The idea of using old shipping containers for urban farming caught our attention this week so we wanted to learn more about the unusual combination of old containers for sale and urban farming.
Urban areas are not generally suitable for farming of course but with half of the world’s population living in cities it means that much of the fruit and vegetables sold globally has travelled some distance – this distance has added to both the cost and carbon footprint of our food. When you consider this along with the predicted huge growth in global population, which will put further pressure on food availability, the outlook can seem a little gloomy.
How can old shipping containers provide a solution?
Recently we have started to see one or two innovative companies take notice of the environmental and pricing impact associated with supplying food within large cities. Their solution? Urban farms housed in old converted shipping containers.
Used shipping containers are now being used for urban farming
PodPonics is a US based company who’s first urban farming project was started using shipping containers positioned on a plot of vacant land in Atlanta. The idea was to create the environment for year round locally grown crop within an urban setting.
Using shipping containers and their own technology PodPonics claim to be able to reduce cost and improve food quality whist supplying locally produced food to consumers in cities.
Used shipping container farming highlights:
- Hydroponic farms made from shipping containers allow growing of locally produced food
- Reportedly produces the equivalent of 1 acre of crop within a single 40ft container
- 90% less water use than traditional farming
- Each unit has a system which regulates aspects such as light, temperature and humidity levels.
- More growing seasons possible compared to traditional farming
Has all this captured your imagination? If so then we must bring your attention to another innovative project in Brussels created by Damien Chivialle. The project involved combing a shipping container with a green house extension to the roof and even features an aquarium.
Looking to the future
Can second hand containers for sale and hydroponics really provide a solution to future farming needs? Although the use of old shipping containers in urban farming is on a small scale at the moment it will certainly be interesting to see how the current advances in hydroponics technology will impact not only urban farming but also the possibilities of producing food in global locations that lack arable land.
If you have any feedback on the idea of using old containers in this way let us know in the comments below.
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