Micro-farm anyone?
Opinion
I’m not aware of anybody using Atlantic salmon in such facilities, but coho salmon has been produced at farms in British Columbia that also grow plants, vegetables and edible flowers in a so-called Integrated, Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) setting. On Canada’s east coast, experiments are being carried out in a larger scale with kelp and mussels being produced adjacent to large ocean cages full of Atlantic salmon.
In the Fraser Valley, east of Vancouver, a company has developed a concept of supplying a modular production system aimed at growing lettuce, vegetables and other plants using nutrients from tanks full of fish. Last week, a similar initiative in South Africa was described by ABNNewswire:
Mobile Organic Farm can provide healthy food in any climate or locale
Its the solution to food security and also a space-saver, taking up only 200 square meters and you can have one in your neighborhood. Dr. Frans Swanepoel has created a unique way to provide healthy, organic food to people who need it, regardless of where they live. Its his Micro Mobile Urban Organic Farm, a 200 square-meter sustainable greenhouse made of unique plastic panels and metal supports. The greenhouse uses multi-layered horizontal shelves to make the best use of space and can hold more than 5,000 plants. Fish farm tanks produce three tons of fish per year and the chicken coop holds 850 chickens.
A hydroponic tubular system provides irrigation and the system re-uses up to 80 percent of the water. A high-tech computer system monitors the greenhouse, which operates year-round in any kind of weather or terrain and not season bound.
In addition, the panels and framework can be shipped anywhere in the world and quickly assembled. Its the ideal solution for food problems in many areas of the world. “Poor quality of food can lead to disease and other health problems”, says Dr. Swanepoel, the founder and CEO of Grow Organic Plus, which has developed the Micro Mobile Urban Organic Farm. This system takes up very little space and can be set up quickly and easily at scenes of natural disasters or in terrain not suitable for farming. Plus the food is totally organic, with no chemicals, pesticides or hormones.
“We now have a perfect working model”, Dr. Swanepoel says.” Its time to get our product out into the market. People are suffering because they don’t have access to healthy food, he says. This could dramatically increase the quality of nutrition in an impoverished country. Not only that, but the Micro Mobile Urban Organic Farm can provide jobs and business opportunities”.
