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Aquaculture refers to the farming of aquatic organisms, including finfish, crustaceans, mollusks, plants, and algae for human use. It has been practiced by cultures around the globe for millennia. However, as global fish stocks decline, and the negative consequences of land-based animal agriculture become increasingly obvious, aquaculture has been touted as a sustainable solution to meet the dietary needs of a growing global population. Its proponents argue that the “blue economy” will revolutionize the global food system.

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Food for all - World food summit - Agricultural machinery worldwide

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Perth engineers create a strawberry-picking robot, but will it cost human jobs?

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The robot, which can also kill fungus with UV technology, could be the key to solving on-farm labour shortages.

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Almost 133 billion pounds of food in the U.S. is wasted annually. Learn how to reduce food waste, and get a soup recipe using leftovers.

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Our mission is to launch, develop and grow research and innovation in products and services harnessing the power of shared knowledge across EIT Food’s innovation ecosystem.

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5 ways to transform our food systems and save the planet

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Our relationship with food is damaged. Can we repair it with a system that promotes biodiversity, regeneration, nutritious food, equity and healthy people?

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Food Solutions - A complete series for Food Studies

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Specifically designed for the new VCE Study Design, Food Solutions Units 1 & 2 and Units 3 & 4 is a comprehensive learning solution designed to increase students’ awareness of the issues surrounding food supply and consumption. Now with a greater focus on preparing VCE students for exam success.

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The 10 food and land use transitions.

Australia's land is under increasing pressure as global demand for food and fibre increases and land use competition grows. There are ten food and land use transitions the world can adopt to better manage these challenges and opportunities.

Explore the transitions to transform the world's food and land use systems below. Click on each transition to learn more and access our new series of papers released each week exploring Australia's role.

This graphic is an adapted version of the original found in Growing Better: Ten Critical Transitions to Transform Food and Land Use which was designed by Regency Creative, London for the Food and Land Use Coalition.

1. Nature-based solutions

2. Wider choice and supply

Diversifying sources of protein

Expanding the range of protein sources could provide health benefits, free up land and water for other uses, and cut methane and greenhouse gas emissions, while opening up new economic opportunities. Read more here.

Promoting healthy diets

A shift towards more plant-rich diets could meet human health and nutritional needs while minimising environmental impacts. Read more here.

Outcomes

Strong economy and employment

An increasingly efficient, diversified, productive and resilient food and land use economy, underpinning thriving regional communities.

Good health and well-being

Secure, sufficient, accessible and affordable nutrition for everyone.

Healthy climate and environment

Alignment with latest science-based goals for climate, biodiversity and natural capital.

1. The challenge

A growing global population creates increased demand for food and fibre. Combined with competition for land, the pressure on Australia's food and land use sector is increasing. At the same time, climate change is making agriculture and other land uses riskier and more uncertain, and accelerating the already rapid decline of natural systems and biodiversity.

2. Global transitions

The global Food and Land Use Coalition, of which our Land Use Futures team is a member, has identified ten transitions to transform the world's food and land use systems. They are critical to providing adequate amounts of nutritious food for the world's growing population, within the planet's climate and ecological boundaries. Each of these is a transformative shift with multiple benefits for the economy, environment and society.

3. Australian transitions

The Land Use Futures program is working alongside over twenty other country teams as part of the global Coalition - a community of organisations and individuals committed to the urgent need to transform the way we produce and consume food and use our land for people, nature and climate. Working collaboratively with Australian stakeholders, our team will build upon and adapt this global work to produce a set of transitions tailored for Australia's unique national and regional circumstances, and steps to achieve them. This series of papers is the first step in the process.

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Global food and land use transitions | Climateworks Australia

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The 10 food and land use transitions. Australia's land is under increasing pressure as global demand for food and fibre increases and land use competition grows. There are ten food and land use transitions the world can adopt to better manage these challenges and opportunities.

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Discover what vertical farming is, how it works, and major problems it can solve for current and future generations.

It's no secret that the future of agriculture is concerning and needs a change. Overall, the population is growing at about 1 percent per year, even faster in some countries. Feeding this growing population is sure to be a challenge as time progresses.

Adding to the problem, current and former agricultural practices are incredibly harmful to the planet. Agriculture has been implicated as a driving cause of climate change, deforestation, and soil degradation. The problem is so significant that we've lost a third of our arable land over the past 40 years.

We must find better ways of producing food for future generations. Fortunately, new farming technology, such as vertical agriculture, offers an excellent way to meet these challenges and produce the food needed for future generations.

What is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is exactly what it sounds like: farming on vertical surfaces rather than traditional, horizontal agriculture. By using vertically stacked layers, farmers can produce much more food on the same amount of land (or even less).

Often these layers are integrated into buildings such as skyscrapers, housed in warehouses or shipping containers, greenhouses (like ours), or placed in spaces that would otherwise be unfit for farming.

Yet vertical farming is much more than just stacking plants and hoping for the best. The practice requires artificial temperature, light, water, and humidity control. If a delicate balance is not maintained, it's possible to lose an entire crop the way a traditional farm might in the event of a drought or flood.

The History of Vertical Farming

It's easy to think of vertical farming as a new concept, especially considering the high-tech vertical farming companies emerging today. But the ideas behind the practice go back millennia. The first example of vertical farming known today is that of the Babylonian Hanging Gardens around 2,500 years ago.

Even hydroponic farming is not entirely new. Around a thousand years ago, the Aztecs developed a version of this practice, called chinampas , by growing their plants on rafts floating above rivers and lakes.

A more technologically advanced form of vertical farming popped up in the 1600s. French and Dutch farmers developed ways to grow warmer-climate fruits against stone walls that retained heat, creating their own microclimates.

How Does Vertical Farming Work?

Vertical farming may answer many of agriculture's challenges, such as providing us with more food on less land and doing so sustainably. But how do vertical farms work, exactly?

Several vertical agriculture models are available, from patio gardens built into old pallets to warehouses with stacked trays and greenhouses (like ours) that produce food for entire communities. Here are the details on how Eden Green Technology's hydroponic greenhouses work.

Our hydroponic vertical farming technology allows growers to cultivate crops in stacked plant spots within tower-like structures. These patented towers are hydroponic systems designed to produce the perfect micro-climate and enable farmers to grow their crops year-round.

Our vertical hydroponics are designed to provide crops with access to natural sunlight so they grow with less waste of land, water, and energy. And our state-of-the-art sustainable system allows you to control all aspects of your farm. This includes production tools that will help you optimize crop cycles and produce plenty of yields to meet your needs.

The Benefits of Vertical Farming

Vertical farming has many benefits, with this model providing maximum output with minimal environmental impact and far less space required. With resources at a premium, it will become increasingly difficult to maintain food production using traditional methods.

Utilize Less Water & Space

With vertical farming techniques; farmers can use 98 percent less water and 99 percent less land. They can produce crop yields of 240 times that of traditional farms through year-round rolling or perpetual harvest. All of our produce is powered by the sun rather than LED lights, so these crops are not reliant on fossil fuels or other less ideal energy sources.

