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School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering

Mapua University

Urban Farming in Modern Agriculture:

Feasibility Analysis

In partial fulfillment of the requirements in Engineering Economy CE40

Prepared for:

Engr. Charity Hope Gayatin

Prepared by:
AGUADA, PAULYN
BALUBAR, JONGSON
BELINO, RITZ EMYL VINZ
BRAVO, MIGUEL
BULURAN, YANCI VEE
CAJAYON, JOSE NORBERTO L.
CAMAYA, RIKKI MAE P.
CANLAS, ABIGAIL ALLETH P.
CARBONEL, JERSEY EDGAR S.
CRISTOBAL, JOHN CARLO D.
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Abstract

Urban Farming is of utmost relevance concerning modern agriculture

production. These practices take place in or around a city, and distribute crops locally.

By 2050, nearly 75% of the world population lives in or near a city. This high number

raises environmental and social concerns regarding food security. This analytical report

interprets principles of urban farming to determine usability. The author discusses

multiple examples of urban agriculture that are especially innovative. Additionally, the

text will evaluate the alternative, conventional farming, by identifying downfalls of

industrial practices like environmental destruction. Lastly the report will interpret real

world findings of pressing agriculture issues, followed by effective, sustainable, and

productive solutions to combat those obstacles.

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Table of Contents
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………4

Methodology ……………………………………………………………………………………5

Results…………………………………………………………………………………………..6

The Science Barge…………………………………………………………………….6

Figure 1………………………………………………………………………………....7

Interview…………………….…………………………………………………………..8

Sky Greens Vertical Farms…………………………………………………………..9

Figure 2………………………………………………………………………………...9

Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………….10

Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………….12

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………….13

Works Cited…………………………………………………………………………………..15

Interview Questions………………………………………………………………………….16
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Introduction

The world population will be upwards of nine billion by the year 2050. At this time nearly 75% of

people will inhabit urban settings (Seto). These statistics raise questions of food security in and

around cities that ought to be considered within the agriculture industry. Urban farming is

cultivating and distributing food in or around a city. There are many kinds of urban agriculture

ranging from a variety of practices including aquaculture, horticulture, livestock and beekeeping.

The research conducted focusses urban farming methods that have the potential to be

converted to large-scale production.

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the feasibility of urban farming within modern

agriculture. Urban farming practices will be analyzed based on statistics of efficiency,

sustainability, and productivity. Findings regarding these three elements will combine to

determine if urban farming is a possible solution to current strains on agriculture production.

The report will cross examine this data with details about the popular method of food cultivation

in the United States: conventional farming. This topic is influential to all of us because of the

spherical influence of agriculture on modern society. Climate uncertainty, increasing

populations, and demand for cost effective products are all driving factors behind the utilization

of urban agriculture to supplement traditional farming practices.

The following analysis stems from one pressing question: Is urban farming capable of being a

feasible alternative to conventional farming? The hypothesis of this research is based on

efficiency, sustainability, viability aspects of urban farming practices. The current hypothesis
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upholds that urban farming possesses the necessary components to be a solution in meeting

large scale agriculture demands.

This report will define the methods of conducting research. Data collected from reliable

research will be analyzed to form results. The Results will consist of data from modern urban

farming practices, including examples of two particularly innovative methods. The results will

be accompanied by a discussion. This section will appraise the results and calculate their value

based on the initial research question. The discussion leads to recommendations, then finally

closing with a conclusion of findings.

Methodology

Research was conducted utilizing sources of the utmost relevance to my proposed question.

First, sources were acquired that discussed real life, functional methods of urban agriculture.

