Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
6636877 
Journal Article 
Urban hydroponics for green and clean cities and for food security 
Schnitzler, WH 
2013 
Yes 
Acta Horticulturae
ISSN: 0567-7572 
1004 
13-26 
English 
WOS:000333917900001 
This paper will deal with urban hydroponics and explores the relevance of this horticultural tool for city development and food supply under this special surrounding. Why should we need it? And where do we stand with this technology? In 1950 the total world's population counted for 2.6 billion with 800 million in urban centres and 1.8 billion in rural areas. We expect 100 years later by 2050 worldwide 9.2 billion inhabitants with 6.3 billion living in cities and only 2.9 billion remaining in the countryside. The United Nations Habitat Program is clearly concerned with this shift. With focus on city environment and food security for this tremendous accumulation of people, Urban Hydroponics is part of Urban Horticulture, which is again part of Urban Agriculture. Urban Hydroponics is improving living spaces for physical and psychological in-and out-door relaxation. It will also supply doorstep year round diversified and healthy fresh fruits and vegetables without long transportation chains, adding income opportunities for the poorer population.For successful implementation, several actors need to join: horticulturists, engineers, architects and city planners. The urban hydroponics technology for plant production reduces (1) water needs, (2) food health risks, (3) environmental contamination and, (4) cultivation space. A variety of different hydroponics systems can be used in urban areas for intensive, high value crop production.This presentation will connect urban hydroponics with excitingly, more recent inventions of air-dynoponics and the aquaponics, allowing fish cultivation in tanks and at the same time recycling from the tanks their excrements as organic fertilizer to beds for growing hydroponic vegetables. It also will introduce vertical farming and sky farms for cultivation of clean and healthy fresh vegetables and beautiful ornamental plants amidst highly populated urban centres. 
Aeroponics; Aquaponics; Sky farms; Soilless crop production; Urban planning and beautification; Vertical farming 
International Symposium on Soilless Cultivation 
Shanghai, China 
May 22-25, 2012