garriguy: At the repurposed sites, AeroFarms is pushing the limits of what David Rosenberg, the company’s CEO, calls “precision agriculture”. The scheme ditches the romanticized ideal of farming, acres and acres of open fields dotted with men and women toiling in the sun, getting their hands dirty, in favor of enclosed urban spaces where engineers, electricians and harvesters mill about, wearing protective clothing, masks, and gloves.
With its multicolored LED lights, computer screens lining the walls, and faithful preservation of club decor, AeroFarms’ research facility could easily pass off as a sci-fi themed club. It makes a befitting setting for a company that is promising to increase crop yields by as much as 70 times compared to traditional field farms, without using any pesticides or fertilizers.
The fine print is that the productivity is calculated using square footage occupied and not the vertical space utilized, making comparisons with ground floor-only traditional farms fraught. And critics point out that no traditional farm that size comes with a price tag of over $30m.
For New Jersey, where unemployment rates have been persistently above the national average, the promise of new jobs and fresh investment has ensured buy-in from the state. Christie, visiting the smaller aeroponics facility in March lavished praise on the “public-private” partnership.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority provided nearly $9m in incentives, stretched over 10 years, which includes a $2.2m grant under the Economic Redevelopment and Growth program and $6.5m in tax credits.
AeroFarms currently employs close to 100 people, and is promising more jobs in the months to come as the company grows. Like other companies in this space, it is relying on productivity gains to offset high cost of expensive technology and emerge as a successful business.
garriguy: “Urban farming is trendy,” Dimitri said. It remains an open question, she said, whether it will be economically viable. Prudential Financial has invested “patient capital” in the venture, which is used to finance social impact projects that are unlikely to yield benefits right away. There are no aeroponics projects of this scale but AeroFarms has piloted the technology at Philip’s Academy charter school in Newark, where students are served greens grown at the school.
Seventy times the yield of traditional farms
Marc Oshima, the chief marketing officer at AeroFarms, yanked open a tiny grey door in a back alley in downtown Newark that leads into an old nightclub with vividly painted walls. In 2014, AeroFarms converted the space into a research and development facility. “Out there, in nature, we don’t have control over sunlight, rainfall,” Oshima said, “here, we are giving plants what they need to thrive.”
The moist sanitized air that envelops the R& lab is missing one ingredient: the earthiness that permeates any agricultural operation.
garriguy: According to claim, this farm yields as much as 70 times of the traditional farm!
The question is if this crops won't have aide effects like improper breakdown of food components and nutrients.
Pls read:
An ambitious, almost fantastical, manifestation of agricultural technology is expected to come to fruition this fall. From the remains of an abandoned steel mill in Newark, New Jersey, the creators of AeroFarms are building what they say will be the largest vertical farm, producing two million pounds of leafy greens a year.
Whether it even qualifies as a “farm” is a matter of taste. The greens will be manufactured using a technology called aeroponics, a technique in which crops are grown in vertical stacks of plant beds, without soil, sunlight or water.
The farm, built in the economically depressed New Jersey city promises new jobs, millions of dollars in public-private investment, and an array of locally grown leafy greens for sale. The company has spent some $30m to bring to reality a new breed of “green agriculture” that seeks to produce more crops in less space while minimizing environmental damage, even if it means completely divorcing food production from the natural ecosystem.
AeroFarms and other companies developing similar controlled growing climates claim to be transforming agriculture. Proponents of vertical farming call it the “third green revolution”, analogizing the developments to Apple and Tesla. They tout the potential of such technology to address food shortages as the world population continues to grow.
AeroFarms touts their products as free of pesticides and fertilizer, an attribute that investors think will attract customers who buy organic produce. “We definitely see the need for healthy food in the local area and Newark in particular,” said Lata Reddy, vice-president for corporate social responsibility at Prudential Financial, one of the investors in the project.
But, food that is not grown in soil may not be palatable to many, even those who are opting for organic substitutes. “If you take the soil out of the system, is it a legitimate organic system?” questioned Carolyn Dimitri, director of the food studies program at New York University. The US Department of Agriculture does not consider the question of organic certification for growing methods that do not use soil, according to AeroFarms’ website.
The demo plot was a great success with all the listed veggies producing great yield. Cabbage was one of them. We did the harvesting 4 days back and we had each head weighing 1.5kg. When we got to central fresh vegetable market in Ibadan, we realized that 50 heads of cabbage of average size is presently sold for N8,000 (wholesale price) and according to the dealer, the price would be on the rise for sometime.
