Draft v - u Bhalraam

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PRELIMINARY IDEAS (PI) Catholic Junior College

ProjectWork 2010

NAME: U Bhalraam HOME TUTORIAL GROUP: 1T27

GROUP INDEX NO: CJ PROJECT TASK: 2

NAME OF SUPERVISING TUTOR:

Ms Wendy Heng

WORD COUNT: 1050 (w/o

references)

SIGNATURE OF SUPERVISING TUTOR: DATE OF SUBMISSION:

Alternatives is defined as other methods of which a certain task can be betteraccomplished from the current way of doing it.

Problems

- Land available for agriculture plummets as population rises. Food security1 is an

issue.- Very dependent on other countries- More efficient alternatives for traditional farming needs to be found

Alternatives for land use for efficient plant growth(PG) can be generally solved by: Increasing Land : Crop Harvest ratio Increasing the rate of harvests

Rationale for choice:

Singapores increasing dependence on other countries for sources of food isworrying

If food sanctions were placed against Singapore, it is obvious that we wouldsuffer greatly

103Ha is used for farming in Singapore. This land can be put to better use.(e.g. R&D)

Attempted Solutions

Japan is a country undergone urbanization[1].

suffers from land scarcity.

Japan is producing vegetables for less than half its population.

government is looking into more efficient methods of PG

to secure the publics well being if sanctions were set against Japan.

Technology was used to increase PG efficiency as it was clearly proven to work in

the 1950s during

the green revolution[2]

1 Refer to Annex : Why must we have Food Security?


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Indoor growing facilities[3] (ground level) (Annex : Article 1)

Air-conditioning to maintain a constant temperature and humidity.

Computer controls ensure optimum conditions are maintained for cultivating produce.

Advantages

- able to maintain temperature- and keep insects away- protects crops from extreme weather- Hydroponics and Aeroponics help increase the density of PG- Resources are conserved

Disadvantages- Still having a high demand for land area- The number of plants able to be grown in one facility cannot support apopulation

- Space of the facility is not fully utilized.- Alot of electricity is required to power LEDs

Lessons Learnt- Increasing PG density definitely increases efficiency of harvest- Electricity bills skyrocket when using artificial lighting- By reducing contact with fresh air, plants are less likely to attain diseases

Ideas generated- An infrastructure of low land demand can be built but still having the same PGefficiency.

- Try exposing the building to sunlight ; building having transparent windows.- To maximize space used, plants can be hung on the ceilings or perhapshaving another storey of the building.

- The abv. point also leads to the solution to increasing crop harvest.

Underground farming[4] (Annex : Article 3)

Tokyos Underground Farm is called Pasona O2.

A subterranean farm cultivated beneath a high rise building.

Aimed to produce food for population

Advantages

Excess area is not needed for the construction of this sort of farm.

Land can be used for two purposes.


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No soil used, hence saving resources

Not affected by weather

Disadvantages

The landlord might not be happy that his land is being used for otherpurposes

Artificial lighting is very costly (solved abv.)

Lessons Learnt

Land can be used for

Maintaining the same high efficiency

Ideas to alleviate/solve problems

- Incentives provided to the landlords to spur them to support

- The building proposed to be built can be for multiple uses.

- Can further save resources by placing electricity generators e.g. solar panels

EVALUATION2

The Japanese government laid out certain criteria before choosing the methodthat they are going to use in the long run. They are

Feasibility Cost Efficiency Additional Consequ

Required 7 6 7 6 2 4.000

Indoor

Gro

8

Ratio :1.143

8

Ratio : 1.333

9

Ratio : 1.125

6

Ratio :1.000

4

Ratio :

4.601

(TOTAL)

Undergro

und

6

Ratio : 0.857

9

Ratio : 1.500

7

Ratio : 0.875

9

Ratio : 1.500

4

Ratio :

4.232

(TOTAL)

2 Base Evaluation values are an estimate from previous environmental projects such as Mitsubishi's Solar

Cell Plant in Japan


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Decision

Based on information above, Japan decided to go on and invest in Indoor

growing facilities. The Pasona O2 Underground Farm is still being used for

farming but dominantly as a training ground for newlygroomed agricultural officers currently and a site to

educate people on the advantages of High Tech

Farming.

