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A social enterprise based in Sweden plans to build a skyscraper greenhouse that could produce enough food to feed up to 30,000 people.
Business Green reports that the project, planned by a social enterprise called Plantagon, involves building a 54m vertical farm in which the company will grow pak choi.
The first greenhouse is expected to be complete by 2014 with building work already started. Plantagon say they plan to harness the often wasted potential found in cities by harnessing excess heat from surrounding building to heat the plants.
Plants start at the top and after a three month accent through the center of the tower they're ready for harvesting. The company claim this leads to increased yield and less pesticides, it also uses less space than conventional farming techniques.
The company will be growing the asian green leafy vegetable pak choi in the hope of attracting custom from Asian markets, something which does seem to cancel out some of their sustainable approach to farming, but with a grow system that captures carbon dioxide from outside and turns it into oxygen and a new idea of harnessing the excess energy of a city, the system is an interesting development.
Plantagon are also keen to explore the possibilities of combining their idea and technology with traditional office space - something that could see all our work places growing fresh food in the future.
