Objective
The global population is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. National populations are expected to more than double in 40 countries. The global life expectancy is 73 years for women and 69 years for men—there are more people in the world and we are living longer. While industrial agriculture produces enough food to feed the world as a whole (2790 kcal/person/day in 2006-08), 32% of all food produced is wasted. The logistics of food production and transportation are largely to blame although in developed countries a substantial amount of food is wasted at the point of consumption. As a result, overall global food availability is lower than it would otherwise be, requiring the planet’s agricultural system to produce additional food to compensate for the wasted food production. Consequently, The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates 795 million of the 7.3 billion people in the world, or one person in nine, suffer from chronic undernourishment.
In order to feed the population in 2050, we need to produce an additional 6,000 trillion kcal per year.
However, conventional industrial agriculture is not sustainable. It is one of the most harmful industries to our planet, responsible for:
• 70% of the planet’s water use
• up to 24% of greenhouse gas emissions
• degradation of soil and groundwater pollution
Continual ploughing of fields, combined with heavy use of fertilizers, has degraded soils across the world to the point where arable land is now lost at the alarming rate of over 100,000 square kilometres every year, far outstripping the pace of the natural processes that replace diminished soil.
Thus, nearly a third of worldwide adequate or high-quality food-producing land has been lost.
Our solution to the problems with sustainable agriculture is to use hydroponics and proprietary lighting algorithms combined with indoor vertical farming and our patented ‘growth trays’ to create an incredibly efficient growing environment—the Microfarm.
Fields of science
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturesustainable agriculture
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolors
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticultureurban horticulture
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.2.4. - Sustainable and competitive bio-based industries and supporting the development of a European bioeconomy
- H2020-EU.3.2.1. - Sustainable agriculture and forestry
- H2020-EU.2.3.1. - Mainstreaming SME support, especially through a dedicated instrument
- H2020-EU.3.2.2. - Sustainable and competitive agri-food sector for a safe and healthy diet
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
10999 Berlin
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.