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littlemissmartypants

(22,418 posts)
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 05:42 PM Apr 2013

COVER STORY: Is farming inside high-rise buildings viable?

FARMHOUSE: Turning high-rises into farmhouses may seem inconceivable in the Malaysian setting but it could happen sooner than we think

Farming in buildings

What if two of the largest industries in Malaysia, property and agriculture, were to merge in theory? Well, technically at least, it would result in vertical farming. The basic premise is that instead of farming on land (traditional horizontal farming), we can produce large-scale agricultural crops such as fruits, vegetables and even livestock such as swiftlet and fish farming in multi-storey buildings.

The idea of vertical farming has floated around for a long time but advances in technology and practical necessity have brought the concept to the fore again in recent years. According to a 2005 survey conducted by the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and UN Habitat, Living Planet Report, by 2050, the world population will reach nine billion from about 7.1 billion today and 80 per cent will live in cities. Some cities such as Sweden and Singapore have already launched pilot vertical farming programmes to complement their countries’ food requirements.


Read more: COVER STORY: Is farming inside high-rise buildings viable? - RED - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/red/cover-story-is-farming-inside-high-rise-buildings-viable-1.243467#ixzz2PFZzTpSC



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lmsp
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COVER STORY: Is farming inside high-rise buildings viable? (Original Post) littlemissmartypants Apr 2013 OP
MJ farmers do it all the time. Demeter Apr 2013 #1
But Strawberrys don't cost $4000 per lb. One_Life_To_Give Apr 2013 #2
Everything is shipped into Malaysia Demeter Apr 2013 #3
$2/sq ft vs $0.05/sq ft One_Life_To_Give Apr 2013 #5
there is a guy trying to do this in chicago. mopinko Apr 2013 #4

One_Life_To_Give

(6,036 posts)
2. But Strawberrys don't cost $4000 per lb.
Mon Apr 1, 2013, 06:32 PM
Apr 2013

New York you are pushing $50 a square foot. Add in the costs for artificial sunlight and you will have some very pricey food.

One_Life_To_Give

(6,036 posts)
5. $2/sq ft vs $0.05/sq ft
Tue Apr 2, 2013, 07:22 AM
Apr 2013

Malaysian Farmland currently leases for 5 cents a Sq foot or under$500 per hectare.
Commercial building space running $2/sq ft and office space at $6/sq ft.
Shipping apart from the notorious pirate problems really shouldn't be a concern. Distances are fairly short and already much of the regions shipping takes the shortcut thru the straights anyway.

With all the CEO's being recruited by the government to relocate there. Someone might be able to supply niche specialty foods for them at exorbitant prices. But the factory workers aren't going to be able to afford that.

On edit a 40,000sqft farm lot might be expected to produce 100 bushels of Wheat or $900 worth of product.

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