in the san fernando valley lies a model for urban farming that could change how vacant land can be transformed across los angeles. follow founders elliott kuhn and alexys romo as they recount the origins of cottonwood urban farm, its partnership with black thumb farm, and the impact they’ve had in panorama city. if you are interested in creating strategic partnerships to uplift community building, love gardening, or want to hear a feel good story about the magic of sharing resources, cottonwood is for you!

“we are just trying to feed the world,” said rafael riedel, overlooking the eternal city of rome at the un food and agriculture organization (fao) headquarters. riedel, a 24-year-old southern brazilian farmer, is acutely aware of how climate change and rising costs are impacting global food producers. at the 2024 world food forum (wff), an international conference on agrifood systems transformation, he hoped to bring this knowledge from farm to forum. 

riedel’s attendance at wff was part of a leadership programme for young farmers funded by the world farmers organisation. when reflecting on the conference, riedel recalls a lack of farmers and economists in expert panels to communicate the challenges of sustainable agricultural techniques. his perspectives are informed by his lived experience in brazil, where agricultural expansion is often scrutinized by the international community for driving large-scale deforestation of critical habitats like the amazon.

rafael riedel: a proud farmer

riedel is a seventh-generation farmer from the southern brazilian state of mato grosso do sul, where his family has operated cattle ranches and farms since the 1800’s. today, his family’s farm is an organized company (sapé agro) that practices cattle ranching, dairy farming, poultry production, and commercial crop cultivation. after experiencing life outside the farm through school and work, he has come to embrace his identity as a farmer. 

for riedel, land is life, and expansion into undeveloped areas offers new sources of production and profit. for instance, since riedel was young, his father expanded their operations from 500 to 7000 hectares, increasing the farm’s revenue tenfold. yet, cattle ranching, small-scale farming, and soybean cultivation are the primary drivers of deforestation in the amazon, implicating farmers like riedel in global conversations on forest conservation.

“i am proud of being a farmer, and that is something i learned how to do. most of my outfits i use farming boots, because that is just who i am and what i am used to and what i always did. for a while i was ashamed of that, but then i realized that is what i liked. that is me.” – rafael riedel

to cultivate or conserve: agriculture in the amazon

the agribusiness sector has been a contentious topic of economic, political, and environmental debate in brazil. for instance, former president jair bolsonaro, who served from 2019 to 2023, encouraged agricultural expansion in the amazon by defunding enforcement agencies, loosening restrictions on livestock farming, and attempting to shift decision-making powers over indigenous land away from indigenous peoples.

while current president luiz inácio lula da silva has decreased deforestation rates in the amazon from a 15-year high to a five-year low, almost 20 percent of the amazon has been destroyed by illegal cattle ranching and logging, infrastructure development, and soybean production in the past five decades. with increasingly severe wildfires and drought, the rainforest is nearing a dangerous tipping point of 25% deforestation, in which it could transition into a dry grassland, resulting in large-scale biodiversity loss and carbon release.

regarding protected areas like the amazon, riedel notes the difference between legal and illegal farming. as a legal farmer, he follows brazil’s strict forest code, which requires landowners to set aside a portion of their land for native vegetation, in addition to mandating reforestation of illegally deforested areas. in southern brazil, producers like him must conserve 20% of native vegetation, while those in the legal amazon must conserve 80%. but, legal farmers like riedel, who actively conserve land as they expand production, say they risk being misunderstood as the illegal cattle ranchers and soybean farmers driving deforestation. 

for marco ribeiro, a brazilian forestry engineer, slowing habitat loss in the amazon requires increasing regional enforcement mechanisms and overcoming entrenched political opposition and economic interests from the agricultural and logging sectors. “faster prosecution of violators is essential to maintain the credibility of enforcement, alongside closing loopholes such as the 2008 amnesty clause,” he said.

the loopholes ribeiro is referring to include sections of the 2012 forest code revision, which lessened restoration requirements and forgave fines for landowners who illegally deforested before 2008. to him, this unintentionally encouraged further deforestation by signaling leniency and disincentivizing compliance.

a study published in pnas revealed substantial economic payoffs to producers who deforested illegally before 2008 and determined that the costs of restoration represented an untenable financial burden on new farmers. according to ribeiro, “limited technical and financial resources often hinder adherence creating barriers that should be understood and resolved through fairer and more inclusive policies.”

ribeiro also calls for greater collaboration between farmers, governments, and international organizations in implementing sustainable farming methods.