By 2050, around 80 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas. This population structure will mean a higher demand for food in the areas where land is the hardest to come by. In these large urban centers, vertical farming offers a way to meet this increased demand for food without the need for vast fields.

Increased Production All Year

Vertical farming also offers increased production overall and consistent year-round production. Gone are the days when some fruits and vegetables were only available seasonally. Instead, vertical farms can produce all sorts of crops year-round with little dependence on weather or climate.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Eliminates Environmental Impacts

Indoor vertical farming often includes a practice called Controlled Environment Agriculture, or CEA. CEA involves a series of technologies designed around providing optimal conditions for plants. It controls factors like temperature, lighting, and humidity to allow farmers to grow plants that would otherwise not be suitable for the climate and weather.

There are several benefits to a CEA setup. CEA can significantly lessen the occupational hazards associated with traditional farming. Indoor farming does not allow access to wildlife, eliminating the conflict between farmers and native species. It doesn't expose farmers to hazards and diseases such as malaria, poisonous chemicals, and other life-threatening challenges. And with no hazardous chemical runoff, farm-adjacent communities are also protected.

According to EcoWatch , vertical farms are the way of the future:

"Vertical farms are being used beyond food. In fact, they're being used to aid human health. Caliber Biotherapeutics in Bryan, Texas, is home to the world's largest plant-made pharmaceutical facility. This 18-story, 150,000-square-foot facility contains a staggering 2.2 million tobacco-like plants stacked 50 feet high, that will be used for making new drugs and vaccines. Because the indoor farm is so carefully monitored and tightly controlled by technicians, these expensive plants are shielded from possible diseases and contamination from the outside world."

If you're interested in this topic, we wrote an article on how vertical farming helps to prevent farming diseases .

Food Desert Solution

Finally, vertical farms can solve the increasing problem of food deserts in heavily populated areas that lack access to fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Because vertical farms can be constructed with a small footprint and can even be integrated into existing buildings and rooftops, vertical farming has already started to produce food oases where deserts once existed.

This provides healthy food where only unhealthy options were previously available. Because it doesn't require a lengthy shipping and warehousing process, it can also produce affordable and nutritional food for low-income families.

Reduced Arable Land

With arable land quickly depleting due to erosion and pollution, we're heading toward a crisis. We must find ways to produce healthy food without needing acres and acres of quality topsoil. Vertical farming can help contribute to this solution by farming upward rather than outward.

Since many vertical farms are contained within greenhouses or other structures, they can be built nearly anywhere - in densely populated urban centers, on rooftops and inside warehouses, or even in depleted areas where traditionally farmed crops can no longer grow.

Pesticide-free

CEA vertical farms typically have little need or even use for pesticides. By controlling the environment around crops, these systems keep out pests naturally - no need for chemical pesticides that can cause other problems down the line.

Reduced Emissions

Since vertical farms can be constructed in urban areas; this reduces how far produce travels between farms and grocery stores, lowering their carbon footprint. This also means fewer food miles and fresher produce reaching your local grocer. When food is grown mere miles from where consumers will eat it, it stays fresher longer, creating less food waste and offering fresher, healthy food for local families.

Food Safety

Food recalls are a common occurrence. We're always hearing about produce tainted by E.Coli or other pathogens.

Vertical farming virtually eliminates this problem by carefully monitoring and controlling the environment around plants, creating near laboratory conditions and preventing farming diseases . In such an environment, the introduction of contaminants is far less likely.

Can Vertical Farms Feed the World?

Vertical farming is an amazing option to solve many of agriculture's problems today, but it's not a complete solution. Some crops simply won't grow well in such a configuration, and there will always be a need for other growing methods.

That said, vertical farms can help feed the world by allowing growers to produce healthy, fresh foods in areas with little food production. They can offer ways for farmers to produce crops without worries over the effects of climate change since CEA systems allow for any climate the plants might need. And they can grow more food in less space, allowing us to continue to feed the growing population.

Vertical Agriculture With Eden Green Technology

There are a great many reasons to adopt vertical farming techniques today. Possibly the most important reason is that without them, we may not be able to produce adequate food to feed the world's growing population. Yet this new farming method may seem overwhelming to those who are not well versed in it.

Fortunately, Eden Green Technology takes the hassle out of vertical farming by building, running, and harvesting produce for grocers and store brands. You tell us what you want, how much you want, and we will grow it for you. While other vertical farms put their label on packaging, we specifically offer private label options so you can represent your brand.

The Future of Indoor Vertical Farming

You don't have to look very far to find predictions about the future of agriculture . Many believe vertical farming could be a significant portion of the picture of future agriculture. As AgTech continues to develop, farms are becoming increasingly high-tech, allowing farmers to produce more, pollute less, and meet the challenges facing us as we move into the future.

Vertical farms will also likely become more technologically advanced. This may mean robotic monitoring and harvesting, AI-powered CEA systems, and much more. One thing seems sure; vertical farms will likely become a lot more common as we seek to meet the challenges before us.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vertical Farming

Is Vertical Farming Efficient?

Vertical farming uses less water and less space and increases production throughout the year rather than being tied to a specific season. An Eden Green Technology farm can produce daily harvests all year long, with less than 3% food waste and the option to grow more than 200 varieties of hydroponic produce in a single facility.

Profitability is one of the greatest difficulties in some vertical farming models. When starting a vertical farm, it's essential to ensure you have the right technology and partnership for a profitable venture. Energy used for grow lights is among the most concerning vertical farm expenses. Systems like Eden Green Technology seek to minimize these costs while producing plentiful crops for sale.

What Crops Can Be Grown in a Vertical Farm?

The best crops for vertical farming are typically leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens, but many others can work as well. Some vertical farms grow fruits, flowers, grains such as rice, and other vegetable varieties.

Does Vertical Farming Need Water?

Yes, vertical farms use water, but because they can recycle it through the system with minimal waste, they use far less than traditional farms. For instance, Eden Green Technology's vertical farms use about 98% less water than traditional farming.

Does Vertical Farming Use a Lot of Electricity?

Some vertical farm setups use a great deal of electricity to power their grow lights. Eden Green Technology's greenhouses attempt to use natural sunlight as much as possible, leading to 90% less light energy used than other vertical farming options.

What Soil Is Used in Vertical Farming?

Again, this depends entirely on the type of system you're running. Some vertical farms still plant in soil, while others eliminate the dirt entirely. Hydroponic farms like those created by Eden Green Technology use water in place of soil.

Do Vertical Farms Need Fertilizer?

In a vertical hydroponic farm like the ones offered by Eden Green Technology, a nutrient solution added to the water replaces fertilizer and provides all the nutrients plants need to grow and thrive.

Can Vertical Farms Grow Rice?

Yes, some types of vertical farms can grow rice. There are growers in Singapore currently producing rice in vertical farms.

Do Vertical Farms Need Pesticides?

Vertical farms with CEA technology eliminate the need for chemical pesticides by keeping pests away from the plants in the first place. Careful monitoring and cleaning help growers spot problems before they become infestations, meaning no need to spray poisons onto food.

