inspiration from such endeavors, conceptualizing structures that embrace precision farming, serving as living laboratories. By incorporating sensors and IoT devices, these structures facilitate data-driven decision-making concerning soil conditions, crop health and climate factors.

In the spirit of the RIO ECO2 Venture, vertical farming facilities emerge as intricately designed hubs with controlled environments, utilizing automation and robotics for tasks like planting and harvesting. The visionary designs prioritize energy-efficient greenhouses, integrating renewable energy sources and smart irrigation systems, exemplifying a commitment to optimizing resource usage.

Rio Eco Venture

RIO ECO2 Venture by KRAUSE Architecture/Interior, Phoenix, Arizona | Concept

Architects extend their vision beyond physical infrastructure to create collaborative spaces that inspire research and education. This synthesis of architectural ingenuity and smart agriculture technologies, mirrored in projects like RIO ECO2 Venture, gives rise to environments that harmonize innovative farming practices with sustainable architectural design, fostering efficiency, productivity and environmental consciousness.

ECO2, a visionary 213-acre self-sustaining development, tackles the challenges of rising temperatures and water scarcity through sustainable food technology, serving as a beacon of innovation and underlining the critical importance of food and water security. Beyond its role as an educational center and community strengthener with a holistic Net Positive approach, ECO2 stands as a model for Arizona’s future, adeptly embracing technology, repurposing land for sustainability, and seamlessly integrating urbanity with agriculture.

Rio Eco2 Venture

RIO ECO2 Venture by KRAUSE Architecture/Interior, Phoenix, Arizona | Concept

The community-driven GrowHaus 2.0 within ECO2 is a testament to this foresight, fostering distribution, production and education while addressing climate change and enhancing food access. As ECO2’s comprehensive plan champions the coexistence of agriculture and development, emphasizing sustainability, water reuse, and acknowledging the impact of increasing heat, it harmoniously integrates smart agriculture technologies. ECO2 stands at the forefront, symbolizing the convergence of innovation and circular food supply chains, pursuing a more resilient, sustainable and interconnected food system.

Agrotopia: Pioneering Circular Food Systems and Sustainable Architecture

Designing modern agricultural facilities with a focus on circular food supply chains is a visionary pursuit that harmonizes sustainable principles with innovative technologies. Architects and planners create closed-loop systems in these facilities, turning waste into valuable resources to prioritize resource efficiency. These designs prioritize community-supported agriculture and regional resilience, embracing local sourcing and distribution networks. The integration of precision agriculture technologies ensures optimal resource utilization, minimizing waste and environmental impact. In the quest for sustainability, the incorporation of urban farming and vertical agriculture maximizes land efficiency and shortens supply chains.

These facilities are conceived as modular, adaptable spaces constructed with sustainable materials and powered by renewable energy sources. Water recycling systems and efficient irrigation practices are seamlessly woven into the designs, while smart packaging solutions aim to reduce excess waste. Engaging communities through educational spaces within the facility fosters awareness and understanding of the circular food supply chain model.

As the principles of circularity and sustainability take root in the conceptualization of modern agricultural facilities, tangible exemplars like Agrotopia, Europe’s largest rooftop greenhouse, showcase the transformative marriage of visionary design and sustainable urban agriculture.

 

Agrotopia is a cutting-edge research center for urban food production, situated on the roof of the REO vegetable and fruit auction in Roeselare, Belgium. The innovative 102,257 square foot (9,500 square meters) building features striking faceted glass façades, a monumental entrance staircase and multifunctional spaces, exemplifying the future of sustainable urban agriculture.
With a focus on intensive space utilization, circular energy and water use, Agrotopia serves as a transparent sculpture of glass and steel, standing out against the city skyline. The building houses high-tech research facilities for cultivating fruits and vegetables, with an educational route for the public. The building’s unique design includes a double-height façade conservatory for innovative vertical cultivation, utilizing rainwater from the roof for irrigation.

