Category: Agriculture

High quality vertical farming solutions supplier: One of the standout features of indoor farming is the reduced reliance on soil and water. Revolutionary methods like hydroponics and aquaponics allow vertical farms to use 99% less arable land and up to 98% less water than traditional farming. Some of the most popular crops in warehouse farmlands include leafy greens, herbs and medicinal plants like cannabis. Efficient Use of Space – Conventional farming requires significant land space. Wholesale vegetable farms require at least 40 acres of fertile land on average. Bringing the process indoors allows for more efficient use of available space, maximizing food production per square foot. For instance, stacking crops vertically can accommodate up to 10 times as many plants as a regular horizontal farm with similar space dimensions. Discover even more information on https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/service.

Vertical farms may make use of soil, aeroponic, or hydroponic growing techniques. Part of the urban farming trend, vertical farming is building on the success of urban greenhouses, such as those found in city centers on top of commercial buildings. Vertical farmers may incorporate growing systems into rooftop settings, onto the sides of commercial high rises, or into what’s referred to as “farmscrapers.” Growing fresh food has traditionally been subject to the elements: location, climate, seasonal conditions, and weather trends are just the start of the challenges that can impact plant health and crop yield.

Two words: perpetual growing. The high-tech engineering of vertical farms makes them practically invincible. Pests, poor weather, diseases, and even seasonal temperature changes carry no weight in these environments of complete control. Their products are organic by default — there’s no need for pesticides, and they grow with very little water (up to 70% less) for maximum efficiency. All of that fine-tuning makes for fast growth, too. Vertical facilities can turn around a crop in significantly less time than the traditional field, with growth rates up to 390 times more productive than competitors.

OptiClimatefarm lab team has been working on something even more unusual – saffron, aka the world’s most expensive spice. For years, the team has commercialized the growing of vertical leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes & peppers for global growers. 4 tons of saffron seed balls could be grown in only 100m2 OptiClimatefarm with Smart Climate + Artificial Light vertical grow rack technology to optimize planting density in a controlled environment indoors.

The choice of refrigerant used in the cooling systems affects, among other things, the purchase price, service and maintenance costs, energy consumption, and lifespan. Properly maintaining an HVAC system can ensure that the system remains efficient and lasts longer. It is important to perform regular maintenance, such as replacing filters and cleaning ducts. HVAC systems can produce a lot of noise, which can be a nuisance to the surrounding area. It is important to pay attention to the different noise levels during the design phase. Growing spaces without personnel require different sound requirements than processing spaces, for example.

However, this innovative farming method requires precise control over environmental conditions to ensure optimal plant growth and productivity. One crucial aspect of vertical farming is the implementation of energy-efficient HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. These systems play a vital role in maintaining the ideal temperature, humidity, and air quality levels necessary for successful crop cultivation. In this article, we will explore the significance of energy-efficient HVAC systems and their benefits for vertical farming.

HVACD stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning,D stands for dehumidification. Every developer, designer and dreamer would do well to include climate management as a foremost systems consideration — in line with lighting, racking, irrigation and automation — during the conceptual and facility planning stage. Only then can vertical farming rise to its full potential. Growers can save energy and money by choosing a “premium efficiency”HVACD with dehumidification. Read additional details on opticlimatefarm.com.

OptiClimate is the best and reliable choice for plant farms all around the world, every single unit of OptiClimate products must pass strict interior tests before delivery to global customers in Europe, America, Middle East, Asia and some other areas. It has passed the tests and obtained CE certificates from accredited global companies. OptiClimate always provides suitable environment for the plants. Our flexible hydroponic irrigation framework allows you to customize and modify solutions specific to your particular crop. The automatic irrigation systems ( automatic plant watering system ) include: EC control:Seedlings/early sprouts – Early vegetative stage –Full vegetative stage – Early blooming stage – Full mature bloom/ripening stage.

Using advanced technologies: One HVAC system can help control the growing environment, but it is important to regularly measure and adjust temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels as needed. This can be done, for example, through sensors and monitoring systems. Finally, advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning can be used to optimize HVAC systems for vertical farming. This can use all available data, which we analyze, make a digital twin, perform predictive maintenance and performance management, and apply hyperspectral image recognition. These technologies can help automatically adjust the growing environment to the needs of the plants, which can lead to higher yields and more efficient energy consumption.