Do Vertical Farms Use Sunlight?

While not all vertical farms take this approach, Eden Green Technology's vertical greenhouses attempt to make the most use of natural sunlight possible. We do this to cut down on the costs and pollution associated with powering large banks of grow lights. The result? We use 90% less light energy than other vertical farming options.

Which Country Uses Vertical Farming the Most?

While we're not aware of any research showing exactly which country currently employs this technology most, several countries and cities worldwide have flourishing vertical farms and other urban agriculture projects.

Discover what vertical farming is, how it works, and major problems it can solve for current and future generations.

It's no secret that the future of agriculture is concerning and needs a change. Overall, the population is growing at about 1 percent per year, even faster in some countries. Feeding this growing population is sure to be a challenge as time progresses.

Adding to the problem, current and former agricultural practices are incredibly harmful to the planet. Agriculture has been implicated as a driving cause of climate change, deforestation, and soil degradation. The problem is so significant that we've lost a third of our arable land over the past 40 years.

We must find better ways of producing food for future generations. Fortunately, new farming technology, such as vertical agriculture, offers an excellent way to meet these challenges and produce the food needed for future generations.

What is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming is exactly what it sounds like: farming on vertical surfaces rather than traditional, horizontal agriculture. By using vertically stacked layers, farmers can produce much more food on the same amount of land (or even less).

Often these layers are integrated into buildings such as skyscrapers, housed in warehouses or shipping containers, greenhouses (like ours), or placed in spaces that would otherwise be unfit for farming.

Yet vertical farming is much more than just stacking plants and hoping for the best. The practice requires artificial temperature, light, water, and humidity control. If a delicate balance is not maintained, it's possible to lose an entire crop the way a traditional farm might in the event of a drought or flood.

The History of Vertical Farming

It's easy to think of vertical farming as a new concept, especially considering the high-tech vertical farming companies emerging today. But the ideas behind the practice go back millennia. The first example of vertical farming known today is that of the Babylonian Hanging Gardens around 2,500 years ago.

Even hydroponic farming is not entirely new. Around a thousand years ago, the Aztecs developed a version of this practice, called chinampas , by growing their plants on rafts floating above rivers and lakes.

A more technologically advanced form of vertical farming popped up in the 1600s. French and Dutch farmers developed ways to grow warmer-climate fruits against stone walls that retained heat, creating their own microclimates.

How Does Vertical Farming Work?

Vertical farming may answer many of agriculture's challenges, such as providing us with more food on less land and doing so sustainably. But how do vertical farms work, exactly?

Several vertical agriculture models are available, from patio gardens built into old pallets to warehouses with stacked trays and greenhouses (like ours) that produce food for entire communities. Here are the details on how Eden Green Technology's hydroponic greenhouses work.

Our hydroponic vertical farming technology allows growers to cultivate crops in stacked plant spots within tower-like structures. These patented towers are hydroponic systems designed to produce the perfect micro-climate and enable farmers to grow their crops year-round.

Our vertical hydroponics are designed to provide crops with access to natural sunlight so they grow with less waste of land, water, and energy. And our state-of-the-art sustainable system allows you to control all aspects of your farm. This includes production tools that will help you optimize crop cycles and produce plenty of yields to meet your needs.

The Benefits of Vertical Farming

Vertical farming has many benefits, with this model providing maximum output with minimal environmental impact and far less space required. With resources at a premium, it will become increasingly difficult to maintain food production using traditional methods.

Utilize Less Water & Space

With vertical farming techniques; farmers can use 98 percent less water and 99 percent less land. They can produce crop yields of 240 times that of traditional farms through year-round rolling or perpetual harvest. All of our produce is powered by the sun rather than LED lights, so these crops are not reliant on fossil fuels or other less ideal energy sources.

By 2050, around 80 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas. This population structure will mean a higher demand for food in the areas where land is the hardest to come by. In these large urban centers, vertical farming offers a way to meet this increased demand for food without the need for vast fields.

Increased Production All Year

Vertical farming also offers increased production overall and consistent year-round production. Gone are the days when some fruits and vegetables were only available seasonally. Instead, vertical farms can produce all sorts of crops year-round with little dependence on weather or climate.

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Eliminates Environmental Impacts

Indoor vertical farming often includes a practice called Controlled Environment Agriculture, or CEA. CEA involves a series of technologies designed around providing optimal conditions for plants. It controls factors like temperature, lighting, and humidity to allow farmers to grow plants that would otherwise not be suitable for the climate and weather.

There are several benefits to a CEA setup. CEA can significantly lessen the occupational hazards associated with traditional farming. Indoor farming does not allow access to wildlife, eliminating the conflict between farmers and native species. It doesn't expose farmers to hazards and diseases such as malaria, poisonous chemicals, and other life-threatening challenges. And with no hazardous chemical runoff, farm-adjacent communities are also protected.

According to EcoWatch , vertical farms are the way of the future:

"Vertical farms are being used beyond food. In fact, they're being used to aid human health. Caliber Biotherapeutics in Bryan, Texas, is home to the world's largest plant-made pharmaceutical facility. This 18-story, 150,000-square-foot facility contains a staggering 2.2 million tobacco-like plants stacked 50 feet high, that will be used for making new drugs and vaccines. Because the indoor farm is so carefully monitored and tightly controlled by technicians, these expensive plants are shielded from possible diseases and contamination from the outside world."

If you're interested in this topic, we wrote an article on how vertical farming helps to prevent farming diseases .

Food Desert Solution

Finally, vertical farms can solve the increasing problem of food deserts in heavily populated areas that lack access to fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Because vertical farms can be constructed with a small footprint and can even be integrated into existing buildings and rooftops, vertical farming has already started to produce food oases where deserts once existed.

This provides healthy food where only unhealthy options were previously available. Because it doesn't require a lengthy shipping and warehousing process, it can also produce affordable and nutritional food for low-income families.

Reduced Arable Land

With arable land quickly depleting due to erosion and pollution, we're heading toward a crisis. We must find ways to produce healthy food without needing acres and acres of quality topsoil. Vertical farming can help contribute to this solution by farming upward rather than outward.

Since many vertical farms are contained within greenhouses or other structures, they can be built nearly anywhere - in densely populated urban centers, on rooftops and inside warehouses, or even in depleted areas where traditionally farmed crops can no longer grow.

Pesticide-free

CEA vertical farms typically have little need or even use for pesticides. By controlling the environment around crops, these systems keep out pests naturally - no need for chemical pesticides that can cause other problems down the line.

Reduced Emissions

Since vertical farms can be constructed in urban areas; this reduces how far produce travels between farms and grocery stores, lowering their carbon footprint. This also means fewer food miles and fresher produce reaching your local grocer. When food is grown mere miles from where consumers will eat it, it stays fresher longer, creating less food waste and offering fresher, healthy food for local families.

Food Safety

Food recalls are a common occurrence. We're always hearing about produce tainted by E.Coli or other pathogens.