Imagine we planted 3000 stands. Getting the right seeds, right production skill and right market; veggies business isn't a bad idea after all. Check our signature to know more about us, read articles on vegetable production, get to know about our current projects, ask questions to get prompt feedback. Visit our blog site and facebook page to know us.
SreachAeroponic: Right now, to feed humanity, we use land equivalent to the size of South America to grow and harvest our food. By 2050 it is predicted that the world’s population will have grown to 9.5 billion people, necessitating the cultivation of another 2.1 billion acres of land.
Agriculture is the competent “general” that was prematurely retired from the Olympian height of playing a dominant role in the Nigerian economy. With the economy now virtually in tatters, the “knight” in shining armour must patriotically respond to the appeal to come to the rescue of our nation. Professor Oluyemi Former Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan (The Nigeria Tribune, Feb. 8, 2016)
The dwindling price of oil continues; preparing the kids for the future remains the goal – education the tool.
Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know. Daniel J. Boorstin
Our wants may differ but our need remains the same irrespective of class, educational background, race, religion, denomination, political opinions or sexes. We all at one point or another need food to survive (even those who don’t like food) as it is a basic need. What we want to quench the hunger may differ but the solution remains the same – food.
Farming in the Room is an initiative to introduce agriculture to the youths; it isn’t about sharing hoes and cutlasses but providing youths with timers, remote controls to grow plants in the comfort of their houses
The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change. Carl Rogers
Farming in the Room Project Welcome Home: It is no secret that youths of today want nothing to do with the farm, it is almost impossible to hear any student have included in their numerous hobbies “farming” how much more have an ambition of “being a farmer”.
New Frontier: Agriculture has moved from what our forefathers practiced, we can today grow our plants without soil and not have to worry about dirt!
Experience Freedom I introduce to you aeroponics – growing of plants in a misty environ or air in the absence of soil
Farming Without Soil - Aeroponics The Basics In an aeroponics system, plant cuttings or seeds are suspended mid-air in a growing chamber, as a mist of nutrient-laden water is continuously sprayed on the roots of plants. Aeroponics systems can be used anywhere, where environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity can be regulated. Sunlight is the primary light source, with some supplemental lighting.
An aeroponics system reduces water usage by 98 %, fertilizer by 60 % and pesticides by 100 %, according to NASA. The lack of soil provides maximum root aeration and keeps roots dry, reducing the risk for diseases. Seedlings can be healthier because they don't stretch or wilt while roots are forming. Harvesting is also easier, especially for root crops, and because plants grow faster, crops can be planted and harvested in the system throughout the year.
There are many benefits to aeroponics. • Faster growth cycle (3 to 5 times faster than conventional growing in soil • Huge water savings: Aeroponics uses 95% less water than conventional gardening. • Plants are healthier, and tastier with enhanced flavanoids. • Plants need oxygen to grow. That’s right! • No need for medium • No aeration system necessary
Why are we not doing aeroponics? So I asked? If aeroponics is such a good thing, why is not everyone doing it? And what I discovered there are two main reasons. 1. It’s just too complicated (well when not understood) and 2. It appears way too expensive. Well, I love this type of a challenge. I enjoy research and I love technology. So I combined my two interests to create an aeroponics system that’s affordable.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Maimonides
We will: • Provide the information you need about aeroponics. • Learn all you need to know on how to build and run a successful aeroponics system • Build model aeroponics systems depending on the space available.
Now everyone can be a gardener or an innovative farmer. We give you: • The great advantage to grow your healthy plants • Hands on application on agricultural practice • Participants can decide to grow crops on commercial basis and earn an income • Participants can set-up aeroponics system (or aquaponics or hydroponics systems) for extra revenue • Grand Sreach literacy can be listed as being affiliated to your organization and will be available to help out when needed (if you decide to come in as an organization)
The great aim of education is not knowledge but action. Herbert Spencer
Seize this amazing opportunity, expand your horizon For training and establishment of aeroponics: screahaeroponics@gmail.com 08034055066 Facebook (Sreach Aeroponics) Twitter (@GSreachliteracy)
innovationafrik: What is this fantasy about drip irrigation? Drip irrigation allows you to send water to the roots of your plants with great precision. Plants make use of water more efficiently when they get it through their roots.
Let's take this example. A man who is dehydrated and needs water urgently, which is more efficient, pouring water on his head or getting water into his veins? Veins of course, this also applies to plants and that's what drip irrigation does.
