2010-03-16|Vertical Farming: An Idea Whose Time Has Come Back
To the editor
I am delighted to see an article about renewed visions of urban agriculture in the Futurist magazine (March-April 2010).
I would like to point out that the most efficient shape for enclosing space is a dome rather than a pyramid. Such multi-tiered city farms would require a significant amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). Hence, it is logical to combine a greenhouse with a power generation plant that burns natural gas or trash from the city.
Canadian Patent 2 289 991 discloses "Integrated Power Generation Plant and Greenhouse". An integrated power generation plant and greenhouse comprises a power generation plant having a thermal engine and an electric generator, and at least one greenhouse for growing plants such as fruits and vegetables by a photosynthesis process. The fuel for the power generation plant may be a biomass fuel or a fossil fuel. Preferably, the power generation plant is a combined-cycle co-generation plant. Electricity, exhaust gases and steam are distributed from the power generation plant to a plurality of greenhouses in a concentric, modular star or modular ring configuration. Oxygen is released to the atmosphere from the greenhouse. Plants may be grown aeroponically or hydroponically in a dome-shaped greenhouse.
