Eco Factor: Vertical farm feeds animals, saves water.
Paington Zoo Environmental Park in Devon is house to the world’s first vertical farm within a zoo. The VertiCrop Garden, as the system has been named, would provide fresh crops for the zoo animals and also cut down the need for food deliveries to the zoo.
The crops to be grown in the garden are potted within individual pockets on large, vertical panels, each of which is hung on an overhead conveyor system which provides the necessary water and nutrients that are necessary for plant growth.
The controlled environment of the vertical farm will also eliminate the use of harmful pesticides. In addition to being soil-free, the system consumes just 5% of the water of conventional gardens, thanks to use of the highly innovative hydroponic and aeroponic technologies. Zoo authorities stated that the system will also bring down the annual bill for animal feed, which currently is in excess of £200,000 a year.
Via: JambleMag