“collaboration between local communities, government agencies, and international stakeholders is essential to balance economic development with environmental preservation. if implemented alongside initiatives promoting sustainable land use and economic incentives for conservation, these measures could significantly reduce illegal deforestation in the amazon.” – marco ribeiro 

riedel “gets the chills” thinking about the fines and environmental consequences of illegal farming in the amazon. he too calls for direct collaboration with farmers to better balance agricultural expansion with habitat conservation in brazil and beyond.

bringing dialogue from farm to forum

at the world food forum, riedel had one mission: reorienting discussions about agrifood systems transformation towards the needs and constraints of producers. to him, framing organic farming and agroforestry in terms of their economic and practical benefits to farmers will accelerate conservation-friendly agriculture in regions like the amazon. 

“if it is cheaper, if it makes sense in the long term for the farmer, if it makes economic sense and it’s sustainable, that is an opportunity for dialogue. if you say to someone with low margins and high costs that it is not going to benefit you in the long term, it is not going to give you any more profit, that is not going to work. not just for farming, but for everyone.” – rafael riedel

riedel recalls how agroforestry was met with skepticism by brazilian farmers but eventually embraced due to its long-term benefits, including lower energy costs and less chemical inputs. on his own farm, riedel produces organic fertilizer due to its cost efficiency. “we did it because it was cheaper and because we could take some resources from the dairy farm and use it on the soybean and corn,” said riedel.

in addition to organic fertilizer, riedel also incorporates sustainability in other ways, including rotational farming, no-till practices, and solar energy as cost efficient opportunities to decrease inputs and expand long-term productivity. marco ribeiro agrees that pragmatic sustainable farming approaches for and from farmers require stronger recognition and reinforcement in international agrifood dialogue.

 “strengthening cooperatives, creating platforms for dialogue, and encouraging partnerships with governments and international organizations would ensure that these farmers’ contributions are integrated into strategies for transitioning agrifood systems. this inclusive approach would align global efforts with the realities of those on the ground.” – marco ribeiro

riedel’s wff attendance was an opportunity to foster dialogue at a crucial turning point in brazil’s agricultural policy. these efforts extend beyond the amazon to less-protected areas like the brazilian cerrado, which experienced a  45% surge in forest loss in 2023 due to soy and beef production. according to experts like ribeiro, farmers are at the frontlines of both environmental protection and agricultural expansion, cultivating strategies for conservation-friendly food systems. while challenges in agriculture land management persist, farmers like riedel are simply asking for the platform to share their stories.  

“it’s part of what we are doing. sharing our stories and letting the world know what we are doing. come to a farm. come visit us. we will receive you with open arms. just come to a farm and see.” -rafael riedel

this year, four planet 世界杯欧洲预选赛免费直播 s had the opportunity to attend the forum and be a part of the conversation, along with director of academic adventures imani cheers and associate director kim ossi. while in rome, they reported on a variety of topics, from indigenous food sovereignty to the water scarcity. in addition to attending events at the conference, correspondents had the opportunity to explore the eternal city and connect with new and old friends. 

they say rome wasn’t built in a day. and that’s definitely because you have to walk so much! each morning, the students made the trek to the fao building, either by foot or by piling into the rome metro from their apartment in re di roma. the closest metro station was quickly renamed “dupont circle” by the district folks on the trip. 

upon their arrival at the event, and once the group got past security, everyone quickly learned that the fao is one gigantic labyrinth. the floor-standing maps of the building, set up in nooks and alcoves, did little to guide you in the right direction. it was a bit like a “choose your own adventure” — wandering down random hallways and hoping you weren’t walking into someone’s office! 

