The future of urban farming?

There's been an innovation in urban food growing. It's not earth-shattering, and it's not so new, it's just one of those things that makes sense and given the right conditions could really change agriculture. In sprawling cities with limited growing space, why not start growing up? It's the vertical growing movement.

Valcent is one of the pioneers in developing vertical crop technology. Although their strap line "High density vertical growth" sounds more like a building complex than a food source, they boast some pretty impressive crop yields- up to 20 times the normal production volume and only required 5% of the average water used in conventional growing conditions.

There have been questions over the amount of energy use required to manage the rather unconventional design (think matrix style tubing up the sides of a structure) but as the technology is still in its early days, no doubt it will be an important consideration.

Vertical farming isn't at all limited to massive companies or big areas, you can vertical farm at home. These Woolly pockets are a cool, all-consuming idea. 

Made from 100% recycled bottles, the pockets let you grow stuff virtually anywhere- inside or outside, and you may not even have to get on your hands and knees to tend to your garden. You can even make your own version of a vertical farm.

(Spotted on Treehugger)

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