Vertical farming virtually eliminates this problem by carefully monitoring and controlling the environment around plants, creating near laboratory conditions and preventing farming diseases . In such an environment, the introduction of contaminants is far less likely.

Can Vertical Farms Feed the World?

Vertical farming is an amazing option to solve many of agriculture's problems today, but it's not a complete solution. Some crops simply won't grow well in such a configuration, and there will always be a need for other growing methods.

That said, vertical farms can help feed the world by allowing growers to produce healthy, fresh foods in areas with little food production. They can offer ways for farmers to produce crops without worries over the effects of climate change since CEA systems allow for any climate the plants might need. And they can grow more food in less space, allowing us to continue to feed the growing population.

Vertical Agriculture With Eden Green Technology

There are a great many reasons to adopt vertical farming techniques today. Possibly the most important reason is that without them, we may not be able to produce adequate food to feed the world's growing population. Yet this new farming method may seem overwhelming to those who are not well versed in it.

Fortunately, Eden Green Technology takes the hassle out of vertical farming by building, running, and harvesting produce for grocers and store brands. You tell us what you want, how much you want, and we will grow it for you. While other vertical farms put their label on packaging, we specifically offer private label options so you can represent your brand.

The Future of Indoor Vertical Farming

You don't have to look very far to find predictions about the future of agriculture . Many believe vertical farming could be a significant portion of the picture of future agriculture. As AgTech continues to develop, farms are becoming increasingly high-tech, allowing farmers to produce more, pollute less, and meet the challenges facing us as we move into the future.

Vertical farms will also likely become more technologically advanced. This may mean robotic monitoring and harvesting, AI-powered CEA systems, and much more. One thing seems sure; vertical farms will likely become a lot more common as we seek to meet the challenges before us.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vertical Farming

Is Vertical Farming Efficient?

Vertical farming uses less water and less space and increases production throughout the year rather than being tied to a specific season. An Eden Green Technology farm can produce daily harvests all year long, with less than 3% food waste and the option to grow more than 200 varieties of hydroponic produce in a single facility.

Profitability is one of the greatest difficulties in some vertical farming models. When starting a vertical farm, it's essential to ensure you have the right technology and partnership for a profitable venture. Energy used for grow lights is among the most concerning vertical farm expenses. Systems like Eden Green Technology seek to minimize these costs while producing plentiful crops for sale.

What Crops Can Be Grown in a Vertical Farm?

The best crops for vertical farming are typically leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens, but many others can work as well. Some vertical farms grow fruits, flowers, grains such as rice, and other vegetable varieties.

Does Vertical Farming Need Water?

Yes, vertical farms use water, but because they can recycle it through the system with minimal waste, they use far less than traditional farms. For instance, Eden Green Technology's vertical farms use about 98% less water than traditional farming.

Does Vertical Farming Use a Lot of Electricity?

Some vertical farm setups use a great deal of electricity to power their grow lights. Eden Green Technology's greenhouses attempt to use natural sunlight as much as possible, leading to 90% less light energy used than other vertical farming options.

What Soil Is Used in Vertical Farming?

Again, this depends entirely on the type of system you're running. Some vertical farms still plant in soil, while others eliminate the dirt entirely. Hydroponic farms like those created by Eden Green Technology use water in place of soil.

Do Vertical Farms Need Fertilizer?

In a vertical hydroponic farm like the ones offered by Eden Green Technology, a nutrient solution added to the water replaces fertilizer and provides all the nutrients plants need to grow and thrive.

Can Vertical Farms Grow Rice?

Yes, some types of vertical farms can grow rice. There are growers in Singapore currently producing rice in vertical farms.

Do Vertical Farms Need Pesticides?

Vertical farms with CEA technology eliminate the need for chemical pesticides by keeping pests away from the plants in the first place. Careful monitoring and cleaning help growers spot problems before they become infestations, meaning no need to spray poisons onto food.

Do Vertical Farms Use Sunlight?

While not all vertical farms take this approach, Eden Green Technology's vertical greenhouses attempt to make the most use of natural sunlight possible. We do this to cut down on the costs and pollution associated with powering large banks of grow lights. The result? We use 90% less light energy than other vertical farming options.

Which Country Uses Vertical Farming the Most?

While we're not aware of any research showing exactly which country currently employs this technology most, several countries and cities worldwide have flourishing vertical farms and other urban agriculture projects.

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Vertical Farming: Everything You Need to Know | Eden Green

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Discover what vertical farming is, how it works, and the major problems it can solve for current and future generations. Click here to read more.

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Today marks the International Day of Education, which brings attention to the role education plays in building a more sustainable and equitable future. The United Nations recognized when it developed the Sustainable Development Goals that education would be the foundation on which the success of all goals is built, especially food security.

An equitable and quality education affords children and young adults with the opportunity to build a promising future for themselves, a potent tool to help them escape the cycle of poverty. While both the Declaration on Human Rights and the Conventions on the Rights of the Child call for access to education, that right is not being upheld or protected. At least 258 million children are not able to enroll in school, 617 million cannot read or do math, and less than 40% of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa do not finish secondary school.

At Rise Against Hunger, we are dedicated to increasing access to education through school feeding programs. These programs have demonstrated the potential to improve literacy outcomes by reducing short-term hunger, improving attentiveness and increasing attendance. In low-income countries, especially those facing dire food insecurity, the value of sending a child to school is not always apparent, especially when today's needs, such as finding food to put on the table for dinner, take precedent. What value is there in the future when it will not alleviate the present? But the knowledge that their children will receive a hot meal at school is a powerful incentive for parents to send their children to school. Rise Against Hunger is projected to have supported over 300 schools around the world in 2021 by providing nutritious volunteer-packaged meals or by purchasing food locally through local and regional procurement.

In 2017, Rise Against Hunger partnered with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency to implement the Southern Africa School Feeding Initiative in five countries. Planting Seeds for Strong Communities, one of our Empowering Communities sustainable agriculture projects, is a continuation and expansion of that initial project in rural Zimbabwe. The schools we support are transitioning to a home-grown school feeding, meaning they will be self-supporting by growing their food on-site and partnering with local smallholder farmers.

Prior to the start of the project, absenteeism (poor attendance) was high, and school staff hoped that a school feeding program would change the situation. In the past four years of the project, both enrollment and attendance have increased drastically.

The headmaster at Nenyunka School, Taurai Chikanya, has witnessed the impact firsthand. In 2021, enrollment increased by over 66%. Students who had once dropped out of school are now returning to complete their education. The community is more involved in the program knowing their children will receive a meal, and now the school has turned into a learning hub for adults. Agriculture training, originally meant for the local smallholder farmers, is provided to parents who apply their new skills and knowledge to their farms at home.

Taurai now presides over a "top school," and he hopes that, "the school will be able to fund school fees for less privileged kids in our community, so that they have a chance to attend school. The help from [the Rise Against Hunger] project has resulted in the school being able to provide a conducive learning environment."