Budget hydroponic climate control systems suppliers: What is Vertical Farming? In case you’re unfamiliar with vertical farming, it’s the practice of growing crops indoors in stacked layers, carefully monitored with modern technology. It literally takes the idea of a greenhouse to new levels. Think leafy greens nestled in gleaming towers, herbs hanging out on sleek shelves, and maybe even strawberries or tomato season all year round. Vertical farming differs from greenhouse farming or hothouse farming because the climate conditions, such as temperature and humidity, are carefully monitored and controlled. The keen use of height with stacks and columns allows the grower to produce a lot more when compared to greenhouses or conventional indoor farming. There are a few different methods for these vertical farms, such as hydroponic farming, aquaponic farming, or aeroponic farming. Regardless of the technique, vertical farming operations are sprouting up worldwide, and they tout some incredible sustainability benefits. Here are just a few. Discover extra information on grow room climate control systems.

Vertical farms may make use of soil, aeroponic, or hydroponic growing techniques. Part of the urban farming trend, vertical farming is building on the success of urban greenhouses, such as those found in city centers on top of commercial buildings. Vertical farmers may incorporate growing systems into rooftop settings, onto the sides of commercial high rises, or into what’s referred to as “farmscrapers.” Growing fresh food has traditionally been subject to the elements: location, climate, seasonal conditions, and weather trends are just the start of the challenges that can impact plant health and crop yield.

Two words: perpetual growing. The high-tech engineering of vertical farms makes them practically invincible. Pests, poor weather, diseases, and even seasonal temperature changes carry no weight in these environments of complete control. Their products are organic by default — there’s no need for pesticides, and they grow with very little water (up to 70% less) for maximum efficiency. All of that fine-tuning makes for fast growth, too. Vertical facilities can turn around a crop in significantly less time than the traditional field, with growth rates up to 390 times more productive than competitors.

Artificial light vertical multi-layer growth racks are used to colonize saffron seed balls and provide a dedicated spectral formula for lighting. Temperature, humidity, airflow, light and CO2 can be precisely controlled using OptiClimat smart climate growing ACs and PLC integrated control system. OptiClimate’s smart climate growing system works with the parameters of the climatic conditions of the saffron origin in Jammu or Kashmir. Saffron grows everything freely by its timeline in OptiClimatefarm. That means a 100m2 indoor growroom could plant as the same number of saffron seed balls as in a 15-acre outdoor field . Our vertical farming technology using smart climate plant factories to grow specialty products will inspire a great business model! Indoor saffron – growing specialty products using vertical farming technology.

Most of the costs come from high-end equipment including custom ventilation, shading devices, and high-powered lights. Sophisticated heating, cooling, and ventilation systems add to the mix, along with the immense amount of electricity needed to power it all: think nearly a $350,000 annual tab for lighting, power, and HVAC at the same facility near NYC. Along with the obvious concerns of carrying such a large carbon footprint, vertical farming faces another serious challenge: competition. Smart greenhouses with advanced automation and the advantage of sunlight, while they may not host the same level of engineering, can operate at well less than a third of the cost per square foot.

Vertical farming HVAC systems generate significant amounts of heat as byproducts. Implementing waste heat recovery technologies can harness this excess heat and repurpose it for various applications, such as water heating or powering absorption chilling systems. Key advantages include: Reduced energy consumption for heating purposes; Increased overall energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat; Cost savings through the reuse of heat energy. Controlling temperature fluctuations minimizes stress on plants, promoting their overall health and productivity.

One of the best ways to utilize indoor spaces is by installing vertical racking systems. Vertical farming has shown, time and time again, to be a viable solution for increasing crop yield within a given area. However, with the right technology, vertical racking systems can be used for both propagation and flower andvegetable . Vertical systems have been compared with traditional, single level methods and vertical farming has continually produced more crop per unit area. Indoor vertical farming becomes the most effective when maximizing the grow space between tiers/levels, using specialized HVACD and LEDs. Read additional details at https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/.

OPTICLIMATE Provides professional Vertical Commercial Cultivation Solutions for customers. OptiClimate Farm’s original commercial vertical hydroponics facility is a highly engineered, modular and combined vertical production environment, tailored for various crops, plant products and business models of AG and CBD. Provide the best controlled vertical planting environment to grow a variety of gardening, flowers and agricultural products in various environments and climates. In addition to growing green leafy vegetables, herbs and other special plants and shallow root crops can also be grown.

