[titoon29]

Originally Posted by OGEvilgenius

I don't disagree that indoor (under artificial light) farming is almost universally inefficient. Was more a comment on our energy problems and solutions. I did not confirm your calculations but they don't seem off to me.

Hey OGEvilgenius, no problem man, actually thanks a lot for giving me the idea to translate that into hemp biofuel calculations, i needed an update on my knowledge on that one !

Sorry if I came a little harsh, I tend to sometimes go straight to the point and forget to be diplomatic, also english not being my first language nor culture does not help out sometimes ! I should have thank you before for the hemp biofuel idea

[Ftscustm]

Originally Posted by titoon29

Hey OGEvilgenius, no problem man, actually thanks a lot for giving me the idea to translate that into hemp biofuel calculations, i needed an update on my knowledge on that one !

Sorry if I came a little harsh, I tend to sometimes go straight to the point and forget to be diplomatic, also english not being my first language nor culture does not help out sometimes ! I should have thank you before for the hemp biofuel idea

I like the way this thread is developing...Now a new challenger for the mind reading, multi lingual penguin, who gives away ancient wisdom like its for free

[Easy-A]

I think indoor farming could be a viable option in northern climates during winter when everything has to be shipped in. Then it starts to make sense.

[PauliBhoy]

Let's start by defining "productivity" in plant production systems.
The article in the OP defines it as production per unit of area. This is not productivity, it is yield.
Productivity is the ratio of outputs to inputs.

The article proclaims the system produces "100 times more per square foot than traditional methods) with 40% less power, 80% less food waste and 99% less water usage than outdoor fields"

I'd love to know how they came up with these figures! Outdoor cultivation uses very little energy compared with indoor cultivation since it relies on the sun rather than lights. A recent study found that "hydroponics offered 11 ± 1.7 times higher yields but required 82 ± 11 times more energy compared to conventionally produced lettuce."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4483736/

Thus, productivity of outdoor lettuce is approximately 7.5 times more energy efficient than indoor hydroponics.

While the same study also found that outdoor lettuce used around 12 times more water, water procurement is not particularly energy intensive compared with light production. Pumping 1 cubic meter of water uses around 0.003 kWh to provide 1 cubic meter of water. Desalination uses 2-10 kWh per cubic meter of fresh water produced. Therefore, the additional 220 L/kg/year of water needed to produce lettuce outdoors requires no more than 2.2 kWh/y (using the least efficient form of desalination). This amount is insignificant; the indoor hydroponic lettuce is still over 7 times less productive per unit of input.

Last but not least, the study is somewhat deceptive, as it compares indoor hydroponics with outdoor lettuce cultivation in Yuma county, Arizona, where close to 100% of the crop's water requirements must be supplied via irrigation. Lettuce production on the east coast requires much less water.

To quote the study "At this point in time, hydroponic farming of lettuce cannot be deemed a more sustainable alternative to conventional lettuce farming techniques"

[mojave green]

I'm very anxious to begin my greenhouse hydro growing venture.

[markk]

This is a truly innovative solution and I hope a small version can be made for homes where people can grow their own foods indoors.

[Davesnothere420]

looking good.

[St. Phatty]

Originally Posted by amannamedtruth

Pretty cool. Too bad they don't do organic!

it looks like they were designing with "Space at a premium", like when you design things for airborne applications ... they have to weigh less, and fit more function in less space. I guess 'airborne' is a lot like Tokyo, space is at a premium.

The root mass for some of the advanced hydro systems I've seen - root mass for large plants - seemed to take up less space in a hydro system than in an organic soil system.


If they did go organic, like with 2 inches of soil, I'm sure they could grow some great vegies.

Having hauled soil and rockwool up the stairs to a 6th floor apartment, I'd say the rockwool is definitely lighter !

For hydro one of your main ingredients comes out of the faucet, so you don't have to haul it up the stairs.


Maybe they just need to find a way to make the soil come out of a faucet.

[Drewsif]

Originally Posted by St. Phatty

it looks like they were designing with "Space at a premium", like when you design things for airborne applications ... they have to weigh less, and fit more function in less space. I guess 'airborne' is a lot like Tokyo, space is at a premium.

The root mass for some of the advanced hydro systems I've seen - root mass for large plants - seemed to take up less space in a hydro system than in an organic soil system.


If they did go organic, like with 2 inches of soil, I'm sure they could grow some great vegies.

Having hauled soil and rockwool up the stairs to a 6th floor apartment, I'd say the rockwool is definitely lighter !

For hydro one of your main ingredients comes out of the faucet, so you don't have to haul it up the stairs.


Maybe they just need to find a way to make the soil come out of a faucet.

This is what I tell any hydro grower: Id rather carry bags of shit into the grow room than carry bags of shit out of the grow room.

[trichrider]

i think during the next ice age this might be practical since everything will be indoors or underground.

crystal (piezoelectric) power from the intense weight of the glaciers would provide power along with geothermal and limited collection of infrared from an overcast sky.

time will tell...