the forum began with the highly attended world food forum youth assembly opening ceremony. during the event, the world food forum global coordinator, kazuki kitaoka, spoke about implicit bias and demonstrated this concept by engaging the audience in a clever activity. he began by asking half of the audience to look at a photo of vegetables, and the other half at someone washing their hands. he then displayed the text “so_p” to the audience and asked them to identify the word. the ones who saw vegetables said “soup” while those who saw someone washing their hands said “soap.”

the message behind this exercise was that people’s experiences make them implicitly biased toward one answer, or way of life, over another. this was a reminder that forum attendees carried with them throughout the event while engaging with the international crowd.

other sessions included the fao science and innovation forum and the rome water dialogue. the event’s sessions emphasized youth participation, despite the median age of those in attendance being somewhere between 30 and 40. this age average was due to the many ambassadors and country representatives present.

events located in the plenary, or the main meeting space in fao, also lacked a youth presence as only those with special guest passes or diplomats were allowed inside. instead, young attendees convened to watch live streams in other rooms. this did not deter younger participants from getting involved, and many attendees made connections with others at these sessions.

participants weren’t limited to learning inside the fao building. to the back of the main hall, the global family farming forum was set up outside in a modern wood barn. inside, participants could play a modified version of minecraft known as farmcraft, learn about the farming forum, explore how climate change is affecting agriculture, and more.

in the front of the main hall were two indigenous tents serving up lively discussions, dishing out foods, and hosting musicians. the tents were also a place where people could relax for a few minutes in front of a crackling fire, sip on hot soup, ponder the latest session they attended, and chat with new friends.

around the corner from the tents were the food trucks, and food was certainly another highlight of the trip. outside of the forum, the planet forward group took full advantage of their host city and devoured fresh pasta and creamy gelato on a nightly basis during classic two-and-a-half-hour roman dinners. when in rome! 

the fao also invited the planet forward cohort to the american youth world food forum 2024 leaders welcome reception, hosted by the u.s. representative to the fao ambassador jeffrey prescott, at his villa overlooking rome. the group gathered in a beautiful garden under a moonlit sky and heard impassioned stories from the youth representatives and a special guest speaker: u.s. special envoy for youth issues abby finkenauer.

but the highlight of the evening might have been the familiar face in the crowd. upon entering, the group ran into 2018 planet 世界杯欧洲预选赛免费直播 , alaine johnson, who is now a mickey leland international hunger fellow and fao world food forum youth representative. after the reception, johnson joined the group for dinner and shared all about her work as a fellow in ghana.

planet forward found that rome is full of stories, both old and new. our time at the forum fostered the kind of invaluable connections needed to help share them here with our audience. we departed the ancient city with our hearts, minds, and bellies full.

thanks very much for the fao’s support during the event. the group is so grateful for the experience and we hope you enjoy the correspondents’ stories. 

nasef partnered with the united states department of state to create a modified version of minecraft, dubbed farmcraft, to teach students about new innovations in farming through gaming with the broader goal of connecting play and learning along with showing students farming as a possible career path. chief innovation officer of nasef claire labeaux said farming in recent years has been more innovative and farmcraft is looking to provide students with this new knowledge. 

“our objective is to help kids view what careers they might pursue and then help them sort of get a little sampling of it,” labeaux said.

learning by playing minecraft

maurizio pastore developed farmcraft for nasef by designing the gameplay students experience. he said students are given enough money to begin the game where they buy their first plot of land in the rural area and choose a crop to plant.

the plants include fictional crops such as posh plum, ring radish, moon melon, root fruit, dream berry, and bloom bean. the end goal of the game is for students to grow 1,500 of each of the six crops. 

students then plant their crops and start by watering them. but pastore said plants dry out, weeds begin to grow and bugs infest plants, which students either need to manage manually or pay up for machines in the game to take care of those problems. 

after the first round pastore said students harvest then sell their grown crops for money, which they can then use to purchase upgrades in the laboratory for the crops or technology, along with more plots of land, to make more productive farms.