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The Role of Education in Food Security - Rise Against Hunger

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Today marks the International Day of Education, which brings attention to the role education plays in building a more sustainable and equitable future. The United Nations recognized when it developed the Sustainable Development Goals that education would be the foundation on which the success of all goals is built, especially food security.

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Frontiers | Insight on Current Advances in Food Science and Technology for Feeding the World Population

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While the world population is steadily increasing, the capacity of Earth to renew its resources is continuously declining. Consequently, the bioresources req…

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Regenerative Agriculture: Focuses on practices that regenerate the soil, increase biodiversity, and improve water cycles. Techniques include crop rotation, agroforestry, and reduced use of synthetic fertilizers.

Organic Farming: Uses natural methods to grow crops, avoiding the use of synthetic chemicals. This can lead to healthier soils, fewer pollutants, and better biodiversity.

Precision Agriculture: Uses data from sensors, GPS, and other technology to precisely manage field conditions (e.g., watering, fertilizing) to maximize yields while minimizing waste and environmental impact.

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Growing Upwards: Unveiling the Best Vertical Farms in Australia and New Zealand — AGRITECTURE

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In the ever-evolving landscape of Oceania, characterized by rapid urbanization, a new wave of innovation is poised to revolutionize how we cultivate and access fresh produce. With this urban surge, the importance of locally sourced produce becomes paramount, prompting a shift towards efficient solut

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1.6 billion tonnes is the same weight as 30,303 Sydney Harbour Bridges - that is of wasted food.

This large amount of global food waste has an enormous environmental impact. In fact, if food waste was a nation, it would rank as the third highest national emitter of greenhouse gases after the US and China.

The land used to grow food that is subsequently wasted makes up an area roughly 27 times the size of Queensland (around 1.4 billion hectares). What's more, according to the UN, if global food waste was reduced by just 25%, there would be enough food to feed all malnourished people in the world.

Luckily, food waste is most definitely a solvable problem if consumers, businesses, farmers, and governments come together for a sustained effort. One big part of the solution, however, is emerging technology. Many amazing tech companies have come up with creative ways to solve the food waste crisis. I've put together here my personal favourites.

Food Waste Solutions

Food is wasted at every point from farm to fork, so I've split this list into sub-lists based on what point in the supply chain the company is focused on improving:

Farms

1. Apeel

This is an especially promising technology for farmers in the developing world, where the difficulties involved in getting produce to market before it spoils are the major cause of food waste. But even in the Western world, if the product performs as promised, it could massively cut vegetable food waste in restaurants, supermarkets, and homes.

2. Hungry Harvest, Imperfect Produce and Harris Farm

Like Full Harvest, Hungry Harvest and Imperfect Produce are two companies on the front line of the battle to rescue "ugly" fruit and vegetables from rotting in fields.

Operating in the US, they take a direct-to-consumer approach by delivering food boxes of imperfect produce to unfussy subscribers. Imperfect Produce claims to have saved over 18,000 tonnes of food, and 1.2 billion gallons of water.

3. Hazel Technologies

Intended for fruit producers, Hazel Technologies ' little sachets release a chemical called 1-MCP, a potent plant hormone which sends a strong signal to fruits that it is not yet time to ripen. Producers simply need to toss a Hazel sachet into a box of their fruit. Over a three week period, that sachet releases a safe chemical that slows down the ripening process.

Shops

UK supermarkets' efforts to price down items which are near their sell-by date seem to fall into two categories:

1. Mark down their price and hope people buy them

2. Wait until they're rotten

With many supermarkets recently pledging their intentions to drastically reduce their waste - you may start to see Wasteless's nifty little AI tags in stores soon.

Image from Wasteless, showing their AI price tag on a supermarket shelf.

5. Neurolabs

Restaurants

6. Tenzo

Full disclosure - this is my baby. After running my own chain, Hummus Bros, for several years, I realised just how wasteful the industry was. With the technology that existed at the time, I found it impossible for our teams to get their food ordering or labor scheduling right.

One big part of that mission was allowing restaurants to predict exactly how much they would sell by creating a hyper-accurate AI sales forecasting algorithm. The forecasting uses weather data, growth trends, and all of a restaurant's past data to generate forecasts that are 50% more accurate than you can get using traditional methods. It also allows you to forecast down to the menu item level, allowing you to dramatically slash food waste .

7. Winnow

As the old saying goes: What gets measured, gets managed. Yet restaurants collect very little data on what food they throw away and why, and as such have no idea about how to reduce their waste. products aim to solve that problem by allowing kitchens to monitor their waste.

Their latest update to the product, intriguingly named "Vision", is extremely cool tech: A weighing scale and an AI camera equipped with computer vision algorithms record the weight and the type of food as it is thrown into the bin (for example, 30 grams of steak, 500 grams of fries). The member of staff then selects an option from a touchscreen on the wall above to indicate the reason for the waste (for example, kitchen error or a customer complaint).

The result is data that, if used well, can cut food waste in half.

8. Too Good To Go

Restaurants and cafes can use the platform to sell off about-to-be wasted food at a marked-down price, typically at the end of each day. They get to sell off their surplus stock while attracting new customers to try their food. Hungry, price-conscious consumers can help in the battle against food waste while enjoying delicious food at bargain prices. Everyone's a winner!

Launching only three years ago in Copenhagen, the app has rapidly grown to have 7.5 million users in nine European countries and is working with over 15,000 food businesses. In February, they celebrated saving their 10 millionth meal!

9. Copia

Copia's platform allows businesses to redistribute food surplus to feed people in need by connecting them to local shelters, after-school programs, and other nonprofit organisations. Their software also allows you to track surplus trends, and more easily access tax savings, delivering a hefty ROI to the business, as well as food to the needy.

10. OzHarvest

Households

11. Olio

Shockingly, a huge 70% of post-farm gate food waste is wasted in households, rather than in restaurants, shops, or the manufacturing sector. Any tech that can help us to stop food making that all too familiar journey from the fridge straight to the bin could make a huge impact.

is a platform which is trying to do just that. It's a free app that connects neighbours with each other to flag up and share surplus food. Users just upload a photo and description, then people in the neighbourhood can claim the food before it's wasted. They are now the biggest food-sharing network in the world with over 450,000 users.

Olio also works with businesses to reduce food waste through their "food waste heroes" volunteering scheme. Any business in the UK, Jersey, Stockholm or the Bay Area, California, can ask Olio to send volunteers to pick up and redistribute their surplus food.

12. FridgeCam

The wireless camera can sit inside any fridge, and takes a photo every time you close the fridge door. You can then see the contents from anywhere via a mobile app. This allows you to more easily plan meals and shopping based on what you already have at home. The app also allows you to make inventories and shopping lists, and track best-before dates, giving you the knowledge to plan for a food-waste free lifestyle.

13. Bluapple

Most people know that storing Bananas with other fruits and vegetables is a bad idea if you - that's because our yellow friends release large amounts of ethylene gas - a signal to rapidly ripen.

is a blue, apple-shaped product that sits in your refrigerator and absorbs ethylene gas, allowing consumers to store fresh produce for longer. It lasts for three months before it needs a refill, and is capable of extending produce shelf life by up to three times.