In addition, it is necessary to map the environment so that the design of, for example, a chiller/cooling water installation can also take the noise level into account. Higher requirements will be placed in a built environment than in an industrial area. On top of that, lighting is also of great importance in vertical farming. It is important to adjust the lighting to the HVAC system so that an optimal growing environment is created. In addition, controlling lighting can also help reduce energy consumption.

One of the standout features of indoor farming is the reduced reliance on soil and water. Revolutionary methods like hydroponics and aquaponics allow vertical farms to use 99% less arable land and up to 98% less water than traditional farming. Some of the most popular crops in warehouse farmlands include leafy greens, herbs and medicinal plants like cannabis. Efficient Use of Space – Conventional farming requires significant land space. Wholesale vegetable farms require at least 40 acres of fertile land on average. Bringing the process indoors allows for more efficient use of available space, maximizing food production per square foot. For instance, stacking crops vertically can accommodate up to 10 times as many plants as a regular horizontal farm with similar space dimensions.

A good HVAC system can contribute to a sustainable vertical farming operation by reducing energy consumption, water consumption, and operational costs. HVAC systems can improve water quality by regulating the pH and dissolved oxygen in the water, which is important for plant growth. To optimize an HVAC system for vertical farming, there are several important considerations to keep in mind to choose the right HVAC system for your vertical farming operation, considering your specific needs and circumstances: There are different types of HVAC systems available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some systems regulate temperature and humidity, while others regulate CO2.

Vertical farming solutions provider in 2024: When most consumers consider vertical farms, they think of grocery store lettuce. They’re not wrong — leafy greens are an excellent crop for a controlled, hydroponic growing setup. But how exactly does vertical farming work, and how are today’s companies and startups taking advantage of the shifting landscape to offer a new way to acquire fresh produce? What Is Vertical Farming? Vertical farming, also referred to broadly as indoor farming, is the practice of growing produce in layers, stacked vertically, as opposed to the traditional method of growing in the ground. Find additional information on vertical farming solution

This groundbreaking farming method saves considerable space and soil, and, as an extra perk, these vertical farms tend to pay higher wages than traditional farming setups, too. This goes hand-in-hand with rising consumer concern for employee working conditions, which are often unsafe and low-paying in agricultural sectors. Combined with extreme weather patterns and land disputes, the situation can lead to a very insecure industry. Further enhancing safety, the chance of acquiring foodborne illnesses is greatly reduced with vertical farming, cutting down on overall liability and the risk of damaged reputations and associated costs.

Year-Round Food Production – Controlled growing environments in warehouses enable the cultivation of seasonal foods all year round. This helps ensure consistent supply and shorter harvest times without compromising produce quality. Consumers can then enjoy their favorite fresh fruits and greens regardless of the season and without shipping them in from far away. Adverse Weather Protection – Extreme weather can severely affect traditional farming — freezing temperatures stifle plant growth, droughts cause crops to die, excessive rain damages the soil and so on. Growing crops in climate-controlled warehouses protects them from inclement weather so such natural catastrophes don’t impact crop yields and ensure predictable harvests.

OptiClimatefarm lab team has been working on something even more unusual – saffron, aka the world’s most expensive spice. For years, the team has commercialized the growing of vertical leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes & peppers for global growers. 4 tons of saffron seed balls could be grown in only 100m2 OptiClimatefarm with Smart Climate + Artificial Light vertical grow rack technology to optimize planting density in a controlled environment indoors.

Vertical farming HVAC systems generate significant amounts of heat as byproducts. Implementing waste heat recovery technologies can harness this excess heat and repurpose it for various applications, such as water heating or powering absorption chilling systems. Key advantages include: Reduced energy consumption for heating purposes; Increased overall energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat; Cost savings through the reuse of heat energy. Controlling temperature fluctuations minimizes stress on plants, promoting their overall health and productivity.

In addition, it is necessary to map the environment so that the design of, for example, a chiller/cooling water installation can also take the noise level into account. Higher requirements will be placed in a built environment than in an industrial area. On top of that, lighting is also of great importance in vertical farming. It is important to adjust the lighting to the HVAC system so that an optimal growing environment is created. In addition, controlling lighting can also help reduce energy consumption.