This data was required early in the research process because the information solidifies claims of

urban farming authenticity and productivity. The Science Barge NYC and Sky Greens are two

modern urban farming operations that exceed expectations thoroughly in their field of

production. Both operations are different but encompass the same principle: growing crops

consciously. Furthermore, both systems possess the technology and capacity to be implemented

commercially. This aspect is imperative to the overall research because urban farming is being

proposed as a feasible alternative to industrial farming practices, meaning that it needs to be able

to support similar outputs. To qualify it as an alternative, urban farming products must be price

effective and competitive in the open market, without a dependence on the government.
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The analytics utilize peer-reviewed scholarly articles to provide supporting details to

agriculture practices today. The articles applied serve to back up data gathered and results

formulated throughout the paper. Any questions raised regarding the primary examples should

be easily answered when considering the supporting data.

An interview with a crop production expert rounds off the research methods. The author spoke

with Jennifer Sloan, the director of education/head grower of the Science Barge NYC. The

decorated agronomist offers exceptional intelligence that complements the main focus of the

report. The interview serves as a catalyst to comprehensive understanding of the topic and

research question.

Results

We understand that the majority of populations live in cities where conventional agriculture

cannot exist. Food travels long distances, oftentimes thousands of miles before reaching the

consumer. When people desire fresh food, getting it locally is the most effective and

sustainable way possible.

The Science Barge NYC

The Science Barge of Yonkers, New York City has been active since 2008. This boat is made to

mimic a typical rooftop farm that can exist on top of virtually any city building. The barge utilizes

greenhouses equipped with hydroponic growing systems. With hydroponics, crops grow without

soil. The plant sits in a bucket layered with rocks and are fed through nutrient enriched
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water (Figure 1). This method can produce copious amounts of food in a short time span

because the plants are fed exactly what they need with the water solution. The operation is

completely self-sustaining; all the energy the farm uses is provided from renewable sources. In

this example, solar energy is the chief power source. The vegetables on the Science Barge grow

faster and cheaper with hydroponics, while producing substantially less waste than a

conventional farm of equal output.

Urban farming mechanics can be pushed even further when hydroponics is combined with

aquaculture to define a new method of urban farming called aquaponics. Controlled fish

farming supplements the plants with nutrients created by the fish. This is known as wastewater

bio filtration by plants, embodying sustainable agriculture driven technologies (Blidariu).

Aquaponics, like traditional hydroponic cultivation, has the potential to produce crops faster

and efficiently while minimizing the carbon footprint of agriculture.

Hydroponic cultivation of crops requires 7

times less space and 4 times less water than

conventional soil farming (Sloan). The LED

lights used are also very efficient. This

operating efficiency has the potential to be put

to work on a large scale of agricultural

production.

When people think about hydroponics and

Figure 1
growing crops in a controlled system, the first

thing that might come to mind is cannabis cultivation. This is understandable because there is a
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valuable reason why cannabis is popularly grown hydroponically: because it is efficient,

sustainable, and economic. These ideas are what really test the original research inquiry stated

in the introduction. What benefits does urban farming bear and is this practice feasible to

supplement agriculture in the United States?

Interview

A technical interview was conducted with Jennifer Sloan, the person behind the whole concept

of the Science Barge. She offers first hand cross-analysis of urban farming and conventional

agriculture practices. Her vast experience in both fields generates an excellent representation

of the benefits of urban farming in an industrial state.

Ms. Sloan identified the importance of rooftop farms when considering agriculture systems in a

busy city. The barge acts as an urban farm that can be suspended high in the sky. The idea is

that there is abundant rooftop space in NYC that can be housing similar grow operations. If all

the open space atop buildings in NYC were housing urban farming complexes, the city would

be 100% self-sustainable in vegetable production.

The director of education discussed urban farming limitations during the interview. Jennifer

states that there are infrastructure problems with implementing urban farming methods like

rooftop farms. When a sky rise is being built, it would not be an issue to install a rooftop farm

when all the construction equipment is present. However, when one considers construction of

a rooftop farm after the fact, it seems like a hassle. Jennifer advocates that we should change

the way we build cities, keeping the environment and sustainability in mind. Investing in urban
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farming methods like rooftop hydroponic systems may seem pricey at first, but the

continuous operating benefits make any start-up costs appear nominal.

