The London underground bunkers are now grown lettuce

At a depth of 33 meters under the streets of London is an old bomb shelter built during the Second World War. Today, the long underground tunnels used for other purposes: they have turned into hydroponic greenhouses. Here the company Zero Carbon Food grow lettuce and other greens. Environmentally friendly product comes straight from the tin on the morning of shops, restaurants and canteens in London.

Hydroponic greenhouses clock highlights energy-efficient light-emitting diodes instead of the natural sun, about on the International Space Station .

Here, no pesticides and crop cultivation requires 70% less water than the outdoor garden beds.

"The entire system is automated, the computer controls the lighting, temperature, nutrients in the soil and the air flow», - говорит Steven Dring (Steven Dring), co-founder of the company.

Underground farm is best suited for growing crops is small in size with a small period of maturation: that peas, coriander, mustard, radish, garlic and the like culture. Changing environmental conditions, can further accelerate the maturation of plants. It is equally important that the fields in the bunkers give the crop all year round, and during the whole time here maintain a stable temperature, humidity and lighting.

Sale of eco-friendly product made under the brand Growing Underground .



Zero Carbon Food Company began operations in 2014, and since then has attracted around 750 thousand. Pounds investment. Investors appreciate the potential size of the market, so that investments can bring a good profit.

Now Zero Carbon Food uses only a quarter of the available space and tunnels can provide 5 to 20 tons per year, depending on the type of plant that generates income in the amount of 1, 3 million pounds per year.

Moving agricultural fields into the ground - a very promising direction, given the ongoing urbanization of humanity, population growth and problems with the availability of free agricultural land.

Farming in urban areas successfully develops another local company - GrowUp , that uses aquaponics hydroponics instead. Aquaponics represents an artificial ecosystem where fish waste used as culture medium for plants.



Wasteless gated vertical farm produces 20 tons of salad every 4 tons of tilapia fish.



Benefits of urban akvaferm obvious: fresh fish available in shops all year round, whereas the normal way it can be caught only from March to October. In the remaining months of the fish has to be imported from other countries. That is a great technology import, which is very important for the country's food security.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/261986/