14. MyFoodways

Faced with a fridge full of random ingredients that you need to use? Simply tell the MyFoodways app which ingredients you've got and it will suggest a recipe which will use them up.

Recipe suggestions are an old idea, but unlike other similar services, the MyFoodways recipes adapt to fit what you have in the fridge, switching items with suitable alternatives, and this makes the app far more effective at finding matching recipes.

Help put an end to restaurant food waste

An admission: in the depressing intro to this article, I was actually holding back. Here are two more not-so-fun facts that are essential to understanding the depth of the food crisis we are facing:

It's a tall order, and to achieve these goals we need to do everything we can, both as individuals and as a society, to try to optimise our consumption. Cutting our embarrassing levels of food waste is an easy win and a huge part of the puzzle, and thanks to the companies above, we now have the tools to do it.

If you are in any way involved with food, please reach out to the companies in this list that excite you. In all cases, you'll be saving money and doing good.

In the past 40 years, Earth has lost a third of arable land to soil degradation, erosion, and pollution, drastically reducing our ability to grow food.

Over the next 30 years, the human population is set to increase by more than 35%, adding another China, plus two United States-full of people to the global head-count.

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Emerging Technologies Helping Reduce Food Waste

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Food waste is a huge global issue and some amazing tech companies have come up with creative ways to solve the food waste crisis. Here's a list of our personal favourites.

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Between harvest and retail alone, around 15 percent of all food produced is wasted.

Producing food involves water usage, electricity, transport and much more. When we throw away food, we don't only discard it, but we also waste all the resources used previously to make that food.

Follow these simple tips to help reduce food waste, be more environmentally friendly and save money.

1. Adopt a healthier and more sustainable diet:
Choose foods from the five core food groups and cut back on processed and packaged foods.

2. Buy only what is needed:
Plan your meals and write shopping list. This great habit saves you time, money and makes it easy to organise dinner. VisitSuperhero Foods for a free meal planner.

3. Pick "ugly" fruit and vegetables:
Choose from the "odd bunch'' or the "reject fruit and veg" area at your local shop. These odd-shaped fruit and veg are just as healthy and tasty, and once chopped or grated, you can't tell the difference! Freeze your black bananas for smoothies (take the skin off first!), and stew your soft apples with cinnamon to make a delicious apple sauce.

4. Store food wisely:
Rotate the food in your fridge, freezer and pantry so the older items are at the front and are used first. Have a look at the "use-by date" and "best before date" as the latter is still safe to eat after the suggested date. Cook or freeze those that are close to the use-by date.

5. Eat Smart:
Dish out smaller portions at home or choose entrée size at the restaurant. Freeze left-overs or have them for lunch the day after. Ask for a "doggy" bag to take left overs home after eating out to eat the next day.

6. Put your food waste to use:
Instead of throwing away your food scraps, compost them or give them to friends who have chickens, ducks or a worm farm.

7. Support local food producers:
By buying local produce, you support family farmers and small businesses in your community. You also help fight pollution by reducing food miles.

8. Share and give away:
Donate food that would otherwise be wasted. For example, ask family members, friends and neighbours if they would like to share your food or donate to food relief organisations like Foodbank WA.

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Producing food involves water usage, electricity, transport and much more. When we throw away food, we don't only discard it, but we also waste all the resources used previously to make that food. Follow these simple tips to help reduce food waste, be more environmentally friendly and save money.

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less farming land taken over by government

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less farming land taken over by government

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We’re urging the Victorian Government to safeguard the state’s most strategically significant agricultural land from renewable energy development.

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The word "organic" refers to the way agricultural products such as fruit, vegetables and grain, are grown and processed. Organic food production is based on a system of natural farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic, persistent pesticides or synthetic fertilisers and prohibits genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

For farmers, converting to organic is more than switching out similar products. It is about understanding the natural cycles of farm agroecosystems and how to use them to their advantage rather than control them. Certified organic products represent agricultural practices that promote biodiversity, minimise erosion and protect watersheds, create wildlife zones and habitats, encourage soil regeneration with natural alternatives to synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, and so much more.

Organic produce is grown in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner. Through learning more about natural processes and management practices, organic farmers become less reliant on artificial inputs and monoculture systems that currently dominate non-organic agriculture. Organic farmers provide you and your family with nutritious, safe and sustainable produce.

Organic food production refers to natural farming practices with a focus on soil health.

What is the difference between organic and non-organic produce?
An understanding of the fundamental way in which the organic industry deals with fruit and vegetable production is required to examine the difference between organic and non-organic produce.

Table 1. Production differences between non-organic and organic produce.
Who is controlling the chemicals in non-organic food?
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) are the overarching authority for agricultural and veterinary chemicals, with over 900 chemicals approved for use within Australia. This covers a range of synthetic pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides), fumigants, mycotoxins, anthelmintics, antibiotics, and other medications. Food Standards Australia & New Zealand (FSANZ) have established Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of these agricultural or veterinary (agvet) chemicals in the food you eat. MRLs are the highest amount of agvet chemical residues that are legally allowed in a food product.

Certified organic MRLs are 10% or less of that allowed within FSANZ. However, nearly all 900 products approved by APVMA are not allowed in organic production. Certified organic soil and produce is regularly tested to give consumers a healthy and nutritious product grown sustainably. For more about the health benefits of organic food, explore the Health Benefits of Organics page.
Organic food integrity
Although the basic principles of certified organic and organic may be similar, certified organic means so much more. For a food product to be labelled certified organic in Australia, it must have gone through a strict certification procedure including inspection and approval by an independent, third-party organic certification agency. These rigorous assessments ensure that the farm, manufacturer, and final product complies and adheres to relevant standards, such as the National Standard for Organic and Bio-dynamic Produce (required for export) or the Australian Certified Organic Standard (ACOS).

Certified organic food is safely grown and handled under a traceable system. Organic farms and food manufacturers in Australia are monitored under one of the strictest food regulatory programs in the world. Any person buying organic food endorsed with a certification mark such as the Australian Certified Organic 'Bud' logo (the most recognised organic mark by Australian shoppers ¹) can be assured their food has been handled with care, without the use of harsh synthetic chemicals or additives, from 'paddock to plate'. Organic certification marks act as a guarantee that what you're buying is completely organic - certified to meet some of the highest product standards in the world.

Currently, in Australia, there is no regulation for the term 'organic'. Just because a product has been labelled 'organic' does not necessarily mean that it has been through the same rigorous assessment process as a certified organic equivalent. Due to the lack of domestic regulation in Australia, you might find products with as little as 2% organic ingredients making an organic claim on their labelling. That's why the majority of organic buyers look for certification logos to check that a product is truly organic, and you should too!
Taste
While taste is certainly a matter of opinion, consumers sampling organic food are frequently heard expressing their delight at the full-tasting flavour. 'Fresh', 'clean', 'rich in flavour' and 'tastes the way food used to taste' are comments often used by those who choose to eat organic. As mentioned above, organic produce is allowed to fully ripen on the plant, often resulting in higher sugar content and better taste. This opinion is shared by an increasing number of high-profile chefs who often state that their primary reason (among others) for choosing organic is taste.