Finally, Director Sloan touched on the downfalls of conventional soil farming. She admits that

agriculture is a destructive practice to the environment. Industrialized equipment and machinery

rip through topsoil and can destroy everything living in it. She noted the uncanny amount of dead

animals present that had been flattened by equipment. Moreover, numerous environmental issues

stem from soil management. Soil maintenance applies herbicides, pesticides, and/or synthetic

fertilizers to assist the growing process of crops. Managing the soil and competition for crops is

roughly 80% of the work for conventional farms (Sloan). Industrial farms are not sustainable and

consume too much soil and water. Conventional agriculture as a whole has bad effects on bio

culture and biodiversity.

Sky Greens Vertical Farms

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The sensation of agriculture dates back about ten thousand years,

rising spontaneously at various sites worldwide (Despommier

388). For millennia agriculture has been practiced on flat ground. In

2015, many places lack adequate space to operate a traditional farm.

In an age of rapid urbanization, cities expand up, not out.

This situation creates an optimal environment for vertical farming.

Sky Greens vertical farms in Singapore displays an innovative

approach to cultivating crops where land is scarce. These structures

utilize automated towers that rotate plants like a Ferris wheel. The

vegetables move between the nutrient infused water bath below and

the sunlight above. The towers are powered by a gravity fed water Figure 2: Vertical farming tower equipped with
rotating, closed loop belt.
wheel. The closed loop rotating system

consumes very little energy related to the output of crops. The operation is ten times more

productive per square foot than conventional soil farming. Vertical farms require much less

water, labor and chemical inputs as well. There is no need for pesticides or herbicides in

the controlled environment within the towers.

In the extreme case of Singapore, only 7% of the produce consumed in the city is produced locally

(Journeymen). Every night hundreds of trucks make deliveries in the city to supply the necessary

produce for the population. The tendency to import substantial amounts of food demanded is not

sustainable whatsoever. High rise farming needs to be cost effective compared to imported

vegetables. Sky greens vertical farms operate on about 25% of maintenance costs compared to

traditional farming. Urban farming models are cost effective and also provide the
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freshest produce available in the city. Supplying a fresh, superior product is imperative to

the success of urban farming practices like Sky greens.

With rapid urbanization, Singapore also has access to plentiful rooftop spaces. These buildings

are nearly all suitable for urban farming operations. Implemented nationwide, rooftop farming

systems can result in a 700% increase in domestic vegetable production (Astee 105). Numbers

this high are hard to ignore when considering sustainable agriculture solutions. Let Singapore

be the example of an urban center thriving with growth that still faces sizable issues, such as

food security.

With three-quarters of populations inhabiting cities by 2050, can we supply enough food for

the growing population? The answer is yes. This can be done by empowering people in and

around cities to make a difference to make our existence more sustainable.

Discussion

Developments in urbanized agriculture pose ingenious innovations, however these practices have not

been exposed to expansion on a large scale. Urban farms are economically appropriate by limiting or

eliminating shipping and storage costs. Not only does this lower continuous operating costs, it is

environmentally friendly. Cutting transportation and storage will save a great deal of energy that

most likely would have been supplied by fossil fuels. Urban agriculture bears undeniable economic

and sustainability benefits, two aspects the research strived to identify.

With the use of hydroponics on the Science Barge, the operation eliminates virtually all waste

and excessive inputs by feeding plants only what they need. Additionally, there is minimal

continuous energy deposits required for hydroponic farming. In cases like the Science Barge
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NYC, systems can operate exclusively on renewable energy harvested on site. These methods of

farming eons more sustainable than commercial industrial farms. The mode of efficiency

displayed in hydroponic greenhouse cultivations is surprising when considering agriculture

production. A common misconception is that large conventional farms are the best and most

efficient way to grow crops because of the land size, big machinery, etc. This claim is not true

whatsoever, as forms of urban farming have shown to outperform traditional farms on multiple

cylinders.