Agrotopia embraces circular practices, utilizing rainwater for irrigation, cleaning and reusing residual water, and incorporating municipal residual heat from a nearby waste incinerator. The greenhouse is a model of circular symbiosis with the city, representing the forefront of sustainable urban food production and architecture.

Innovation in Design: Architectural Solutions for Smart Agriculture’s Impact on Food Production

The harmonious integration of smart agriculture into architectural design, exemplified by projects like RIO ECO2 Venture, is a testament to the synergy between technological advancement and environmental consciousness. Beyond physical structures, visionary designs such as RIO ECO2 Venture are catalysts for collaboration, research and education, engendering efficiency and heightened environmental awareness.

In the realm of circular food supply chains, exemplified by Agrotopia, the marriage of visionary design and sustainable urban agriculture takes center stage. Agrotopia’s circular practices and space efficiency position it as a leading model in sustainable urban food production.

This symphony of innovation and circularity concludes with a resonant echo, championing resilience, sustainability and interconnectedness. The aspiration is to achieve a harmonious equilibrium between food production and the environment, recognizing the crucial need to transform agriculture for sustained productivity and address issues of hunger and malnutrition. Investing in development and research plays a pivotal role in making new technologies accessible to farmers, contributing to a broader goal of educating the wider public and ensuring a more sustainable and equitable future.

The judging process for Architizer’s 12th Annual A+Awards is now away. Subscribe to our Awards Newsletter to receive updates about Public Voting, and stay tuned for winners announcements later this spring.   

Reference

Enhancing seeds for desert farming in a changing climate
CategoriesSustainable News

Enhancing seeds for desert farming in a changing climate

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: The UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s latest report calls global drought resilience “a necessity.” Given that in the three years between 2016 and 2018, 70 per cent of cereal crops in the Mediterranean were damaged, and droughts continue to grow in severity and length, the outlook is challenging for the world’s agriculture systems.

Rising sea levels are affecting the quality of the water that is available to farmers, which, when combined with the stress of high heat, severely impacts crop yields. Heat and salty soil are two of the main stressors for a variety of plants, many of which are crucial parts of the global diet. Seeking ways to increase growing resilience without using toxins and chemical treatments, agritech startup SaliCrop has created a method that uses a seed’s natural response to stressors to make it possible to grow crops in arid, salty soil.

The company uses a combination of organic and physiological compounds to mimic environmental stressors. That then boosts a seed’s natural biochemical reactions and strengthens the plant’s ability to survive in more arid conditions. The treatments also increase the size of the fruits and vegetables grown and improve the plants’ resilience to pests.

SaliCrop is working with commercial growers of alfalfa, onion, and tomatoes, and their crop yields have increased between 16 and 40 per cent. In Europe, Africa, and India, the company is completing field trials with crops that include rice, wheat, corn, peppers, and broccoli and is seeing yields increase by between 7 and 15 per cent. Those results are particularly important in light of various climate projections that predict decreases in wheat yields of up to six per cent due to increased severity of weather events and overall conditions.

Improving the health of degraded soil is an essential aspect of reducing the carbon emissions from agriculture. Innovations in Springwise’s library helping make that change include using sound to enhance soil microbe growth and using microalgae to make desert soil arable.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

Market incentives for regenerative farming in Brazil
CategoriesSustainable News

Market incentives for regenerative farming in Brazil

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Regenerative agriculture is a farming method that improves soil, biodiversity, and crop quality, and is an important tool for sequestering carbon and protecting land. However, in Brazil, sustainable farming and forestry face practical barriers such as a lack of technical guidance, tools, and financing, which makes it very difficult to adopt regenerative practices.

Belterra, which was founded by a former Brazilian government official, is working to help smallholders in Brazil incorporate regenerative processes. It begins by analysing the most profitable combination of crops for a specific area, taking into account terrain, species interaction, and commercial interests.

Short and long-cycle crops are combined to form a food production system that benefits the land while also providing income from the first year of planting. Belterra’s team will also prepare the soil, supply materials and tools, and help carry out the planting. The company further connects farmers with commercial partners to create new markets and customers for their crops.

Belterra was selected as a 2023 Earthshot Prize finalist as a solution to ‘Protect and Restore Nature’.

