1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The intervention aimed to address a series of challenges particularly involving issues pertaining to Pakistan, a country with a high population that struggles with arable land fragmentation (inherited land is split among many individuals which means "80% of the farmers have land less than 2 acres which are too little for mechanized farming"):
1. To use sustainable agriculture techniques in a business model. (Ref: 1).
2. To use hydroponic techniques in vertical farming to grow vegetables. (Ref: 1, 3).
3. To produce fresh non-seasonal vegetables all year round (Ref: 1).
4. To produce safer agricultural produce, with reduced use of pesticides or any other preservatives, thus providing a more sustainable agriculture solution (Ref: 5).
5. To address the current shortage of labour in agriculture due to increasing urbanisation (Ref: 5).
1. To use sustainable agriculture techniques in a business model. (Ref: 1).
2. To use hydroponic techniques in vertical farming to grow vegetables. (Ref: 1, 3).
3. To produce fresh non-seasonal vegetables all year round (Ref: 1).
4. To produce safer agricultural produce, with reduced use of pesticides or any other preservatives, thus providing a more sustainable agriculture solution (Ref: 5).
5. To address the current shortage of labour in agriculture due to increasing urbanisation (Ref: 5).
Quantitative targets
1. Successfully setting-up up the vertical farm in a 60 ft. room.
2. Optimizing the LED lights for every plant according to their spectrum however precise targets were not disclosed.
3. Adjusting the exact artificial environment needed for every plant in terms of carbon dioxide, humidity and temperature levels however targets have not been disclosed.
4. Using less than 90 per cent water than box farming (Ref: 1,2,4,5)
2. Optimizing the LED lights for every plant according to their spectrum however precise targets were not disclosed.
3. Adjusting the exact artificial environment needed for every plant in terms of carbon dioxide, humidity and temperature levels however targets have not been disclosed.
4. Using less than 90 per cent water than box farming (Ref: 1,2,4,5)
Monitoring indicators defined
1. The types of vegetables grown
2. The number of days it takes to grow certain types of vegetables
3. The amount of lighting and artificial environment needed for different vegetables. (Ref: 1,3,4)
2. The number of days it takes to grow certain types of vegetables
3. The amount of lighting and artificial environment needed for different vegetables. (Ref: 1,3,4)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Please specify "other Type of NBS project"
Indoor Vertical farming (1)
Implementation activities
The project started in 2016 and has been successful within two years by successfully implementing sustainable agriculture practices in the country (Ref: 2). This practice motivated other people to start vertical farming within the country (Ref: 4).
The vertical farm has been actively producing fresh vegetables and supplying them to multiple restaurants and clients around the city. Almost 2,500 plants of kale, cherry tomatoes, pak choi, iceberg lettuce, swiss chard, wild rocket, Thai basil, green and colour capsicum, jalapenos, micro greens, parsley, celery, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage are grown within a cycle of 45 to 60 days from the time of seeding to harvesting. The farm had 70 times more production per square meter as compared to field farming and has extremely healthy produce without insecticides and preservatives. (Ref: 1,2,3)
The project owners have plans to expand this initiative on a much larger scale in the near future, which will allow them to export their vegetables to international markets as well. (Ref: 1)
The vertical farm has been actively producing fresh vegetables and supplying them to multiple restaurants and clients around the city. Almost 2,500 plants of kale, cherry tomatoes, pak choi, iceberg lettuce, swiss chard, wild rocket, Thai basil, green and colour capsicum, jalapenos, micro greens, parsley, celery, oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage are grown within a cycle of 45 to 60 days from the time of seeding to harvesting. The farm had 70 times more production per square meter as compared to field farming and has extremely healthy produce without insecticides and preservatives. (Ref: 1,2,3)
The project owners have plans to expand this initiative on a much larger scale in the near future, which will allow them to export their vegetables to international markets as well. (Ref: 1)
Type of NBS project
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The intervention has been Pakistan's first-ever vertical farm with vegetables grown hydroponically (Ref: 5). It can be considered also a process innovation due to the use of hydroponics, where plants grow in a nutrient solution instead of traditional soil, and where water is continuously recycled. (Ref: 2)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is completely new in Pakistan. (Ref: 5)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Sources mention that there might be hope for this type of initiative to be implemented at a national level but it is a long way till then. (Ref: 5)
