Waste Not , Want Not
Two scientists at the Illinois Institute of Technology may have solved one of the biggest inefficiencies in aquaponic farming : the abundant use of energy that it requires . Elena Timofeeva , a research professor in chemistry , and John Katsoudas , a senior research associate in physics , have developed a system that uses organic food waste — rather than electricity — to generate a mobile aquaponic farm . “[ Food waste ] is introduced into the biodigester through an external chute , and then over the period of about 21 days , it ’ s converted into methane ,” Katsoudas says . “ We then pipe that methane into an electric generator and produce electricity and CO 2 . The electricity is what we use to power the aquaponic systems — i . e . the grow lights , heaters , pumps , air conditioners , control systems , life support for the fish , etc . The byproduct of generating electricity using methane is CO 2 .” The team plans to have the full-scale prototype finished in the next 18 months .
- chicagoinno . streetwise . co
Target to Try Vertical Farming
Department store giant Target , which recently collaborated with the MIT Media Lab and design firm Ideo to launch the Food + Future CoLab , is planning to install a few in-store vertical farms next year to see how involved customers actually want to be with their food . During the trials , people could potentially harvest their own produce from the vertical farms , or just watch as staff members pick greens and veggies to stock the shelves . “ Down the road , it ’ s something where potentially part of our food supply that we have on our shelves is stuff that we ’ ve grown ourselves ,” Casey Carl , Target ’ s chief strategy and innovation officer , says . Food currently represents $ 20 billion of business for the company , he adds . As such , anticipating and shaping the future of food is essential to the company ’ s growth . “ We need to be able to see more effectively around corners in terms of where the overall food and agriculture industries are going domestically and globally .”
- sfgate . com
MAXFACTS
GROWING TIPS , NEWS AND TRIVIA
USDA Supports Diversification
The US Department of Agriculture says it will increase its federal and private-sector support to expand and diversify the US agricultural workforce by increasing opportunities in education , research , and outreach . “ The face of American agriculture is changing ,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack . “ Nearly 10 per cent of US jobs are related to agriculture and the increasingly complex nature of production requires more training and education in science , technology , engineering , and mathematics — the STEM fields — to stay competitive and meet the needs of a growing world for food , fuel , and fiber .” “ A report by USDA ’ s National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Purdue University projects that more than 22 thousand jobs in agriculture related fields may go unfilled every year through at least 2020 ,” he adds . “ This is a great opportunity for smart , young people to start careers in a field that addresses some of the world ’ s most pressing challenges .”
- usda . gov
26 Maximum Yield USA | December 2016