Regenerative agriculture is becoming more common as farmers seek to improve yields without damaging the land. Other techniques Springwise has spotted recently include using bacteria to remove soil contaminants and solar-powered trackers that help ranchers manage their herds more sustainably.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

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Illuminating agriculture: UV light revolutionises rice farming
CategoriesSustainable News

Illuminating agriculture: UV light revolutionises rice farming

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Rice is an essential crop for nearly half of the world’s population. Traditional rice cultivation involves planting seedlings in flooded fields, which presents many environmental challenges, such as methane emissions and water scarcity. Direct Dry Seeded Rice (DDSR) is a more sustainable practice where rice seeds are implanted directly into the soil rather than being grown as seedlings and transferred to flooded fields. But it comes with challenges such as increased weed management and reduced crop performance. But now, startup BioLumic believes that ultraviolet (UV) light could make DDSR more viable.

BioLumic’s UV Light Signal Recipe platform uses targeted light spectrum exposure to regulate the genetic expression in seeds and young plants without needing genetic modification, chemical inputs, or time-intensive breeding. BioLumic’s approach optimises rice seeds for DDSR production by activating preferred plant traits, including uniform and early seedling growth, weed competitiveness, and drought tolerance. The company’s methods are scalable, quick to implement, and do not require expensive facility expansion or large input costs. 

Other crops that have undergone BioLumic’s light treatments have already shown improved quality, resilience, and greater root growth. And during trials conducted in the US, yields were also increased by 15 per cent for corn and 12 per cent for soybeans. The hope is that similar results can be achieved for rice – a staple for more than 3 billion people.

BioLumic is focusing its attention on the Indo-Gangetic region in India and recently received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help the company rapidly deploy its UV treatment technology, in a project that will run from this year until mid-2026. 

UV light has been proven to be an effective tool in maintaining and cultivating plants. Springwise has spotted many innovations using UV to their advantage like robots and UV light that protect strawberries and grapevines, as well as a system that uses crop waste and UV light to generate renewable energy.

Written By: Anam Alam

Reference

Reconsidering farming with regenerative agriculture in the UK
CategoriesSustainable News

Reconsidering farming with regenerative agriculture in the UK

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Agriculture finds itself at a crucial intersection. It is one of the most vulnerable sectors to the impacts of climate change and yet it is one of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Figures vary depending on the scope of the study, but in 2019, for example, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that the global food system was responsible for up to 37 per cent of GHGs. The world has a growing population to feed, and yet intensive farming degrades the quality of topsoil, which is where nutrients, water and carbon are stored.

There is a solution already being implemented. Well-integrated and diverse agroecological systems can promote greater carbon sequestration because the methods used actually increase soil health. They also bolster resilience in terms of livelihoods and natural ecosystems thanks to a more interconnected approach between plants, animals, humans, and the environment. This regenerative style of farming does away with the over-use of heavy machinery, eliminates the introduction of chemicals entirely, and considers more diverse ways of both generating revenue and contributing to the health of the surrounding landscape.

For example, George Young aka Farming George, the owner of a zero-tillage, zero-insecticide, arable and livestock farm in Fobbing in South East England, plants a wide range of crops that are harvested at different times. He has also introduced ‘leys’ – temporary grasslands – made up of diverse perennial species. Cattle graze these leys, converting plant carbon to dung, which in turn has a positive impact on soil fertility. Under 30 miles from London and barely 2 miles from the London Gateway commercial port, Fobbing Farm is home to traditional crops as well as approximately 7,000 trees, including fruit and nut trees, birch for sap, willow for tree mulch, and other woodland for felling.

Regenerative farming practices are key to ensuring future food production is sustainable. In the archive, Springwise has also spotted one company providing financial support to regenerative farmers, and another restoring the health of soils with pre and probiotics.