One of the best ways to utilize indoor spaces is by installing vertical racking systems. Vertical farming has shown, time and time again, to be a viable solution for increasing crop yield within a given area. However, with the right technology, vertical racking systems can be used for both propagation and flower andvegetable . Vertical systems have been compared with traditional, single level methods and vertical farming has continually produced more crop per unit area. Indoor vertical farming becomes the most effective when maximizing the grow space between tiers/levels, using specialized HVACD and LEDs. Find even more details at opticlimatefarm.com.

OptiClimatefarm, a unique technology, which could provides the best vertical growing systems, vertical farming solutions, and also the best environment for plant growth ,which unites cooling, heating, dehumidification, air circulation, filtration and optical induction in one system. OptiClimate is independently invented by Hicool research team through relentless work over ten years. OptiClimate owns a complete series of energy-saving grow room air conditioner products from OptiClimate Pro 2 to Pro 5, consisting of Air cooled system, Water cooled system , packaged or split units, optional with inverter technology, voltage and current stabilization, even Zero-emission clean refrigerant.

The choice of refrigerant used in the cooling systems affects, among other things, the purchase price, service and maintenance costs, energy consumption, and lifespan. Properly maintaining an HVAC system can ensure that the system remains efficient and lasts longer. It is important to perform regular maintenance, such as replacing filters and cleaning ducts. HVAC systems can produce a lot of noise, which can be a nuisance to the surrounding area. It is important to pay attention to the different noise levels during the design phase. Growing spaces without personnel require different sound requirements than processing spaces, for example.

Grow room environment control system provider in 2024: High-efficiency growing facilities hosting plants at ten and twenty deep, growing at double time, and with less of an environmental footprint? It all sounds too good to be true… And it just may be. These brilliant feats of agricultural engineering come with a steep price tag — one large indoor vertical farm costs millions of dollars. Agritecture Consulting estimates the cost of a 30,000-square-foot facility for leafy greens and herbs near New York City at almost $4 million in startup capital – and that’s without labor. Discover even more details on grow room environment control system.

One of the benefits of vertical farming is that it eliminates seasonal constraints. The controlled indoor environment provides an ideal setting for cultivating a variety of crops, including leafy greens and tomatoes, throughout the year. Vertical farmers have systems that enable the continuous cultivation of crops, ensuring a consistent and higher productivity rate. Because of its ability to produce crops year-round compared to a seasonal crop, vertical farms can produce up to 240 times more than that of traditional farms! They can monitor which conditions produce the best crops, allowing for superior locally sourced fresh foods. One of the key benefits of indoor farming is the climate-controlled environment. Farmers have Precision control of environmental factors, from humidity levels to artificial lighting, which optimizes plant growth and ensures enhanced crop quality. One company, Cellular Farms, is even monitoring the nutrients in their crops so they can determine the best time for harvesting!

Indoor, or greenhouse, farming creates a controlled environment to combat troubles like pests and drought. The strategy dates as far back as the Roman Emperor Tiberius, and its latest iteration bears the promise of an efficient “Plantopia” that we’ve yet to truly tap. As the name suggests, vertical farms grow upwards, engaging with shelf-style structures that tend to operate via hydroponics or aeroponics. Robotics, data analysis, computerized controls, and sophisticated algorithms do the heavy lifting of optimizing every inch of the growing environment — all day long, every day of the year. This vertical solution maximizes even more urban square footage, proponents argue, without requiring higher investments or major changes to the growing process.

While vertical farming is an exciting new development for the food supply sector, this new method is not without its drawbacks. First, the consumer cost of items grown in vertical farms is much higher than the costs of traditionally grown items. This results from the massive amount of funding still needed to build farms large enough to allow for lower prices. Equipment also adds to the price tag; heating and cooling systems, shading technologies, lights, environmental controls, and other equipment all require considerable capital.

Artificial light vertical multi-layer growth racks are used to colonize saffron seed balls and provide a dedicated spectral formula for lighting. Temperature, humidity, airflow, light and CO2 can be precisely controlled using OptiClimat smart climate growing ACs and PLC integrated control system. OptiClimate’s smart climate growing system works with the parameters of the climatic conditions of the saffron origin in Jammu or Kashmir. Saffron grows everything freely by its timeline in OptiClimatefarm. That means a 100m2 indoor growroom could plant as the same number of saffron seed balls as in a 15-acre outdoor field . Our vertical farming technology using smart climate plant factories to grow specialty products will inspire a great business model! Indoor saffron – growing specialty products using vertical farming technology.

