971290AirFarm – an innovative aeroponic food production technologyClosedSmall Business Research InitiativeInnovate UKAirFarm – an innovative aeroponic food production technology Innovative food production technologies are essential given a growing world population; increasing scarcity of water, energy and land; and climate change. AirFarm’s system provides a novel solution that will help to reduce food imports and increase food security. The aims of this project will be to drive forward a radical controlled environment crop production technology towards commercialisation. This technology, developed and patented by a UK inventor, uses a simple low cost design of lightweight ‘tent’ in which plants are grown using a nutrient fog so that there is no soil (so-called “aeroponics”). The use of fog enables aseptic conditions to be maintained and drastically reduces the consumption of water and fertiliser during the growth period. This controlled growth environment is initially intended for growing crops, that are currently either imported or grown in heated glasshouses, on waste land, in urban areas and where water shortages exist. Future development will allow this system to be used as an ultra-low water consumption food production technology, with potentially huge export sales from the growing population in arid or water stressed climates. The outcomes of AirFarm’s commercial success will be increased food production in the UK, targeting the reduction of food imports, whilst simultaneously significantly reducing water and fertiliser consumption. A later outcome will be increased food production in arid or water stressed climates. Together, these have the following benefits: - Economic: decreased food costs; increased employment; use of vacant land; substitution of food imports with domestic production; increased food security - Societal: enhanced food safety and security - Environmental: take up of CO2; reduced use of resources (water, fertiliser, pesticides).