Korea: Urban smart farms grow vegetables in Seoul’s subway stations and rooftops

“This urban smart farm uses AI sensors and cameras to monitor the conditions of the greenhouse and maintain the environment so it’s optimal for growth”.

By Lee Shi-hoo,
Arirang News.
Aug 19, 2022

Excerpt:

Metro Farm – a collaboration between Seoul Metro and agricultural firm Farm8 – is the name of the underground farms located at select subway stations in the capital.
Even without natural sunlight, vegetables grow with the help of technology.

Instead, LED lights replace the role of the sun.
Now, at a recently-renovated Metro Farm in Sangdo subway station on Line 7, special classes are being offered for children as part of what’s called the “Farm Academy.”

They get to plant vegetable seeds in wet sponges.
Then they change into the right apparel before entering the smart farm.
The students harvest lettuce which is used to make salads and other dishes at the farm’s cafe.
Straight from farm to table, the vegetables can be eaten fresh.

On the rooftop of a company building in Seocho-gu District in Seoul
Sunlight seeps through the ceiling, providing light to the plants below.
This farm uses both sunlight and LED lights to grow a variety of vegetables like tomatoes and bell peppers.

It also uses other types of technology.

Read the complete article here.