Korea: Growing vegetables in city buildings

This allows the urban farm to yield 50 times more produce than a field of the same size.
Only 10 percent of water is used compared to ordinary hydroponics farms, which also reduces concerns about wastewater.

By Jeong Eun-joo,
Arirang News.
June 11, 2022

In Korean cities nowadays, there’s a growing number of so-called urban farms, where people are using extremely efficient methods of growing vegetables that could one day become a major source of food.

The plants grow in a vertical framework, and are sprayed with mist rather than the more water-intensive hydroponic method.

JEONG Eun-joo explains.

On the surface, this looks like an ordinary workshop.
All kinds of vegetables, however, are growing inside, making it appear similar to the interior of a greenhouse.

This facility maximizes space efficiency by growing vegetables on nine tiers of an iron frame.

The cultivation period is minimized by utilizing technology that sprays water on the vegetables like mist.

This allows the urban farm to yield 50 times more produce than a field of the same size.
Only 10 percent of water is used compared to ordinary hydroponics farms, which also reduces concerns about wastewater.

“The growth rate of these vegetables is very fast because the roots are exposed to the air.”

This store situated in the center of the city is also a vegetable farm.

It’s unique in that there is a tank full of fish at the end of each frame where vegetables are growing.
Water circulates between the vegetables and the tank.

The vegetables absorb nutrients from fish excrement and microorganisms in the water, and water purified from the plant roots is recirculated to the fish tank.

“Because the plants are grown with natural fertilizers made from fish excrement, the plant’s cell structure is very dense, and the vegetables have better flavor, taste, and texture.”

In vertical urban farms like these, it is possible to produce high-quality vegetables all year-round by automatically controlling the temperature, humidity, and even carbon dioxide concentration with IT technology.

“We plan to promote the growth of a profitable agriculture industry by supporting the entire cycle of its commercialization.”

To support the distribution of vertical urban farms, the Rural Development Administration and the Korea Agriculture Technology Promotion Agency will select and promote related businesses.

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