During the telephone interview, Jennifer’s experience shined when discussing conventional soil

farms and urban farms. Her inputs are considerably relevant to the research presented because of

insightful cross-examination between the two methods. Director Sloan spent her early life

working on traditional soil farms and later took her talents to urban farming education. Based on

her trials and tribulations, she believes urban farming is necessary to creating and maintaining

healthy agriculture practices. She proposes that if we can change the way we build cityscapes,

we can revolutionize what it means to produce sustainably. In the conclusion of the interview,

Jennifer answered the focal research question. She declared that urban agriculture is and can be a

feasible solution to supplementing conventional agriculture practices in the United States.

Sky greens vertical farming adopts concepts of growing crops upwards rather than out. This

system is more productive per square foot than any conventional farming method thinkable.

There is substantially less water and chemical waste associated than traditional soil farms. Sky

greens farms also carry an unbelievably low continuous energy cost: around 3$ a month to run a

four story tower. The vertical farms operate at a fraction of the cost as a conventional farm with
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the same capacity. The initial setup costs of the mechanized cultivation systems will quickly

pay for themselves with fast and cost effective production of vegetables for the city.

Furthermore, there is no need for pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers within climate

controlled facilities. This is an environmental feat in its own simply because of how damaging

these chemicals are to our climate and human health. These synthetics are known to possess

disease and cancer causing components. Chemicals like these are used way too sparingly in

modern agriculture, yet that rings a whole new research proposal in itself.

Recommendations

I recommend that steps are taken to increase urban agriculture awareness in America,

especially in and around cities. As acknowledged by leaders in Singapore, it is essential to get

the local people involved in the movement for urban farming to find success on a large scale.

Once urban farming gets attention from the masses and demand for these practices increase, big

players-private and federal-will likely become aware of urban farming potential. Ideally,

private investors will buy into these revolutionary concepts and theories to provide capital for

operations, while educating the public along the way. With ample funds, the agriculture

industry in the United States could possibly be revolutionized, designed with an emphasis on

sustainability and conscious decision making.

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Conclusion

Urban farming is the practice of cultivating and distributing food in or around a city. Urban

cultivation methods are plentiful worldwide, but few are commercialized for market profits. The

world is bound for 9 billion people by 2050, with the vast majority occupying urban residencies.

Concerns of food security are being raised, leaving people puzzled as to how we can satisfy

urban produce needs in a practical manner. Ultimately, urban agriculture stands as a viable

solution to modern agriculture problems and constraints. The research provided in this

analytical report justifies urban farming methods as a competitive method of crop cultivation.

Urban farming practices such as rooftop or vertical farms meet criteria for an efficient,

economic, and sustainable operation. To conclude: Is urban farming a practical solution to

supplementing conventional agriculture production in the United States? The research implies

yes. Will urbanized farming account for 5, 10, even 50 percent of total agriculture production?

Only time will tell. The data analyzed throughout the project suggests that urban farming will

be a staple in agriculture production in the coming decades.

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Works Cited

Astee, Lim Yinghui, and Nirmal T. Kishnani. "Building integrated agriculture: Utilising
rooftops for sustainable food crop cultivation in Singapore." Journal of Green Building
5.2 (2010): 105-113.

Blidariu, Flavius, and Adrian Grozea. "Increasing the Economical Efficiency and
Sustainability of Indoor Fish Farming by Means of Aquaponics-Review."Scientific
Papers Animal Science and Biotechnologies 44.2 (2011): 1-8.

Despommier, Dickson. "Farming up the city: the rise of urban vertical farms."Trends in
biotechnology 31.7 (2013): 388-389.

"How Vertical Farms Bring Fresh Food To Booming Cities." Journeyman.tv. Journeyman
Pictures, 9 Sept. 3013. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

"Hydroponics – Growing Hydroponic Weed." Hydroponic Growth. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2015.

Seto, Karen C., and J. Marshall Shepherd. "Global urban land-use trends and climate
impacts." Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 1.1 (2009): 89-95

Sloan, Jennifer. "The Science Barge Interview." Telephone interview. 10 Nov. 2015