Another Similar Problem

Singapore has not much resources.[5]

Singapore has not much land.[5]

Needs food security

If countries sanction against Singapore

People will suffer So, must be prepared and self-reliant

Singapore is in almost the same plight as Japan.

Currently implemented Procedure

Horticulture

Local farms produce mainly leafy vegetables and bean-sprouts.

Methods of cultivation (fig. 5)

Cultivation under protective netting is widely practiced. Amounting to $14 million in value, are wholly consumed by the domestic market.

Advantages

- Helps in Food security- Source of revenue

Disadvantages- Not enough being produced to support the population- Takes up a lot of precious land essential to Singapore3

Suggested Measure - VERTICAL FARMING- Altered version of the idea of vertical farming4.- 3 10 storey fully transparent buildings made of glass is to be erected next

to the IRs and 1 in Central Singapore5

- Roof slightly bigger, Solar panels placed at the top.- These towers are filled with cash crops - (tomatoes, potatoes, vegetables,

fruits, etc.)- Can also purify used water by evotranspiration

3 The total land area is a mere 710.2km2 http://www.singstat.gov.sg/stats/keyind.html#demoind

4 Refer to Annex : Vertical Farming

5 Preferably Toa Payoh

Fig. 5

Fig. 6


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Advantages- Most efficient PG to Area used ratio.- SOLAR energy is used for PG and not electrical energy- Since its going to be the first in the world, Many tourists would

be attracted to the IRs as well.- Creating more revenue for the government.- Able to support the whole population6 (food)

Disadvantages- Might use much power even though some are produced by the solar panels.- The expensive investment might discourage the authorities.

Why hasn't been attempted beforeThis is because other countries have more to lose than us.We have the smallest land area among all the developed countries.Nobody has tried this method yet because they can detour the problem.We dont. We have almost no resources at all.

Manageability of ProjectThis project is moderately feasible as it requires several approvals from theseveral government sectors. Ministry of Environment as well as Land andTransport Authority. This project is very manageable as in involves the buildingof one structure only, maintained by a few people. The information required is

easily accessible. Internet journals, Magazines, Newspapers, Surveys,Interviews, National Library Board Archives.

References

Ciel S Cantoria, CSC. (2009, June 17). What is Vertical farmingand how can it provide alternative food sources?. Retrieved fromhttp://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/39036.aspx

Cox, Jake. "What is Vertical Farming?." What is Vertical

Farming?10 Nov 2009: n. pag. Web. 13 Apr 2010..

Haiduk, YH. (2008, September 08). Hydroponic farm +-. Retrievedfromhttp://sociallyresponsibledesign.blogspot.com/2008/09/hydroponic-farm.html

6 It is calculated that a 30 storey vertical farm can support 8 Million people.


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Rekord, Elaine. "Pepper Farmer Using Greenhouse Technology." Pepper FarmerUsing Greenhouse Technology(2009): n. pag. Web. 13 Apr 2010..

Agri-food & veterinary authority of singapore . (2010, Apri l 13). Retrieved from

http://www.ava.gov.sg/AVA/Templates/AVA-GenericContentTemplate.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7b41503FA5-7B04-4636-9B09-

1D49DFA50648%7d&NRORIGINALURL=%2fAgricultureFisheriesSector%2fFarmingInSingapore%2fAgroTechParks%2f&NRCACHEHINT=Guest#1

Odum, EP. (1997). Ecology: the bridge between science and society. Sinauer Assoc. P

330.Grids organize thinking . (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.fno.org/oct97/grids.html

Urban underground. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://www.treehugger.com/fi les/2005/06/urban_undergrou.php

Vertical farm start up. (n.d.). Retrieved fromhttp://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=693

