PRESS RELEASE
Newark, NJ
January 19, 2016
AeroFarms Chief Marketing Officer Marc Oshima will speak about AeroFarms ability to mitigate the competition between food supply and water resources at the 16th National Conference on Food, Energy and the Environment entitled “The Food-Water-Energy Nexus” in Washington DC on January 19, 2016, convened by the National Council for Science and the Environment. Oshima will highlight the possibilities presented by vertical farming, the necessity for a new agricultural paradigm, and the benefits of AeroFarms system – which offers 75 times greater productivity per square foot annually than traditional agriculture with a fraction of the inputs.
In order to feed a human population predicted to reach 10 billion by 2060, we are going to need to grow more food. Historically, increased food production has always been at the expense of the water supply. 70% of the world’s fresh water is used for agriculture. 70% percent of water contamination comes from agriculture.
Global food production, according to some estimates, will have to double 2005 levels by 2050. It is because of the complex relationship between food and water that AeroFarms set out to transform global agriculture over ten years ago.
“Our mission to transform agriculture grows more pressing everyday. If we can mitigate the toll traditional agriculture has always taken on our natural resources, we can change the future of food, “ said Oshima.
AeroFarms grows leafy greens in a unique aeroponic system that allows the roots to be suspended in midair. LED lights provide energy to the plants, and the roots are misted with a nutrient-rich solution. A closed-loop water circulation system means no water is wasted, resulting in a 95% decrease in water use compared to commercial field farming. Lack of soil eliminates runoff, and because the plants are grown in an entirely controlled environment where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices are employed, zero pesticides are used.
About AeroFarms
Founded in 2004, AeroFarms® is on a mission to fundamentally transform agriculture by building, owning, and operating indoor, vertical farms that grow flavorful, safe, healthy food in a sustainable and socially responsible way. AeroFarms patented growing systems make year-round harvests with peak flavor possible while disrupting the traditional distribution channels that lead to massive carbon emissions and food waste.
A leader in the circular economy movement, AeroFarms was the first agriculture company to be selected for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy 100 and is a finalist for the 2016 World Economic Forum (WEF) Ecolab Award for Circular Economy Enterprise.
AeroFarms is building a brand new state-of-the-art global corporate headquarters in Newark, NJ, that will be home to the world’s largest vertical farm. In addition to serving the New York Metro area, they have immediate plans for multiple farms in major U.S. cities and on three other continents, spreading truly sustainable agriculture around world.
Tags: Press Release, Washington, Water