With drip irrigation, you can reduce labour hours needed and cost of fertilisation. A turning of a tap can irrigate hectares of land all at once and you use 40-70 percent less water (ain't you saving the Earth). You can also mix your fertiliser and other nutrition in the tank and pass it to the roots of the plants through drip irrigation, you must be trained to do this in order not to kill your plants, its called Fertigation. With fertigation, you will use less fertilisers.
Because drip irrigation does not splash water on the crops, you will greatly reduce Fungi infections and the Bees will not be disturbed.
Do you have small or large plantation of Plantains, Banana, vegetables, Cocoa, Cashew etc, I can install drip irrigation for you at a very low cost, with fertigation you may get over 20 percent more yield.
innovationafrik: The Greenhouses I set up were actually for demonstration and trial but when the yield was good, I decided to sell the produce. After the construction of the Greenhouses, I employed a Manager and few staff to run it after I had trained them. I had to return to my work and family in Lagos.
Despite the good yield, my workers said they had problems of marketing, since I was not on ground, there was nothing I could do.
A very important thing is that its always better to run your Greenhouses yourself or have a trusted and tested staff. You will have to take your produce to hotels, Eateries and markets around you.
In my opinion, Tomato Greenhouses are the most fragile when it comes to disease management. Blight and Bacteria Wilt has rendered so many Tomato Greenhouses loss making businesses. The good thing is that there are ways to prevent these diseases. I also advise people to grow other crops like Sweet Pepper, Cucumber, Strawberry etc if they know how to market them. I will talk more about Greenhouse challenges later.
innovationafrik: I assembled a team of Welders, Plumbers, Carpenters and Tailors. I gave the Welder the Greenhouse designs I wanted, after several trial and errors, he got the shape and welded all the Iron Rods together. The Carpenter also managed to put up the wood/timber Greenhouse. I had earlier imported Drip irrigation kits and Rain Guns from India. I imported Hybrid seeds from Kenya and Isreal. The only seeds I imported from the US were Beefstake Tomato and Heat Tolerant Broccoli. The pictures of the Greenhouses will be attached shortly.
innovationafrik: My first thought was to buy Greenhouses off shelf, so I contacted some companies in Nigeria and I realised that they charge as high as N1.1 million to install a small Greenhouse. I also noted that I will spend at least N400,000-500,000 more to get the Greenhouse installed. This means I will have to cough out N1.6 million for a Greenhouse. To be candid, N1.6 million is not too much, you can spend N10 million on the same size of Greenhouse depending on your requirements. However, I was determined, I wasn't going to pay N1.6 million for a Greenhouse. My budget was to build a Greenhouse for N500,000
innovationafrik: Hi All, I want to show you how I built my cheap greenhouses here in Nigeria.
A Greenhouse (polyhouse or polytunnel or High/Low tunnel) is a Dome or Square shape structure where crops especially vegetables (Tomato, sweet pepper, strawberry, Broccoli, Cauliflower etc) are planted.
In Tropical Countries like Nigeria, Greenhouses are usually covered with transparent or White polyethylene while sides are wrapped with Nets. They may also be equipped with drip irrigation or rain Guns. With Greenhouses, you can plant all year round under high intensive cultivation.
I have read about Greenhouses having Tomato crops yielding 10-15kg per plant. I have also visited and/or worked on Greenhouses in Europe and Asia recording 11kg per Tomato plant. I have also seen Greenhouse Crops that were ravaged by Bacteria Wilt and Blight, in these cases, the Greenhouse owners recorded huge losses with little or no output.
Now, I will tell you how I built my Greenhouses. Below are my details for questions/enquiries:
Esude007: Good day fellas, I want to take u guys on my journey of preaching good Agronomic practices in farming.
On the 14th of August, I took the soil sample of the abandoned field, I did the test myself because I have a soil testing kit, I found out that the soil ia deficient in Nitrogen, so I am set.
On the 15th of August, i started planting. 4 cups of pure sesame seed ( ncriben 04e ) was planted with the help of some young kids in my area.
I used dibbling method because the land was strong. Some boiz done turn am to football field
seaenergy: As a Traveller some trees in south East never been found in other countries despite Wikipedia telling you that it's all over other countries., Such as Oha, Ugolo, ukwa, ubune, udera and the less
Those trees you listed are not indigenous to the South East alone when you find out what names they are called in other regions of Nigeria and indeed other countries.
dre11: “We are advising the public of our decision to authorise the importation of fresh Oha leaves (Pterocarpus mildbraedii) from Nigeria into the continental United States,” a memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES said.
