"Transforming unproductive urban spaces into productive agricultural systems."
What is Urban Farming?
Whereas conventional farming is situated in and defines rural areas, urban farming consists in running agricultural production systems in the city. Urban farms utilise urban space in a versatile way, they can use in-soil or hydroponic agriculture, grow outdoor or indoor and be man-powered or automated. However, since the city grows vertically, so usually do urban farms.
Why Urban Farming?
There are several advantages to urban farming:
Proximity
The primary benefit of urban farming is bringing the producer closer to the consumer and this has several positive effects such as provision of fresher products with a longer shelf-life, reducing waste, reducing logistics and tightening relations which are conducive to quality control and feedback. When urban farming is set right in the premises of the consumer, it offers complete control over food supply.
Economy
Second, urban farming utilises urban and vertical spaces, allowing for their capitalisation, for a reduction of production costs as well as for the use of near resources (abundant CO2, atmospheric water from AC units etc.) Moreover, indoor farming and environmentally controlled cultivation reduce risks of disease, pest and fungal contamination in comparison to conventional agriculture.
Sustainability
Finally, urban farming contributes to sustainable development by increasing food safety and food security as well as by increasing economic resilience. Urban farming creates more green spaces in urban areas and brings balance to the traditional urban-rural divide which keeps the city depedent and the village burdened. Last but not least, it provides opportunity for many new “green jobs”.
Who is urban farming for?
Hospitality
Agribusiness
CSR
Home-Makers
You are a restaurant or hotel & resort company and you are looking for fresher products and sustainable supply. You want to increase your control over the quality of the produce and create a unique “green” experience for your customers. You may want to have a farm housed in your own premises or partner with an urban farm in your neighborhood.
You are in the business of selling food produce and you are looking at selling uniquely fresh and local urban farming produce. You may already own urban space you would like to convert into an urban farm. Whether you want to own the farm or lease out the space to third party, you can capitalise on this space with urban farming.
You are any other kind of business and you are interested in developing sustainable CSR in your company. You may want to build a farm in your own premises that will supply your company (cantine) and recycle resources, (e.g. atmospheric water), reduce CO2 emissions or you may simply rent out your space sustainably to a third party.
You are a home builder, whether developer, architect or householder and you want to upgrade your home development by integrating food production systems into your design. The purpose could be to greenify living space, increase food self-sufficiency and resilience or monetise space.
How does Farmup work?
Farmup assists with the creation of the farm from beginning to end, from designing, to business strategy and partnership building, construction, maintenance and staff training.
Strategy & Planning
Farmup will design the farm, find the appropriate location, technology and strategy planning to best answer your demand. If necessary, Farmup will also investigate to find partnering businesses who will either provide the urban space or purchase the produce.
Building & Incubating
Farmup will work with local suppliers and builders to manage the installation of the farm. Until the farm is fully functioning, we will also follow through with the support of experts for at least 6 months to ensure the farm is fully functioning.
Training & Advising
Before leaving you to your newly created farm, Farmup ensures your staff is fully trained to operate the farm professionally. However, we never really leave our clients alone, and whenever challenges present themselves, Farmup is always following up with adequate advice.