Abstract
Climate and social changes are deeply affecting current agro-food systems. Unsustainable agricultural practices and the low profitability of small farmers are challenging the agricultural development of rural areas. This study aims to develop a novel, modular and low-cost vertical hydroponic farm system through reviews of the patented literature, research literature and variants of commercial products. After a detailed conceptualization process, a prototype was fabricated and tested at my university to validate its technology readiness level (TRL). The outcomes supported the usability and performance of the present utility model but highlighted several changes that are necessary before it can pass to the next TRL. This study shows that the prototype has the potential to not only solve food sovereignty but also to benefit society by advancing the innovations in food production and improving quality of life.
Highlights
By 2025, the world’s population will number 9.7 billion [1]
Agriculture is responsible for 60% of the total water use in Europe [5] and 70% in the world [6]
Agriculture for food uses large amounts of fertilizer and pesticide: the European Union (EU) uses more than 11 million tons of fertilizer each year [7] and the total EU pesticide sales volume was around 350,000 tons per year on average during the 2011–2019 period [8]
Summary
The agricultural sector will need to produce more food [2]. Crop production is currently affected by many factors such as climate change, a lack of water and arable land shortages [3,4]. Despite these issues, agricultural productivity needs to be improved. Agriculture for food uses large amounts of fertilizer and pesticide: the European Union (EU) uses more than 11 million tons of fertilizer each year [7] and the total EU pesticide sales volume was around 350,000 tons per year on average during the 2011–2019 period [8]. We need to protect our environment and natural resources, but excessive fertilizer use can pollute the surface and groundwater, while the use of pesticides damages both human health and the environment
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