Kehfie: There are some villages in Kaduna state where there are large plantations of Oha. The locals do not eat the leaves but business women from all over the north and Abuja go there to harvest and sell the leaves. I believe it will be a commercially viable venture. Note though that oha is a tree and trees take time to grow. All the best.
Impressive. The proposed Lekki International Airport, on the Lekki Peninsula, Lagos State has to be iconic and streamlined in design and beat the Dakar in Senegal, Uyo Airport in Akwa Ibom State, Tamale and Kotoka International Airports in passenger size. Anything less than the best is a felony.
vankelvin: There are so many beautiful and modern Airports in West Africa but out of them all are about 6 Airports that stands-out.
Nigeria have the most number of Airports in West Africa of which about 7 of them are International Airports. Murtala Mohammed International Airport is the biggest of them all and also the biggest in West Africa.
Ghana also have 3 International Airports and 5 Domestic Airports. Kotoka International Airport is the biggest Airport in Ghana and the second biggest in West Africa after Murtala Airport in Lagos.
All the other countries in West Africa have at least one International Airport.
Below are the Top 6 Most Modern and Beautiful Airports in West Africa
1-- Kotoka International Airport- Accra, Ghana 2-- Blaise Diagne International Airport- Dakar, Senegal 3-- Murtala Mohammed International Airport-- Lagos, Nigeria 4-- Port Harcourt International Airport- Nigeria 5-- Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport- Abuja, Nigeria 6-- Eyadema Gnassingbe International Airport- Lome, Togo
kaymofo: FOOD is the beginning of wisdom. The first condition of putting anything into your head and heart, is to first put something into your stomach. (Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach, 1804-1872), a German Philosopher.
The world’s food production depends on availability of: Arable land Water and Stable climatic conditions.
Arable Land has become less available over the last 20 years for various reasons: Namely… •Urbanization process •Deterioration of arable land fertility due to over fertilization and mismanagement •Population growth
Water Water resources are in decline for the last 3 decades due to unstable/changes of climate around the world. Growth of population requires increase in agriculture. Food production thereby requires more water, as 70% of the world’s fresh water is currently used for irrigation. Water resources mismanagement.
Climate change •A process which becomes more and more evidential. •The result; change in climate patterns which dramatically affects the growing seasons, unpredictable floods, and draughts, subsequently reducing substantially the overall availability of productive arable lands.
Greenhouse as solution: • Do not require arable land. Reduced turnaround time between planting as no soil preparation is required neither is soil test required.
• Can produce food even if water resources are limited, as it only requires 5%-10% water
• Produce more food per unit of cultivation. More produce are harvested in lesser time than using traditional agricultural methods because you can grow your plants all year round. • Supported by climate control technology.
• Requires little or no electricity
•What you will harvest on an half plot of Greenhouse is equivalent to what you will harvest on an hectare of an open field.
• You grow under a controlled environment and you have control over pest and other plant diseases.
•Your returns on investment is assured in no time.
• IN GENERAL: No location restrictions: Climate wise or land wise. Plants can be grown effectively in any circumstances.
Introducing you to this mouthwatering offer while stock last.
You pluck the leaves and rinse then spread in the sun or if you have a dehydrator, you then grind manually into little quantity and sprinkle on whatever you want to use it for.
kaymofo: Stevia is used as a healthful alternative to added sugar in many meals and beverages.
The natural sweetener tastes 200 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar.
It has shown potential health benefits as a healthful sugar alternative for people with diabetes.
Stevia have been approved for use and do not appear to pose any health risks when used in moderation.
Stevia sweeteners are used as an ingredient in products such as: ice cream, desserts, sauces, yogurts, pickled foods, bread, soft, drinks, chewing gum, candy, seafood, prepared vegetables....
Turn and complement your ornamental garden at home or workplace to an edible garden with organic stevia plants.
codekanle: Ogbole Samson claims that he grows plants without soil. He also asserted, "Soiless farming is a sure way to combat food insecurity as it produces more food in less time and space without compromising quality" This is incredible!
veggieman2be: Regarding the upload once you pay, I will send you the link to all the Hydroponic Soilless Farming Practical Training Videos. Which You will now download to your phone or laptop.
◾ Understand the essential elements and their function within plants.
◾ Know the different types of hydroponic growing media.
◾Identify pest management products and equipment.
◾ Understand the suitable environmental condition for growing crops in hydroponics.
◾ Understand the best type of hydroponic systems for backyard greenhouses.
◾ Practical demonstration of growing plants from seed to fruiting in hydroponics.
DM me on my WhatsApp to the number on my signature beneath this message ending with 93 with the message Interested just send Interested only, you will be sent direction on how to be a participant of the training.
