AUBURN, Ala., June 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Recycled shipping
containers have gained popularity in recent years, being converted
into everything from houses to small stores—but the Auburn University College of Agriculture, in
partnership with Campus Dining, is using them as self-contained
"vertical" farms to grow produce to serve to students.
In April, the college acquired two Freight Farms shipping
containers that have been converted into technologically advanced
hydroponic growing stations in which plants grow vertically indoors
without soil, getting their nutrition from water and light energy
from powerful LEDs.
Now, the farms are producing the first crop of lettuce.
"This is state of the art," said Desmond
Layne, head of the Department of Horticulture. "We're
talking growing from seed to fork in four to six weeks, depending
on whether it is lettuce, arugula or another vegetable crop that
can grow in there. And we can produce 15 times as much per year as
we could outside in the same exact spot."
Associate Professor of Horticulture Daniel Wells taught a
vertical farming course this spring and leads operations of the
vertical farms.
Wells said the containers are outfitted with a complete climate
control system, which includes air conditioning and humidity
control. Because they are highly insulated, the system ensures the
same climate 365 days a year.
The converted containers also have an elaborate lighting system,
giving all the light the plants need from two color LEDs.
"We can do any number of colors of lights," he said. "But it
turns out for photosynthesis, plants use mostly red and blue light.
What's neat about that is you can cut out a lot of the other color
spectrum, creating far less heat energy. That's very efficient. It
means more of the energy used is turned into light than heat."
The containers also allow for controlled carbon dioxide levels,
which accelerates plant growth.
"Ambient CO2, what you and I are exposed to every day, is about
400 ppm [parts per million]," he said. "And that's fine, plants can
grow there. But if we boost the CO2 to 1,000 ppm, they'll grow
faster. And because we're containing the CO2, the plants can really
use it. And it's not dangerous for humans at all."
Wells and Director of Dining and Concessions Glenn Loughridge first initiated a partnership
between the College of Agriculture and Campus Dining five years ago
through the Auburn Aquaponics Project, which uses hydroponics and
aquaculture technologies to provide a system in which
nutrient-laden wastewater from fish production is used as a food
source for plant growth. Today, fish from this effort are served in
dining facilities on the Auburn
campus.
The new vertical farms build on that effort.
"We're in the process of finishing a $26
million dining hall in the center of campus," Loughridge
said. "It has always been foremost in my mind that we would have
the opportunity to feature produce grown here on campus in that
dining hall. In our biggest location, our biggest asset, we want to
bring our A-game.
"This is hyper-local, on-campus sourcing," he added. "Can you
imagine being a potential student coming to tour, seeing where
these products are grown, and then going to eat there? It's
incredible. We truly believe this elevates our dining
experience."
The converted shipping containers were manufactured by Freight
Farms, a Boston-based company
operating in 45 states and 28 countries.
"There are a few different companies out there doing this,"
Layne said. "But Freight Farms is the most sophisticated. They're
the ones who have both the best product on the market and the
largest production of these containers. It's really a best-case
scenario."
Adam Lenhard, a rising senior
majoring in biological agricultural technology management, said
Wells' course has been one of the most influential courses he's
taken at Auburn.
"It has been very helpful, not just in preparation for the
arrival of the freights, but also in learning all about new
hydroponic technologies and growing techniques," Lenhard said.
"Post-graduation, I plan to continue to work with these types of
indoor, LED hydroponic systems. My primary goal after college is to
normalize urban hydroponic farming, provide large, consistent
yields of fresh vegetables and provide food to those in need who do
not have as much access to fresh produce."
Transformation Garden
The vertical farms are located on the College of Agriculture's
planned 16-acre Transformation Garden on the south end of the
university's campus, near the intersection of Lem Morrison Drive
and Duncan Drive. The goal of the garden is to encompass every
aspect of plant-based agriculture, including everything from fruits
and vegetables to ornamentals to row crops and more.
The Transformation Garden will showcase new technology and the
history of agriculture, as it envelops Auburn's Old Rotation, a single-acre research
plot created in 1896. Continuously since that year, the historic
landmark has been the site for testing and advancing transformative
ideas that are now commonplace—ideas like crop rotation, cover
crops and low- and no-till farming.
Information about financial donations to help develop the new
Transformation Garden is available online or by contacting
Phillip Cowart, College of
Agriculture director of development, at poc0001@auburn.edu or
334-844-1198.
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SOURCE Auburn University