“farmcraft 2024 is focused on the impact of digital technology on agricultural productivity,” the farmcraft website states. 

pastore said the newest version of farmcraft, or farmcraft 2024, introduced students to farming in suburban and urban areas. he said students are forced to purchase plots in these areas because certain crops grow the best there. 

getting kids excited about solving real world problems

pastore said nasef and developers tried to make farmcraft as applicable to the real world as possible.  

a volunteer, who helped run the game at the wff and wished to remain anonymous because she is not associated with nasef, showed local middle schoolers how to play the game and educated them about its real world applications.

“kids are really interested while playing minecraft because they actually learn and remember things,” the volunteer said. 

the volunteer was present for all four days of the wff and said people and students have kept coming back to try out farmcraft. 

“people kept going so there was a line to play,” she said.

labeaux said every year nasef releases a new version of farmcraft with 2024 being the first year they introduced suburban farms with greenhouses, and urban vertical farms. she said they decided to include these different farms to show students how technology has evolved within farming. 

“farming today is not what a lot of kids view it as,” labeaux said. 

tapping into a global community

besides having students play at the wff, labeaux said nasef takes farmcraft to other conferences to introduce the game to students. labeaux also said many elementary, middle, and high schools have implemented farmcraft as part of their curriculum. 

“this game is played around the world,” labeaux said. 

she said more than 12,000 students from more than 63 countries, including colombia, japan, kenya, and the united states, have played farmcraft.

labeaux also said after students have finished playing farmcraft at the world food forum, they have the option of joining farmcraft’s virtual programming. she said there are two challenges that students aged eight through 18 years old can join along with virtual exchange programs. 

students are first challenged with creating a minecraft world educating others on food transportation in the student’s area. another challenge is using a custom map created by nasef to grow crops then ship them to a desert biome where crops cannot be grown. 

nasef with farmcraft also hosts virtual exchange programs connecting students with other students around the world to discuss their different educational and personal experiences. the virtual exchange programs for 2024 will happen on nov. 12 and dec. 12. 

“we would love to have them join,” labeaux said.

“my name is ignacio vargas sánchez. i am costa rican […] and i’m dedicated to coffee farming, a tradition passed down through my family and one that i enjoy,” my dad said proudly when i asked him to introduce himself. 

coffee culture is a foundational part of our family tradition and who i am. i grew up in a large, close-knit family, where more than 50 aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather once a year in an activity to collect coffee and honor our family’s coffee-growing roots. the fun began when about 30 of us squeezed into the back of a toyota dyna pickup truck, packed tightly together, and laughed and teased each other as we headed to the coffee farm. yes, i know. really unsafe, but also a lot of fun. 

once we got to the coffee farm, we would attempt to collect coffee for a couple of hours, only to realize how hard and labor-intensive it was. i would rapidly give up my dedication to focus on what was naturally most important to 7-year-old me: playing and running around the farm with my cousins. the activity would then transform into enjoying a costa rican breakfast under the trees’ shade, while we teased each other about who had most likely done the worst job at collecting coffee cherries. 

among all the family activities i grew up with, this one was always one of my favorites, and hearing my dad introduce himself as a coffee farmer by tradition, reminds me of it. 

urbanization and coffee growing

in recent decades, costa rica has undergone a large urban and commercial development in the central valley, where cement structures have replaced coffee plantations, a key economic activity since the 1800s. according to the state of the nation report in 2018, just in the past few decades, the urbanized area in the central valley has increased by 65%. 

at the same time, one major climate change threat in cities is heat stress due to the heat island effect, where structures such as buildings, roads, and sidewalks raise temperatures in urban areas as they absorb and release high heat levels. a study in the costa rican central valley shows that coffee farms can reduce surface temperatures by more than 20°c (the equivalent of a 36°f change) compared to fully urbanized areas.

rapid and massive urbanization also threatens the habitats of many urban wildlife species. in costa rica, a study conducted by the university of costa rica and the national autonomous university of mexico (unam) links the decline of coffee farms in the central valley to extinction threats due to habitat reduction for the endemic bird cabanis’s ground sparrow (melozone cabanisi).

la valencia – the neighborhood where my family’s farm is located – in santo domingo, heredia, is no exception to urbanization trends. my dad, ignacio, was born and raised in santo domingo, an area in the central valley of costa rica. he remembers the days when he would go to collect coffee in la valencia. 

