Potential for rooftop hydroponics in China

Big cities are not uncommon in China, which has the largest population on the planet. As more and more people are moving to cities dominated by tall buildings, research is being done on how to best utilize these. As part of a research project 14 hydroponic tanks have been added to the rooftops in Guangzhou and are proving to be quite profitable. On one 1,600 square foot rooftop the tanks produced about $6,000 dollars worth of vegetables annually.

A paper published this past July in the journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development, reports that growing leafy greens in rooftop hydroponic systems can not only produce a steady supply of vegetables but it can also save money as the produce is far cheaper than store bought.

Another advantage is that it can help combat one of the nations biggest challenges, air pollution. Cities require a lot of food, but they are located far from rural areas where vegetables are usually grown. By incorporating hydroponic growing, city dwellers can get their produce from within the city rather than having it transported from long distances, increasing the pollution problem.

With the population in Guangzhou expected to nearly double to 15 million by 2020, the new technology could create a cleaner, healthier and wealthier city.

source: qz.com