Written By: Angela Everitt

Video credit: RE:TV

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Computer vision, automation, and machine learning boost insect farming
CategoriesSustainable News

Computer vision, automation, and machine learning boost insect farming

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Experts are becoming increasingly concerned about how the world’s growing population will be fed in an equitable and sustainable way. One solution is edible insects – both for human consumption, and as pet food in order to help free up land and resources. Insects require far less space and fewer resources to farm than other proteins like beef or chicken, but producing them en masse has proved challenging so far. Tech company Entocycle is using innovative technology to help. 

The London-based startup uses smart technology to help insect farms work efficiently and sustainably (and manage billions of insects at any one time). Its technology aims to help farms improve accuracy, efficiency, and enable less need for manual involvement, such as by measuring populations in a farm to automate food requirements and controlling the temperature to optimise insect health.

The company focuses on black soldier fly farms, an insect that grows very rapidly – and can survive on food waste. They contain all the nutrients humans need for good health, including more zinc and iron than lean meat, and more calcium than milk.  

Entocycle recently raised $5 million (around €4.7 million) in a recent Series A funding round, which the startup will use to expand the commercial roll-out of its products and services. 

Entocycle is not alone in developing technology to help make insect-growing a viable and sustainable operation. Springwise has also spotted vertical mealworm farms that produce plant and animal feed, and AI-powered insect microfarms.

Written By: Jessica Bradley

Reference

Vo Trong Nghia Architects designs Urban Farming Office for own studio
CategoriesArchitecture

Vo Trong Nghia Architects designs Urban Farming Office for own studio

By Zarkon Group,

Vietnamese studio Vo Trong Nghia Architects has completed Urban Farming Office, its own head office in Ho Chi Minh City, creating a concrete-framed building covered in a “vertical farm” of vegetables, fruits and herbs.

Located on a corner site in the city’s Thu Duc district, the Urban Farming Office was designed to be emblematic of the plant-filled, low-energy architecture for which Vo Trong Nghia Architects is known.

Alongside the office, the practice has also constructed a version of its low-cost housing prototype, S House, designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes and first unveiled in 2012.

exterior image of Urban Farming Office
Urban Farming Office was designed by Vo Trong Nghia Architects

“Under rapid urbanisation, cities in Vietnam have diverged far from their origins as sprawling tropical forests,” explained the practice. “The lack of green causes various social problems such as air pollution, floods and the heat island effect.”

“In this context, new generations in urban areas are losing their connection with nature, [and] increasing droughts, floods and salinisation jeopardise food supplies,” it continued.

The core of the office building is constructed using an exposed concrete frame, while the planters themselves are supported by a shelving-like external structure of thin steel, allowing them to be flexibly rearranged as plants grow or swapped out entirely.

Image of the facade at Urban Farming Office
The building is covered in a vertical farm

Completely covering the building’s glazed southern side, the wall of plants acts to filter sunlight and air, preventing overheating and creating a shaded microclimate for the office interiors.

Inside, workspaces are organised around a central atrium, and full-height sliding glass doors provide access onto balcony areas for moving or harvesting from the planters, with a rooftop garden providing further space for growing plants.

“Together with the roof garden and ground, the system provides up to 190 per cent of green ratio to the site area, which is equivalent to 1.1 tons of harvest,” explained the practice.

“[The vegetation] is irrigated with stored rainwater, while evaporation cools the air,” it continued.

Interior image of Urban Farming Office
The building is the architecture studio’s own office

The concrete structure has been left completely exposed internally, complemented by dark wood furniture and minimalist light fittings to provide a contrast to the bright green of the planted facade.

To allow the office areas to be as open as possible, the lift and stair core has been pushed to the northern corner of the building, where brick walls with small openings for ventilation have been left bare to allow for the possibility of future rear extensions.

Interior image of the concrete office
It has an exposed concrete interior

Architect Vo Trong Nghia founded his eponymous practice in 2006, and it has since become known for its explorations of low-energy architecture, often incorporating plants and bamboo into its designs.

Other projects recently completed by the studio include a bamboo welcome centre for a resort on the island of Phu Quoc, and a home in Bat Trang wrapped by a perforated brick wall and a series of elevated garden spaces.

The photography is by Hiroyuki Oki.

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