Underground farms beneath tokyo. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://blog.japundit.com/archives/2008/02/17/7904/

Food security. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://oaklandfoodsystem.pbworks.com/f/OFSA_FoodSecurity.pdf

Japan. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Economy

Global problems and issues . (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/greenrevolution.htm

Subterranean farms of Tokyo. (2008, February 12). Retrieved from

http://pruned.blogspot.com/2008/02/subterranean-farms-of-tokyo.html


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ANNEXARTICLE 1

Food Security Why is it Important?Food Security means access by all people at all times to enough food for anactive, healthy life. Food security includes at a minimum: 1) ready availabilityof nutritionally adequate and safe foods, and 2) an assured ability to acquireacceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.118 In 2004, the 11.9 percent ofAmerican households (13.5 million U.S. households) were foodinsecure. At some time during the year, these households were uncertain of

having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all theirmembers because they had insufficient money or other resources. According tothe results of a Census Bureau survey as well as several studies, those atgreatest risk of being hungry or food insecure live in households that are:headed by a single woman; African Americans,Hispanics,andNativeAmericans;orwithincomesbelowthepovertyline.119Forfamiliesin poverty, food is often the first thing cut out of budgets whenfaced with high rent, utility bills, and medical expenses. California, along withseven other states, has food insecurity and hunger rates that are significantlyhigher than the national average.120 According the California Food PolicyAdvocates, 29 percent of Alameda County residents are touched byhungerandfoodinsecurity.121Unfortunately,thisdatawasnotcollectedatthecitylevel, though what follows is inan attempt to analyze contributing factors of food insecurity in Oakland.

http://oaklandfoodsystem.pbworks.com/f/OFSA_FoodSecurity.pdf

Article 2

As of 2009, Japan is the second largest economy in the world, after the United

States, at around US$5 trillion in terms of nominal GDP and third after the United

States and China in terms of purchasing power parity. Japan's public debt is 192

percent of its annual gross domestic product, Banking, insurance, real estate,

retailing, transportation, telecommunications and construction are all major

industries. Japan has a large industrial capacity and is home to some of the largest,

leading and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic

equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles

and processed foods. The service sector accounts for three quarters of the gross

domestic product.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan#Economy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders_of_magnitude_(numbers)#1012http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_debthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retailinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunicationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehiclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_toolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_processinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_sectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orders_of_magnitude_(numbers)#1012http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_Republic_of_Chinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_debthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_estatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retailinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_in_Japanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunicationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_vehiclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_toolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_substancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textilehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_processinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_sectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)


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2. ^ ab"World Economic Outlook Database; country comparisons". IMF. 2006-09-01. Retrieved

2007-03-14.

3. ^"NationMaster; Economy Statistics".NationMaster. Retrieved 2007-03-26.

4. ^er 6 Manufacturing and Construction, Statistical Handbook of Japan, Ministry of InternalAffairs and Communications

5. ^ abcd"World Factbook; JapanEconomy".CIA. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2006-12-28.

Article 3

The term Green Revolution refers to the renovation of agricultural practices

beginning in Mexico in the 1940s. Because of its success in producing moreagricultural products there, Green Revolution technologies spread worldwide in

the 1950s and 1960s, significantly increasing the amount of calories produced

per acre of agriculture.

History and Development of the Green Revolution

The beginnings of the Green Revolution are often attributed to Norman

Borlaug, an American scientist interested in agriculture. In the 1940s, he

began conducting research in Mexico and developed new disease resistance

high-yield varieties of wheat. By combining Borlaug's wheat varieties with new

mechanized agricultural technologies, Mexico was able to produce more wheat

than was needed by its own citizens, leading to its becoming an exporter of

wheat by the 1960s. Prior to the use of these varieties, the country was

importing almost half of its wheat supply.