Anecdotally, organic food is tastier in many cases.

Price differentiation
Farms, food manufacturers and food packaging companies are subject to an audit each year to ensure standards are being upheld. In addition, it can take up to three years before a producer can become 'certified organic'. During this time, the land must be farmed free from synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. It can take farmers years to get their soil health back to levels that fully support crop growth during this conversion process. This may result in lower yields initially, for a similar amount of work, resulting in the higher prices of organic produce.

Organic fruit and vegetables may sometimes be grown further apart to minimise fungicide use, especially in wet climates. Depending on the soil health, spacing might also be increased to ensure adequate nutrition for each plant. This can result in a reduced yield per hectare, however, spacing is also a reflection of the lower artificial inputs used by organic producers.

Many vegetable growers practice crop rotations where legumes (nitrogen fixing plants like peas) may follow the cash crop (such as potatoes) to rebuild the soil heath and organic matter. This rotation, though extremely beneficial for the soil and sequestering carbon, may also result in no immediate income for the farmer, increasing the price of the following crop. Alternately, if farmers need to bring in additional nutrition, the equivalent price per kilogram of nitrogen is significantly higher for organic compost and manure compared to synthetic nitrogen fertiliser in Australia.

This is also the case for any crop protectants where sprays don't have artificial binding agents and often don't last as long. Combined with promoting beneficials and balancing the ecosystem, this may result in a higher percentage of crop loss compared to non-organic systems before finding a good balance. Organic fruit and vegetables may also experience higher post-harvest loss due to the lack of chemicals used to treat picked produce.

Lastly, organic producers need to certify each stage of production, with the certification fees flowing on to the consumer. Certified organic is a stamp of integrity designed to protect both consumers and genuine organic farmers and businesses from false claims.
Conclusion
Organic food production varies dependent on crop type. However, when you buy certified organic, you are purchasing produce that has been grown without synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and GMOs, in a farming system that is based on building and improving soil carbon and fertility. Always look for a certification mark such as the Australian Certified Organic Bud logo to ensure that the organic produce is certified.
References
The University of Melbourne, Euromonitor International, Mobium Group, NielsenIQ. Australian Organic Market Report 2021 (Australian Organic Limited, 2021). Available online: https://austorganic.com/industry/publications/market-report-2021

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Organic Food Production - Australian Organic

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Organic produce is grown in an environmentally sustainable and responsible manner. Read on to learn more about organic food production.

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8.2 Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering | Environmental Biology

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Agricultural biotechnology is a range of tools that include both traditional breeding techniques and more modern lab-based methods. Modern biotechnology today includes the tools of genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is the name for the methods that scientists use to introduce new traits or characteristics to an organism. This process results in genetically modified organisms, or GMO. For example, plants may be genetically modified to produce characteristics to enhance the growth or nutritional profile of food crops.

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Latest Food news, comment and analysis from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice

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Maximize Agricultural Potential: Top Land Use & Productivity Tips -

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Maximize agricultural potential with expert land use and suitability tips to boost productivity and optimize your farm’s yield.

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Find food stories, wine news and reviews on restaurants, recipes, cooking, desserts, chefs, fine dining, cuisine, New York restaurants, four star restaurants and more.

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Lane width has an influence on safety, especially at certain key road locations. Vehicles typically use more of the travel lane on bends than on straight road sections, and head-on crashes can happen on bends when drivers accidentally (or intentionally) ‘cut the corner’.

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By Dr Amy Logan , Dr Peter Watkins , Prof. Bhesh Bhandari 14 April 2022 6 min read

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing, which involves a computer-controlled process of sequential layering to form a predesigned object. This technology is more commonly used for producing metal and plastic speciality items, however current research to develop suitable food 'ink' ingredients has led to the reality of using 3D printing to prepare on-demand foods in kitchens or elsewhere such as in restaurants.

With a global value of around $485.5 million in 2020, the market for 3D printed food products is estimated to grow to around $1 billion by 2025, primarily in the confectionery and bakery space. ¹

Recent advancements have meant that more complex and multi-ingredient food products can be fabricated using 3D printing with customised colour, shape, flavour, texture and nutritional loading.

The concept of 4D printing is also emerging, where the structure of the 3D printed food can change with time. For example, a flat pasta that will morph into predesigned shapes when rehydrated and exposed to heat, ² providing a novel consumer experience as well as packaging efficiencies for the flat, dry ingredient.

This article is based on our book chapter on the hardware, inks, applications and commercial activities of 3D printing of foods, written for the International Congress on Engineering and Food, ICEF13.

Hardware

Four different types of 3D printing hardware are commonly used for the production of foods, based on the principles of:

material extrusion - where the food ink material is in a liquid or powder form and forced to flow through a shaped hole or die under varied temperatures and pressures at a steady rate. This is the most common method of 3D printing

material jetting - which uses an array of pneumatic nozzle-jets to produce a layer of the ink material and deposited onto a surface, similar to 2D inkjet printing

binder jetting - which is similar to material jetting but uses a liquid binder with a powder base to form the desired product

selective laser sintering - where a laser applies high temperatures and fuses the powder ink materials in layers.

Inks and applications

The form (e.g. dried powder or liquid concentrate) and physicochemical properties of the 3D printer inks are important considerations for constructing different food materials, and the user will need to match the ink's characteristics and 3D design parameters to the specific printer hardware.

In most common extrusion types of 3D printing, a food ink must be able to flow from the print cartridge, yet form a self-supported shape once deposited on the printing platform. As such, much emphasis has recently been placed on understanding the material properties of food inks with or without the addition of thickeners or stabilisers, and how they respond during the 3D printing process.

3D printing allows for the upscaling of low value products (such as vegetable rejects and meat offcuts) and using novel ingredients to construct attractive and nutritious food products. Consumer acceptance needs to be considered in the development of 3D printed foods, especially with novel ink ingredient or approaches. A survey of Australian consumers conducted in 2016 suggested little support for cultured meat and insect-based foods. 4 However, more recent media attention and growth in the number of emerging start-up companies involving cellular protein and insect farming indicates a step-change in consumer acceptance, providing greater social licence for advancements in this space.

