Bergen County resident Dr. Dickson Despommier explains how vertical farming could feed the County
By Joseph Dunsay
http://riverdell.patch.com/articles/vertical-farming-and-its-effect-on-bergen-county
Bergen County is poised for some transformations in the near future. River Edge and Hackensack have plans to rehabilitate their downtowns. An emerging innovation called vertical farming has the potential to turn central Bergen County into a high tech agricultural hub.
Vertical farming is growing crops in multistory greenhouses. Dr. Dickson Despommier, a long time Bergen County resident who teaches at Columbia University, thought of vertical framing a decade ago. He has been a proponent of the idea ever since. His new book, The Vertical Farm, advocates for vertical farming.
The bulk of The Vertical Farm discusses the history and problems of conventional agriculture. Later chapters highlight the advantages of vertical farming and provide a few technical details for aspiring vertical farmers. Appendices direct readers to additional sources, including an extensive compendium of internet sources.
Dr. Despommier sees many drawbacks to conventional agriculture. According to his book, 70% of available freshwater goes to irrigating conventional farms, and agricultural runoff from these farms is a major source of pollution. Conventional farms expose crops to the elements and are located far from consumers. As a result, floods, droughts, plant disease, and spoilage destroy a large portion of American crops.
Vertical farming protects crops by growing them indoors, thereby increasing the harvest per acre. The shielded crops do not require pesticides and herbicides. Recycling water and nutrients in vertical farms conserves both resources. Vertical farms growing non-food plants could treat municipal waste water and then return the treated water to cities for a second use. It is possible to grown plants in vertical farms year round. Vertical farms can be built near population centers for lower transportation costs and fresher produce.
A vertical farm in downtown Hackensack or River Edge could bring many benefits. In an interview for this article, Dr. Despommier envisioned building 2 or 3 stories of vertical farms on top of existing Hackensack buildings. He said it would also be possible to grow crops in currently abandoned industrial and commercial buildings with new energy efficient grow lamps that emit light at select wavelengths.
Dr. Despommier described how vertical farms growing nonfood plants could treat sewage, solving Hackensack's wastewater management problems. The water would be recycled while the sludge could provide electricity. Growing crops in vertical farms would allow local farmland to revert to forests within a couple of decades, resulting in better water quality. Jobs for the disadvantaged and convenient access to fresh produce are other benefits that Dr. Despommier cited.
Towns would have to change current municipal ordinances for vertical farming to succeed. Dr. Despommier said that current city ordinances discourage urban framing when they should be encouraging it. He believes that entrepreneurial vertical farmers will open vertical farms once these changes happen.
About this column: Local environmentalists Wendy Rosenoff and Joseph Dunsay explore how residents can and do live an environmentally friendly life.Vertical farming is growing crops in multistory greenhouses. Dr. Dickson Despommier, a long time Bergen County resident who teaches at Columbia University, thought of vertical framing a decade ago. He has been a proponent of the idea ever since. His new book, The Vertical Farm, advocates for vertical farming.
The bulk of The Vertical Farm discusses the history and problems of conventional agriculture. Later chapters highlight the advantages of vertical farming and provide a few technical details for aspiring vertical farmers. Appendices direct readers to additional sources, including an extensive compendium of internet sources.
Dr. Despommier sees many drawbacks to conventional agriculture. According to his book, 70% of available freshwater goes to irrigating conventional farms, and agricultural runoff from these farms is a major source of pollution. Conventional farms expose crops to the elements and are located far from consumers. As a result, floods, droughts, plant disease, and spoilage destroy a large portion of American crops.
Vertical farming protects crops by growing them indoors, thereby increasing the harvest per acre. The shielded crops do not require pesticides and herbicides. Recycling water and nutrients in vertical farms conserves both resources. Vertical farms growing non-food plants could treat municipal waste water and then return the treated water to cities for a second use. It is possible to grown plants in vertical farms year round. Vertical farms can be built near population centers for lower transportation costs and fresher produce.
A vertical farm in downtown Hackensack or River Edge could bring many benefits. In an interview for this article, Dr. Despommier envisioned building 2 or 3 stories of vertical farms on top of existing Hackensack buildings. He said it would also be possible to grow crops in currently abandoned industrial and commercial buildings with new energy efficient grow lamps that emit light at select wavelengths.
Dr. Despommier described how vertical farms growing nonfood plants could treat sewage, solving Hackensack's wastewater management problems. The water would be recycled while the sludge could provide electricity. Growing crops in vertical farms would allow local farmland to revert to forests within a couple of decades, resulting in better water quality. Jobs for the disadvantaged and convenient access to fresh produce are other benefits that Dr. Despommier cited.
Towns would have to change current municipal ordinances for vertical farming to succeed. Dr. Despommier said that current city ordinances discourage urban framing when they should be encouraging it. He believes that entrepreneurial vertical farmers will open vertical farms once these changes happen.
By Joseph Dunsay
http://riverdell.patch.com/articles/vertical-farming-and-its-effect-on-bergen-county
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