http://geography.about.com/od/globalproblemsandissues/a/greenrevolution.htm

Article 4

China, Japan and World Food Insecurity

Motegi Yoshinobu

Motegi Yoshinobu here considers the implications for Japan and

Chinas other neighbors of Chinas growing grain needs, particularlycorn. He locates the issues in light of Japans own grain self-sufficiency level of 27 percent, the worlds lowest, and policies that
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMFhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMFhttp://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gdp_ppp-economy-gdp-ppphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NationMasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NationMasterhttp://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/c06cont.htmhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html#Econhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html#Econhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html#Econhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMFhttp://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gdp_ppp-economy-gdp-ppphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NationMasterhttp://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/c06cont.htmhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html#Econhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA


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keep some productive Japanese land fallow. Will the pressures onfood and environment that derive from Chinese and Indiandevelopment, and from high level consumption in the developed

countries, lead to a reassessment of Japans reliance oninternational markets? There are few signs of a significant shift inJapanese strategy to date. MS

According to Takagi, grain stockpiles around the world havedropped to those same levels of more than 30 years ago. Given theinternational flow of hot speculative money, he warned that "onceChina runs short of grain, we may be seeing an even steeper pricehike in the future." If that happens, Japan will be in trouble.

According to farm ministry figures from last August, Japanproduced 9.6 million tons of grain in 2007 for a self-sufficiency rateof 27 percent. For corn, Japan is almost totally dependent onimports. According to the agriculture ministry, Japan imported 16.8million tons of corn in 2006.Japan's domestic livestock industry traditionally has relied on cheapimported feed. But those days may be numbered, experts say.

Resource-poor Japan--and much of the rest of the world--may be ata crossroads before too long. Much depends on whether China cankeep its ever-surging demand for grain in check.

----------------------------END OF ARTICLE 4--------------------------

Article 5

Japanese Government to boost indoor cultivation

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Apr. 10, 2009

The government is set to launch full-scale efforts to promote indoor agricultural facilities to ensure stable

cultivation of fruits and vegetables, government officials said.


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As part of a three-year plan to boost the number of indoor growing facilities about fourfold, to 150, and raise

production about fivefold, the government will offer incentives including low-interest financing and a capital

investment tax credit, the officials said.

Besides responding to rising industry demand for safe and reliable food supplies, the government hopes the

move also will create employment opportunities. The plan is expected to be included in the additional

economic stimulus package currently being compiled by the government and ruling parties.

Indoor growing facilities use air-conditioning to maintain consistent temperature and humidity. Computer

controls ensure optimal conditions are maintained for cultivating produce, including the proper mix of

carbon dioxide, light and water, appropriate temperature and nutrients for growth.

Indoor cultivation also makes it easy to maintain uniform quality and shape, and renders pesticide use

unnecessary.

Industries including major food producers already are operating 40 such indoor growing facilities

nationwide. About 10 types of produce, including lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries are being cultivated inside

them. Officials added it is possible to cultivate lettuce 20 times a year in the indoor factories.

Meanwhile, the government envisages further indoor agricultural facilities being set up on demolished

factory sites, unused or abandoned farmland, or even inside vacant stores within shopping districts.

The government hopes the measures will make use of idle land and help farming villages affected by theaging population, and in turn, lead to a rise in job opportunities.

The government also is set to introduce new legislation to address the problem of vague zoning restrictions

for factories that combine agricultural and factory functions, which until now have not been clearly defined,

the officials added.

Construction costs for a large indoor growing facility can easily reach hundreds of millions of yen. In

addition, air-conditioning costs push the retail price of vegetables and fruits cultivated in indoor growing

facilities two to three times higher than ordinary produce.

The government aims to bring down production costs by about 30 percent over the projects three-year time

frame by introducing measures to promote the adoption of energy-saving technologies.

ARTICLE 6


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Tokyo, Japan. A man tends a tomato plant in Pasona O2, an artificially

lit and computer controlled greenhouse built in the basement of a high

rise building in the business district of Tokyo on February 15, 2005 inTokyo, Japan. Pasona Inc, a human resources service company, built the

greenhouse in order to introduce the pleasure of agriculture also to train

aspiring farmers in the city.