It is fascinating that 3D printing makes it possible to control the internal structure of the product to regulate textural attributes and material quantity (calorie intake) per piece of the product. The different patterns and infill levels of 3D printed chocolate, which is not a choice in a conventional chocolate making process, have been reported. ⁵ Barry Callebaut opened its world-first 3D printing studio in 2020 with the brand name of Mona Lisa chocolate. ⁶

Personalised nutrition

The concept of personalised nutrition involves the tailoring of dietary advice and diets specifically to meet an individual's needs, ⁷ with 3D printing providing one technology that could be used to prepare on-demand foods of customised texture and nutrient loading. Projections indicate significant growth and demand for personalised products, with annual revenues as high as $64 billion by 2040. ⁸ For example, the UK based company Nourished manufactures customised vitamin 'Nutrition Stacks' using 3D printing. ⁹

Food printing is particularly suited to niche food applications, for example personalised nutrition and texture modified foods for people with swallowing difficulties, referred to collectively as dysphagia. Around 50-60% of individuals in aged care homes and around 15-22% in the general population are affected by dysphagia. ¹⁰ To meet the Dysphagia Diet Standardisation guidelines ¹¹ for safe food consumption, foods need to be texture modified or presented as thickened liquids, but are often unappetising in appearance, ¹² taste and texture.

Development of meat-based 3D products meeting the dysphagia quality parameters have been recently reported by the research team at The University of Queensland. ¹³ Food products of defined texture and sensory properties can be freshly prepared using 3D printing and designed to look similar to the real food but easier to swallow and digest. ¹⁴ Addressing environmental sustainability and human health, two different start-up companies, Redefine Meat ¹⁵ and NovaMeat ¹⁶, have been developing plant-based meat analogue systems, or 'faux meat', using 3D printing to mimic fibrous meats and seafoods.

No doubt, the development of different food products will continue into the future, along with the creation of new consumer markets and experiences for 3D printed foods.

References

1. BBC Market Research FOD093A, 2020, https://www.bccresearch.com/market-research/foodand-beverage/3d-food-printing-market-report.html, accessed 28 Oct 2021.

2. Watkins, W, Logan, A, Bhandari, B. (2021) Three-dimensional (3D) food printing - an overview in Food Engineering Innovations Across the Supply Chain, (ed) Juliano, P, Knoerzer, K, Sellahewa, J, Nguyen, M, Buckow, R. Academic Press.

3. Lupton, D, Turner, B. (2018) Food of the Future? Consumer Responses to the Idea of 3D-Printed Meat and Insect-Based Foods. Food and Foodways, 26(4), 269-289.

4. Mantihal, S, Prakash, S, Bhandari, B. (2019). Textural modification of 3D printed dark chocolate by varying internal infill structure. Food Research International 121: 648-657

5. https://www.barry-callebaut.com/en/group/media/news-stories/barry-callebaut-opensworlds-first-3d-printing-studio-craft-unseen, accessed 30 Oct 2021

6. Archer, N, Krause, D, Logan, A. (2017) Personalised food revolution. food australia 69.4: 42-44.

7. Roden, DF, Altman, KW. (2013) Causes of dysphagia among different age groups: a systematic review of the literature. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 46(6), 965-987.

8. Kouzani, A, Adams, S, Whyte, DJ, Oliver, R, Hemsley, B, Palmer, S. (2017) 3D Printing of Food for People with Swallowing Difficulties. KnE Engineering, 2(1), 23-29.

9. Dick, A, Bhandari, S Prakash, S. (2022). Printability and textural assessment of modified-texture cooked beef pastes for dysphagia patients. Future Foods 3: 100006.

10. Hua, WS, Na, L, Dong, ZY. (2018) "GW29-e0057 3D food printing can help elder to digest and swallow foods" in The 29th Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology China Heart Society Beijing Society of Cardiology, 72(16, Supplement), C210.

The authors

Dr Amy Logan leads the Personalised Fabrication of Smart Food Systems testbed within CSIRO's AIM Future Science Platform and is Group Leader for Food Quality and Safety, CSIRO. Dr Peter Watkins leads the Food Analysis team for the Food Program, CSIRO.

Professor Bhesh Bhandari leads the food materials science and engineering including 3D printing research at The University of Queensland.
This article was originally published in AIFST's food australia journal. Republished with permission. It is based on a chapter from the book Food Engineering Innovations Across the Supply Chain, edited by Pablo Juliano, Kai Knoerzer, Jayantha Sellahewa, Minh Nguyen and Roman Buckow, 2021, Academic Press, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

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With years of research behind them, fruit farmers are turning to robots to help with harvest amid a human worker shortage.

A Tasmanian berry farm is using 16 robotic harvesters to help pick its fruit this summer

Growers say the robots are a potential solution to a shortage of human labour during harvest

Robotics developers say the technology supplements, rather than replaces, the human workforce

Burlington Berries at Cressy, in northern Tasmania, has shipped out a fleet of 16 robots from the UK to help with picking over the summer.

The farm trialled its first robot in collaboration with British company Dogtooth Technologies nearly seven years ago.

Each robot picks about four berries a minute and growers say the technology is giving them "peace of mind" as ongoing labour shortages plague the industry.

In Australia, the federal government and private investors have funded the development of fruit-picking robots.

But there are particular challenges using mechanical picking for soft fruits, like strawberries.

Rachel MacKenzie from Berries Australia said robots were now very common in blueberry packhouses, but it was less common to use them for harvesting.

"Blueberries are more robust and I believe some companies are exploring mechanical harvesting for non-premium varietal," she said.

"With increasing labour costs I can foresee that mechanical blueberry harvesting may become more common in the next five years, but it is further away for rubus and strawberries.

"Labour costs represent at least 60 per cent of the cost of production for berries, so if there was any way for those to be reduced then there would be significant uptake."

How do the robots work?

The robots roll on tracks between rows of strawberries grown on tables under poly tunnels.

Dozens of cameras are built into them, allowing them to take images of each strawberry.

The robots have two arms, which decide if a berry is the right size and shape to pick its stem.

More cameras take a 360-degree image of the berry to determine its ripeness, weight and measure 17 potential defects in the fruit.

The strawberry is then placed in a punnet or rejected into a different tray.

Eva Thilderkvist, who employed by the robots' developers to manage them, said the robots work alongside humans.

"They're not a replacement for your workforce, it's more of a supplement for your capacity on your farm," she said.

"It's peace of mind for the growers in case you can't get the workforce you need.

"Obviously robots don't get COVID, they don't roll an ankle, they're pretty reliable workers."

Picking jobs change

Joao Dos Santos, an employee from Timor Leste, has been re-assigned from picking fruit to managing six robots on the farm.

"If something is wrong, we just check in with the tablet [that controls the robots]," he said.

"Because the robots are numbered, we know exactly where they are."

These robots also collect data from the images they take, to help with predicting crop yields and the amount of fruit that needs harvesting in the future.

So are robots here to stay on farms? Burlington Berries managing director Kate Sutherland thinks so.

"Soft fruit is just that and it presents many challenges," she said.

"I'm sure my grandchildren will say, 'Did you really used to pick fruit by hand Granny?'"

Night picking potential

Trials have started in the UK to see if these robots can successfully pick berries at night, as picking fruit during cooler temperatures considerably extends its shelf life.

Ms Thilderkvist said this would be a game changer for the industry.

"Each of these arms are equipped with LED lights, as well as a few more lights on the chassis," she said.

"As they go along they can identify the berries in a much better way than a human could possibly do."

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With years of research behind them, fruit farmers are turning to robots to help with harvest amid a human worker shortage.