Danish Developers Build Europe's Largest Vertical Farm, Set To Produce 1,000 Tons Of Greens A Year
Image Source: Nordic Harvest
Outside Copenhagen, a windowless industrial hall has been transformed into Europe's largest vertical farm. Hydroponics and custom purple LED lighting stretch from floor to ceiling in 14 stories of scaffolding that will produce 1,000 tons of lettuce, kale, and herbs in the farm's first year. The wind-powered vertical farm occupies more than 75,000 square feet and its developers, Nordic Harvest and YesHealth Group, say they will be able to grow berries within two years and root vegetables in five to ten years, providing year-round sustainably grown produce with minimal environmental impact.
Agritech Attracts A Record $4.4 Billion In Venture Capital Funding
Image Source: Cyril Marcilhacy
The tech industry has been exploding for decades, but this year, it's taken a new turn toward something relatively un-technical: farming. In 2020, venture capitalists sunk a record $4.4 billion into re-engineering unstable farming and food systems around the world, including investments in more than 20 tech-driven agriculture startups such as the French insect farm Ynsect and Germany's vertical produce farm Infarm. Global climate change? World population growth? Supply chain challenges? Engineering to the rescue.
Image Source: Rose Marie Cromwell
This year, climate change has challenged crop productivity, the pandemic has interrupted global supply chains, and restaurant closures have sapped demand. Plus, the government's trade wars with China and Europe have led to tariffs on American corn, soybeans, lobsters, and peanuts. According to the American Farm Bureau, debt among farmers will increase by 4% to a record $434 billion this year. In response, the federal government is allocating its largest farm subsidies since 2005. subscription model
First Fish Farm In Federal Waters Proposed Off San Diego Coast
Image Source: Kate / Unsplash
The Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute and investment group Pacific6 Enterprise have proposed the first ever open-ocean fish farm in federal waters. The pair submitted a federal permit application for its Pacific Ocean AquaFarm project, which aims to produce 5,000 metric tons of farmed sushi-grade yellowtail (hamachi) per year. Approvals are pending from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
USDA To Issue Another $13 Billion In Farm Aid Funds
Image Source: Luca Basili / Unsplash
In Wisconsin last week, the President announced an additional $13 billion in funding for America’s farmers. Wisconsin dairy farmers have suffered steep losses this year due to both pandemic supply chain challenges and reduced exports caused by the White House’s trade policies. The new round of funding will draw from the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