Two years ago we first covered Tokyo's underground farm; It is called Pasona

O2 and was set up as a means of providing agricultural training to young

people who are having trouble finding employment and middle-aged people in

search of a second career. Of course, since we first posted the interest in local

food has increased dramatically and there has been much more interest in

urban farming. We also came upon some new information:

ARTICLE 7 -

http://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTec

hParks/

Agrotechnology Parks

The need to maximise output from Singapore's limited agricultural landled AVA to spearhead a move towards agrotechnology, which is theapplication of modern technology and life sciences to intensive farmingsystems. In 1986, AVA embarked on its Agrotechnology Programmewhich comprises 3 components:

The development of Agrotechnology parks in Singapore to housemodern intensive farms

The development of agrotechnology and agri-biotechnology (thelatter defined as the knowledge in agriculture and molecularbiology applied to large-scale, intensive farming)

The promotion of investments in the agri-industry

AVA's technical and R&D centres, i.e. the Aquaculture Services Centre,Horticulture Services Centre and Marine Aquaculture Centre providetechnical assistance to the local farming industry to help them improvethe quality of their produce and enhance their productivity.

Agrotechnology Parks
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/06/urban_undergrou.phphttp://www.pasona.co.jp/pasona_o2/http://www.pasona.co.jp/pasona_o2/http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/skyfarming_new.phphttp://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/06/urban_undergrou.phphttp://www.pasona.co.jp/pasona_o2/http://www.pasona.co.jp/pasona_o2/http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/skyfarming_new.php


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Agrotechnology Parks are modern agriculture estates developed with thenecessary infrastructure for farming. There are six agrotechnology parksin Singapore. They are located at Lim Chu Kang, Murai, Sungei Tengah,

Nee Soon, Mandai and Loyang.

These parks occupy a total land area of 1,465 ha and nearly 700 ha havebeen allocated to over 200 farms for the production of livestock, eggs,milk, aquarium and food fish, vegetables, fruits, orchids, ornamental andaquatic plants, as well as for the breeding of birds and dogs. The modernfarms in the Agrotechnology Parks develop, adapt and showcaseadvanced technologies and techniques for intensive farming systems,and for export of high value and quality products and services to othertropical countries in the region

Singapore's geographical location and unique cultural experience makesus the ideal partner for entering the vast Asian market.

The use of land for the various types of farming activities in theagrotechnology park is given in the table below:

Activities No. of Farms Total Area (ha)

Horticulture

Vegetables 52 103

Orchid/Ornamentals etc. 69 283

Total 121 386

Article 8

The Subterranean farm of Tokyo12 February 2008

While we're on the subject of things agricultural and of things covered by

just about everyone long before today, there is Pasona O2, a

subterranean farm cultivated inside a former bank vault beneath a high

rise building in one of Tokyo's business districts.
http://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htmhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#LCKhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#Mhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#SThttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#NShttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#Mhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#Lhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htmhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#LCKhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#Mhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#SThttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#NShttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#Mhttp://www.ava.gov.sg/AgricultureFisheriesSector/FarmingInSingapore/AgroTechParks/AgrotechnologyParksMap.htm#L


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(Lettuces bathed in artif icial l ight at Pasona O 2 . Photographer unknown.Source.)

Though walled in from sunlight, weather and geology, it's unbelievablyverdant. Tomatoes, lettuces, strawberries, and other fruits andvegetables, as well as flowers and herbs, are grown in an area about1,000 square meters. There is even a terraced rice paddy.


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(Room 1: Flower garden. Here LED l ights are used. Room 2: Herb f ield. Heremetal halide lamps are used. Room 3: Rice paddies. Here high pressure sodiumlamp is used. Room 4: Fruit and vegetable fields. Room 5: Vegetable f ield.

Room 6: Plant cultivation of 21st century type. Source.)

