The University of Nottingham hosted an International Vertical Farming and Urban Agriculture Conference to bring together scientists, engineers, industrialists and policymakers to discuss current ideas, technologies, commercial applications and research opportunities.

International Conference on Vertical Farming and Urban Agriculture

9th-10th September 2014, Nottingham, UK
Exchange Building, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham

The organising committee would like to thank everyone who attended VFUA-2014 and made it such an interesting and fulfilling event.

Videos from the Conference

Dickson Despommier on Urban Agriculture & Vertical Farming (full interview)

Dickson Despommier on Urban Agriculture & Vertical Farming (short version)

Overview of the Conference

HydroGarden - cultivating eco-systems for the future

Background

Increasing world population, the global trend to urbanisation, climate change and pressure on natural resources are key drivers for policies on global food security. How can we feed more people on limited agricultural land, with limited resources? How can we best utilise space, light and logistics for an increasingly urban population? What can zero waste and low energy technologies contribute to food production in an urban environment? There is an urgent need to identify and develop innovative methods for sustainable food production. Vertical farming and urban agriculture, if designed and implemented appropriately, could offer sustainable and innovative solutions for improving food security.

Keynote speakers will include Professor Dickson Despommier (a pioneer of the VF movement) and experts from business and science who have experience of the technologies that are relevant for urban agriculture and vertical farming. The conference will evaluate the benefits, opportunities, risks and challenges of vertical farming and urban agriculture and provide a forum for establishing research collaboration and networking between academic researchers and commercial interests.

The Main Topics

Newly available technologies (LED lighting, tiered growing systems, sensors, etc)
Plant and crop science for improved resource-use efficiency (water, nutrients, waste)
Sustainable cities (architectural design, green roof, energy, ventilation)
Investment in research and development by growers and industry groups
The economics and social policies implied by urban agriculture and urbanisation
Cross disciplinary themes (challenges posed by resource limits, climate change and food production)