Nairaland don't allow sharing of number and links
We will be holding training on Hydroponic Soiless Farming on:
Friday 1st of September 2023 TIME: 7PM - 9PM
If you're just seeing this writeup you can still join the Group we're we hold training regularly
WHY BUY WHEN YOU CAN GROW YOUR CROPS🍉🍓🍅🍆🫑🫛🥒 IN JUST WATER!
Hydroponics farming is a method of growing crops without soil but with WATER.
In this training we'll cover on growing crops such like Pepper, Cucumbers, Okra, Tomatoes, WaterMelons and many more either for personal use or in commercial quantity just in your frontage without the use of soil.
With Hydroponics farming you don't have to worry about tilling the soil or weeding.
The training covers 1. Theory 🍅 Introduction to Hydroponics. 🍅Types of hydroponics methods. 🍅Hydroponics plant nutrition. 🍅Common mistakes to avoid when farming Hydroponically.
2. PRACTICAL. 🫑Setting up of a Hydroponics farm 🫑Seedlings selection, propagation and transplanting. 🫑Nutrients testing and regulations. 🫑Pest and disease control methods.
BONUS COURSES: Fish farming Poultry farming Snail farming Sack farming
Michael Adenuga has seriously dropped in the top 10 rankings. He used to be running neck-and-neck with Aliko Dangote among all the Nigerian Forbes-rated USD billionaires.
A soldier has slammed the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for ordering the arrest of his colleague alongside three other motorcyclists for driving against traffic on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. The yet-to-be-identified soldier, who appeared to be defending his colleague in a viral video on Thursday, faulted Sanwo-Olu for calling a soldier ‘useless’ in the presence of ‘bastard civilians’.
On Tuesday, ordered the arrest of a soldier and three other motorcyclists for driving against traffic on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. In a viral video, Sanwo-Olu was seen ordering his men to put one of the motorcyclists who claimed to be a soldier into the vehicle, stating that he was going to lock him up.
Reacting to the arrest, the soldier who believed that his colleague had done nothing to have deserved an arrest, said the state governor had no right to arrest a soldier, especially in front of his barracks. He claimed that soldiers are not under the control of any state governor but their senior officers.
Such an asinine video response. It's time to radically weed out highly indisciplined young soldiers like this and the other one who spoke in a video uploaded yesterday from the military and also take care of the welfare of all serving soldiers. Discipline is always emphasized in the military but these young gangsters who support driving against traffic and using uncouth language such as calling citizens bloody civilians must be weeded out ASAP after court-martialing them.
hedonido: I don't know what garbage they feed you illiterates. It's just like some hungry factory workers ranting in their dark corner that they do the real work of the industry more than the general manager or executives. Or bank security gossiping among themselves that they're the ones that do the real job in the bank and ranting against their Regional Managers, Executive Directors and MDs. You're a fucking retard.
Which coup in the history of Nigeria has been successfully executed by a useless korofo - even their useless WO2? Execution has typically been led by majors and Lt Colonels, but at the end of the day, a Major General at least would be made Head of State - with the exception of Gowon who was a Lt. Col prior to the coup.
So you korofo useless bastards who go about constituting a nuisance are no more than expendable, dispensable factory workers. Don't delude yourselves. You will NEVER plan or execute any coup. You will NEVER receive any benefits if your EDUCATED commisonned officer superiors plan and execute a coup. You are useless. You are nothing. I laugh when you rats think you are some special breed that civilians must bow to. You MUST obey the laws of the land and subject your miserable selves to civilian authority.
Nincompoop.
Nicely put!
Below is another viral video from January 2020 of some highly irresponsible and indisciplined young army cadets blocking a highway with their cars and causing a traffic jam while calling drivers bastards and bloody civilians in the video, while saying the civilians cannot do anything. Surely urgent reforms are needed among these gang of highly indisciplined humans in the military.
Orikinla: The first Nigerian movie to be sold in home video was "Orun Mooru" in 1982, directed by Dr. Ola Balogun and produced by Moses Olaiya, popularly known as Baba Sala, the famous Nigerian comedian. Pirates sold the home video before the film was released.
The popular 1982 movie "Orun Mooru" was a celluloid movie meant to be screened at Nigerian cinemas, but it was pirated after the master tape got missing.
Agriculture › Re: Aerofarm Grows Crops Without Soil, Water Or Sunlight (first In The World) by Konquest: 11:17pm On Jan 05, 2024
lab is missing one ingredient: the earthiness that permeates any agricultural operation.