ARTICLE 9

I recently found out about Pasona O2, an underground rice andvegetable farm located beneath an office building in Tokyos Otemachibusiness district. Once the vault of a major bank, the 1,000 squaremeter facility now produces rice, tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, andother fruits and vegetables, as well as 100 different flowers and herbs.

Hydroponics (a system of artificial light from light-emitting diodes,metal halide lamps and high-pressure sodium vapor lamps) are all usedto sustain Pasona O2s vegetation in the absence of sunlight. Thetemperature is strictly controlled by computer, and everything grown ispesticide free.But what exactly is Pasona 02s purpose? A good question consideringnone of the produce grown is sold to the public. Rather, the space isused as a training facility for freeters (Japanese young people thathop from job to job) with an interest in farming, and older folksinterested in trying something new.

With arable farming land rapidly declining around the world, large citieswill soon be forced to integrate food production into the urban
http://marukuwato.multiply.com/journal/item/171http://marukuwato.multiply.com/journal/item/171http://marukuwato.multiply.com/journal/item/171http://marukuwato.multiply.com/journal/item/171


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environment. Are facilities like Pasona O2 a clever solution to theimmanent food crunch?
http://marukuwato.multiply.com/journal/item/171http://marukuwato.multiply.com/journal/item/171


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UNDERGROUND URBAN FARM

Fruit and Vegetables Grown Under Office Building (March 17, 2005)

The underground farm(Pasona O2)

An underground rice and vegetable field has been planted beneath

an office building in Tokyo's Otemachi business district. This urban

farm - in what used to be the vault of a major bank - is maintained

using computer-controlled artificial light and temperature

management. It was brought into being by a personnel company as

a means of providing agricultural training to young people who arehaving trouble finding employment and middle-aged people in

search of a second career.

New Use for Former Bank Vault

The hi-tech vegetable patch, called Pasona O2, is located in the

Otemachi Nomura Building in the Tokyo district of Otemachi, where

many major corporations have their headquarters. The building,which has 27 floors above ground and five below, used to be home

to Tokyo Life Insurance and Resona Bank (formerly Daiwa Bank).

But these firms have left, and office space in the building is now

leased to several different companies. This project was launched by

the temporary staffing agency Pasona Inc. When Pasona moved its

headquarters to this building, it decided to lease the second

basement floor - formerly the Resona Bank vault - and turn it into a

vegetable garden.

In the absence of sunlight, the plants are sustained by artificial light

from light-emitting diodes, metal halide lamps, and high-pressure


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Article 11

The crops production from this advanced hi-tech farming is not significant

at the moment. Pasona O2 urban underground farm project best annual rice

production is around 60 kg. This is normal for any major innovation and

technology breakthrough. Both advanced urban vertical farming and urban

underground farming concept model is still in its infancy development stage

.

http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=512

http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/10/japanese-government-to-boost-

indoor-cultivation-housed-vegetable-growing-will-create-jobs-aid-food-

security/

ARTICLE 12

As Singapore is a city-state with not much land area, it is not particularly rich in

natural resources. Natural resources in Singapore can be categorized into

nonrenewable resources, renewable resources and water resources. The

conservation and management of water resource has been a huge challenge

for countries across the globe. In a country like Singapore, where land is at a

premium, the use of land to conserve water has to be integrated with the use

of land for socio economic growth. Water itself being a scarce resource, has to

be used judiciously. Singapore has come up with an efficient water

management policy, to ensure sustainability of water resources over a period

of time. The Government in Singapore has taken initiatives by investing in

infrastructure, upgrading technology, devising water management strategies to

manage water resource.

Nonrenewable Resources in Singapore

Natural resource, such as coal, oil, or natural gas, which takes millions of years

to form naturally and therefore, cannot be replaced once it is consumed. Fossil

fuels like coal, oil, and gas generate a considerable amount of energy when

they are burnt (the process of combustion). Non-renewable resources have

high carbon content because their origin lies in the photosynthetic activity of

plants millions of years ago.