HVAC is very important in vertical farming because it can control and optimize the growing environment of the plants. Resulting in healthy plants and high yields. If done properly. There are six advantages of an HVAC system for vertical farming: HVAC ensures an optimal temperature in the growing environment, which is crucial because plants develop optimally within a certain temperature range. An optimal and constant temperature range ensures optimal plant growth, resulting in maximum yield.

However, this innovative farming method requires precise control over environmental conditions to ensure optimal plant growth and productivity. One crucial aspect of vertical farming is the implementation of energy-efficient HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems. These systems play a vital role in maintaining the ideal temperature, humidity, and air quality levels necessary for successful crop cultivation. In this article, we will explore the significance of energy-efficient HVAC systems and their benefits for vertical farming.

HVACD stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning,D stands for dehumidification. Every developer, designer and dreamer would do well to include climate management as a foremost systems consideration — in line with lighting, racking, irrigation and automation — during the conceptual and facility planning stage. Only then can vertical farming rise to its full potential. Growers can save energy and money by choosing a “premium efficiency”HVACD with dehumidification. Find even more information on https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/.

OptiClimatefarm, a unique technology, which could provides the best vertical growing systems, vertical farming solutions, and also the best environment for plant growth ,which unites cooling, heating, dehumidification, air circulation, filtration and optical induction in one system. OptiClimate is independently invented by Hicool research team through relentless work over ten years. OptiClimate owns a complete series of energy-saving grow room air conditioner products from OptiClimate Pro 2 to Pro 5, consisting of Air cooled system, Water cooled system , packaged or split units, optional with inverter technology, voltage and current stabilization, even Zero-emission clean refrigerant.

Using advanced technologies: One HVAC system can help control the growing environment, but it is important to regularly measure and adjust temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels as needed. This can be done, for example, through sensors and monitoring systems. Finally, advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning can be used to optimize HVAC systems for vertical farming. This can use all available data, which we analyze, make a digital twin, perform predictive maintenance and performance management, and apply hyperspectral image recognition. These technologies can help automatically adjust the growing environment to the needs of the plants, which can lead to higher yields and more efficient energy consumption.

Sustainable Practices – Warehouse farmlands can make agriculture more efficient and sustainable. The reduced reliance on soil and water means less natural resource consumption. Additionally, indoor farming allows farmers to cultivate crops in urban areas, reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions from long-distance shipping. Lastly, warehouse farms don’t require toxic chemicals and pesticides that cause greenhouse gas emissions since the controlled environment naturally keeps pests and weeds out. Indoor farming shows great promise in tackling today’s biggest agricultural challenges. However, there are several critical factors to consider when setting it up.

Budget hvac for grow rooms suppliers: OptiClimatefarm, a unique technology, which could provides the best vertical growing systems, vertical farming solutions, and also the best environment for plant growth ,which unites cooling, heating, dehumidification, air circulation, filtration and optical induction in one system. OptiClimate is independently invented by Hicool research team through relentless work over ten years. OptiClimate owns a complete series of energy-saving grow room air conditioner products from OptiClimate Pro 2 to Pro 5, consisting of Air cooled system, Water cooled system , packaged or split units, optional with inverter technology, voltage and current stabilization, even Zero-emission clean refrigerant. Find additional details on grow room climate controller.

Vertical farming HVAC systems generate significant amounts of heat as byproducts. Implementing waste heat recovery technologies can harness this excess heat and repurpose it for various applications, such as water heating or powering absorption chilling systems. Key advantages include: Reduced energy consumption for heating purposes; Increased overall energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat; Cost savings through the reuse of heat energy. Controlling temperature fluctuations minimizes stress on plants, promoting their overall health and productivity.

In a few decades, indoor city farms or vertical farms have become popular for producing healthy food year-round in urban environments and harsh climates. We began a long-term series of research studies on DFT tomatoes at our OptiClimatefarm R&D Center. To develop an effective DFT indoor farm, we built on our years of know-how and experience from both greenhouse growers and vertical farms. Over the past decade, tomato production has been optimized with high-tech automation and data management. We can use this tremendous amount of knowledge and adapt and implement the same vision and technology in an indoor farm.

