Iceland's vertical farm turning algae into food | BBC News

Summary

Iceland's cold climate and unique environment may seem unsuitable for farming, but innovative techniques are proving otherwise. Inside Reykjavik's vertical farms, entrepreneurs are using controlled environments with LED lighting, green energy, and hydroponic systems to grow leafy greens year-round. Additionally, a tech firm is pioneering algae farming, using AI and geothermal energy to grow protein-rich microalgae with minimal resources. The algae is highly efficient, turning CO2 into biomass for potential food products. Despite its unconventional appearance, this approach could revolutionize sustainable food production.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Iceland's challenging climate and landscape are being overcome by innovative farming techniques.
• 🥬 A vertical farm named 'Vaa' is cultivating leafy greens using controlled environment agriculture.
• 💡 The farm optimizes factors like humidity, water, light, and nutrition to grow plants without soil.
• 🌱 High-quality LED lights allow for year-round production, independent of Iceland's short summers and lack of sunlight.
• 💧 A hydroponic system is used, significantly reducing water usage by up to 90% through water circulation and reuse.
• 🌡️ Iceland's geothermal energy is harnessed to power the vertical farm's operations.
• 🔵 Factor Technologies is growing microalgae, a potential future food source rich in protein, iron, and fatty acids.
• 🌱 The algae production system is carbon negative, using CO2 and water, and is tightly controlled by artificial intelligence.
• 💡 The system's efficiency in converting light to biomass is highlighted by the use of specific wavelengths for photosynthesis.
• 🌐 The algae farm receives clean electricity, water for heating and cooling, and even CO2 from a neighboring geothermal plant.
• 🤔 The taste and texture of blue hummus made from algae might take some getting used to for consumers.

Q & A

What kind of farming is being practiced in the Icelandic warehouse?

The Icelandic warehouse practices vertical farming, which is a type of controlled environment agriculture that allows the precise control of light, water, and nutrients.

How does this farm reduce its water consumption compared to traditional farming?

The farm uses a hydroponic system that circulates and reuses water, reducing water consumption by approximately 90% compared to traditional open-field farming.

What are some of the crops being grown in this vertical farm?

The vertical farm grows leafy greens, whole head lettuce, baby leaves, herbs, and microgreens.

How does the farm overcome Iceland's dark winters to grow plants year-round?

The farm uses high-quality LED lights powered by Iceland’s clean energy sources, allowing them to grow crops year-round, even during the dark winter months.

What is the role of geothermal energy in this farming process?

Geothermal energy from Iceland's clean and abundant sources powers the vertical farm’s LED lights and provides energy to systems like heating, cooling, and water circulation.

What is the 'energy to food' platform mentioned in the script?

The 'energy to food' platform is a high-tech system that uses clean energy, CO2, and water to grow microalgae efficiently, which could be a potential food source for the future.

Why is algae considered a promising future food source?

Algae is rich in protein, iron, and fatty acids. It requires minimal land, water, and energy to produce, and it can photosynthesize CO2 into biomass, making it an efficient and sustainable food source.

How is artificial intelligence used in the algae-growing process?

Artificial intelligence is used to monitor and control the conditions for optimal algae growth, including regulating the light, temperature, and other factors to ensure maximum efficiency.

What is the significance of the pink and purple lights used in algae farming?

The pink and purple lights are designed to only emit the wavelengths of light that algae can use for photosynthesis, making the process more energy-efficient by avoiding wasteful light.

What are some challenges mentioned regarding the consumption of algae-based food?

One challenge mentioned is the unappetizing appearance of the algae once harvested, and the texture of algae-based foods like blue hummus may take time for consumers to adjust to.