Singapore has very limited non renewable resources. The economy is

dependent on oil and natural gas imports. Singapore took a conscious decision
http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=512http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=512http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=693http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=512http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/10/japanese-government-to-boost-indoor-cultivation-housed-vegetable-growing-will-create-jobs-aid-food-security/http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/10/japanese-government-to-boost-indoor-cultivation-housed-vegetable-growing-will-create-jobs-aid-food-security/http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/10/japanese-government-to-boost-indoor-cultivation-housed-vegetable-growing-will-create-jobs-aid-food-security/http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=512http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=512http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=693http://jangworld.com/omnigens/?p=512http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/10/japanese-government-to-boost-indoor-cultivation-housed-vegetable-growing-will-create-jobs-aid-food-security/http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/10/japanese-government-to-boost-indoor-cultivation-housed-vegetable-growing-will-create-jobs-aid-food-security/http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/04/10/japanese-government-to-boost-indoor-cultivation-housed-vegetable-growing-will-create-jobs-aid-food-security/


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to move from fuel oil to natural gas in 2001.Currently natural gas accounts for

80 per cent of the electricity generation.

http://www.tradechakra.com/economy/singapore/singapore-natural-resources-

94.php

Article 13 - http://www.verticalfarm.com/

The Problem

By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban

centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic

trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the

interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is

represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to

feed them, if traditional farming practices continue as they are practiced today.

At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for

raising crops is in use (sources: FAO and NASA). Historically, some 15% of that

has been laid waste by poor management practices. What can be done to avoid

this impending disaster?

A Potential Solution: Farm Vertically

The concept of indoor farming is not new, since hothouse production of

tomatoes, a wide variety of herbs, and other produce has been in vogue for

some time. What is new is the urgent need to scale up this technology to

accommodate another 3 billion people. An entirely new approach to indoor

farming must be invented, employing cutting edge technologies. The Vertical

Farm must be efficient (cheap to construct and safe to operate). Vertical farms,

many stories high, will be situated in the heart of the world's urban centers. If

successfully implemented, they offer the promise of urban renewal, sustainable

production of a safe and varied food supply (year-round crop production), and

the eventual repair of ecosystems that have been sacrificed for horizontal

farming.

It took humans 10,000 years to learn how to grow most of the crops we now

take for granted. Along the way, we despoiled most of the land we worked,

often turning verdant, natural ecozones into semi-arid deserts. Within that

same time frame, we evolved into an urban species, in which 60% of the

human population now lives vertically in cities. This means that, for the

majority, we humans are protected against the elements, yet we subject our


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food-bearing plants to the rigors of the great outdoors and can do no more

than hope for a good weather year. However, more often than not now, due to

a rapidly changing climate regime, that is not what follows. Massive floods,

protracted droughts, class 4-5 hurricanes, and severe monsoons take their tolleach year, destroying millions of tons of valuable crops. Don't our harvestable

plants deserve the same level of comfort and protection that we now enjoy?

The time is at hand for us to learn how to safely grow our food inside

environmentally controlled multistory buildings within urban centers. If we do

not, then in just another 50 years, the next 3 billion people will surely go

hungry, and the world will become a much more unpleasant place in which to

live.

Advantages of Vertical Farming

Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor

acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre

= 30 outdoor acres)

No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests

All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizersVF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water

VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services

VF greatly reduces the incidence of many infectious diseases that are

acquired at the agricultural interface

VF converts black and gray water into potable water by collecting the

water of

evapotranspiration


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VF adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting

non-edible

parts of plants and animals

VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.)

VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers

VF creates sustainable environments for urban centers

VF creates new employment opportunities

We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm

indoors on

earth

VF may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps

VF offers the promise of measurable economic improvement for tropical

and subtropical

LDCs. If this should prove to be the case, then VF may be a catalyst in

helping to reduce or even reverse the population growth of LDCs as they

adopt urban agriculture as a strategy for sustainable food production.

VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources,

such as water

and land for agriculture

Draft v - u Bhalraam

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