Using advanced technologies: One HVAC system can help control the growing environment, but it is important to regularly measure and adjust temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels as needed. This can be done, for example, through sensors and monitoring systems. Finally, advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning can be used to optimize HVAC systems for vertical farming. This can use all available data, which we analyze, make a digital twin, perform predictive maintenance and performance management, and apply hyperspectral image recognition. These technologies can help automatically adjust the growing environment to the needs of the plants, which can lead to higher yields and more efficient energy consumption.

Our solution consists of a fully automated solar powered vertical indoors farm. Innovative DFT transpiration hydroponics model, Improved flower, root and bulb growth by adjusting the B-R light ratio formula, using vertical farming has already been proven to be a highly efficient method of growing spices due to it’s controlled environment and large yield per square meter of land used. The world’s most expensive spices can be grown on a vertical farm,do you know? Reality,it’s going very well with the help of smart climate technology!

HVAC is very important in vertical farming because it can control and optimize the growing environment of the plants. Resulting in healthy plants and high yields. If done properly. There are six advantages of an HVAC system for vertical farming: HVAC ensures an optimal temperature in the growing environment, which is crucial because plants develop optimally within a certain temperature range. An optimal and constant temperature range ensures optimal plant growth, resulting in maximum yield. Read more information on opticlimatefarm.com.

Plantations International’s Sustainable Agriculture: Building a Better Future for All: Plantations International projects follow ecological and environmental principles, working closely with national environmental regulatory bodies. As Plantations International relies so directly on the productivity of the land, it ensures its land is used wisely and maintained for use of generations to come. Plantations International is committed to conserving natural resources through eco-efficient management strategies, performance metrics and continuous improvement focused in five key areas that are important to our long-term business success: energy and water use, waste generation and recycling, sustainable packaging, sustainable agriculture, and supply chain optimization.

Why Agriculture? ​Agriculture has become an attractive investment destination for a number of reasons. Most important of all being the strong market fundamentals in support of the sector on both the demand and supply side. An increasing population, changing demographics, reductions in arable land and climate change have led to an urgent need of more productive methods of growing food. Food and agriculture as an asset class falls under the broad investment category of real assets which are physical in nature and provide hard tangible ownership. Real assets broadly include commodities, property, infrastructure, timberland and agriculture also classified as farmland. Agriculture as a sector has been rising in prominence over the past decade reaching over 8 USD trillion in value.

Despite multiple definitions for food security there are common themes or indicators that tend to appear and underline its characterization. These include food affordability, food availability and accessibility, food quality and safety, and existing natural resources. The FAO and The Economist both measure food security on a country based on these indicators at varying degrees. Food security ought to be a priority for all countries, whether developing or developed. Although low levels of food security are commonly associated with poverty stricken countries they are also found in affluent developed countries as well. Food security rankings despite providing a decent gauge of performance are not without limitations. For example, some of wealthiest countries logically fare well in overall rankings as they have the capability and infrastructure to provide accessible, healthy food to their populations. Yet these high rankings dangerously mask their poor natural resources and resilience rank which measures food import dependency to a small degree. This raises the question, how can a country be food secure when they can be highly dependent on others for their food supply?

With offices, plantations, and representatives across Asia, Europe, and Africa, Plantations International is a multinational plantation and farm management company that specializes in providing sustainable agricultural and forestry or “agroforestry” management services for its clients. Plantations International has clients ranging from private individuals to large landholders and corporate investors. We put teamwork, innovation, and our passion for creating “Ethical & Sustainable Capital” at the heart of everything we do.

The number of people facing undernourishment and severe food insecurity is estimated to have reached 821 million – around one person out of every nine in the world – according to the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In addition to contributing to under nutrition, food insecurity also contributes to obesity. Lack of securing healthy nutritious food has resulted in an over reliance on unhealthy processed foods. The problem of obesity is most significant in North America, but it is worrying that even Africa and Asia, which still show the lowest rates of obesity, are also experiencing an upward trend. 30% of global food production is lost after harvest or wasted in shops, households and catering services. This loss represents USD 750 billion worth of food every year at producer prices. At retail prices the loss reaches USD 3 trillion annually.

One of the first things Plantations International scientists learned is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways. Most come from the combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories and electricity production. The gas responsible for the most warming is carbon dioxide, also called CO2. Other contributors include methane released from landfills and agriculture (especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and the loss of forests that would otherwise store CO2. Plantations International is already seeing some of these changes occurring more quickly than they had expected. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, eleven of the twelve hottest years since thermometer readings became available occurred between 1995 and 2006.