“as soon as we went on school vacation, we would go to collect coffee because our vacation coincided with coffee harvesting season. my whole family would walk to the farm together, filled with incredible joy, carrying lunches prepared in the morning to enjoy in the coffee fields, where we would spend the entire day,” he said, filled with nostalgia. 

“in the past, it was common to see that area (la valencia) bustling during coffee harvests, with many people walking through the streets to collect coffee from the various farms […] large groups of people would walk along streets that were once made of gravel. at that time, vehicular traffic was very rare—only an occasional car. you would mostly see ox carts used for transporting coffee. depending on their financial situation, people would either use an ox cart or a car, though cars were very scarce.” 

today, the same streets my dad used to walk through are full of supermarkets, factories, and commercial offices. i can see a mcdonald’s on the corner and the latest neighborhood acquisition is the first dunkin’ donuts in the country, for which hundreds of people lined up on opening day. “today, the same number of people travel those streets, but in vehicles, heading to work at the various industries around the area,” my dad said. 

among the few things that remain the same in the area is my family’s farm, finca rivera. my dad is one of only two neighbors in la valencia who, despite commercial development in the area, has kept his coffee farm. finca rivera, which spans 10 hectares (approximately 25 acres), belonged to our family for three generations before him, and he has now managed it for 30 years since his father passed on the administration to him.

urban agriculture: an ally in reducing urban heating and enhancing wildlife connectivity

coffee farms in urban areas have a major positive impact because they provide green spaces that help regulate urban temperatures and promote biodiversity. 

“coffee is a tree (plant) species of about 1.5 meters (approximately 5 feet) tall and densely grown in areas dedicated to coffee. in a coffee farm, these plants are spaced 1 to 2 meters apart and have a population of 5,000 plants per hectare,” my dad said. 

“in addition to the coffee trees (plants), you can also find other trees that support coffee production, and other plants grown on the property, like bananas and plantains,” he said. he quickly did some math and assertively said: “the farm (la rivera) contains 50,000 medium-sized coffee (trees), plus shade trees, trees in live fences, and other trees we plant in the farm – these coffee farms are a small green lung within a city filled with buildings!” 

my dad goes on to explain how coffee cultivation practices have changed during his time managing the farm.

over the past years, he has been working on reforesting the farm with poró gigante (erythrina poeppigiana). poró is a legume tree known for its natural nitrogen-fixing properties. 

he shares how it works: “nitrogen fixation in the soil is important because coffee plants, as part of their physiological functioning, capture nitrogen from the soil for their nutrition.” 

having poró trees on the farm reduces the need for nitrogen-based fertilizers, which in large quantities can contribute to environmental issues such as water pollution, an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and soil degradation.

my dad continues to point out the benefits of poró trees. he shares that their canopy shelters the coffee plants from the harsh sun and rain. 

“[the] poró tree renews its leaves at a certain time of the year and when the leaves are shed they form a vegetative layer on the soil that will later form an organic fertilizer,” he said. “also, this layer of leaves is a natural mulch in which weeds will not grow.” 

but not all weeds are harmful. “there is also growing awareness about certain plants (weeds) that coexist with coffee crops without causing harm. it’s been proven that some of these weeds can live in harmony with the coffee plants and don’t compete with them at all,” he said.

this is also helpful in reducing the need for chemical products, such as herbicides. “[…] i believe their use is decreasing more and more,” he said. and when you do need to clear weeds, my dad said the use of brush cutters is also replacing herbicides. 

the changes in managing coffee crops on my dad’s farm mainly come from the technical assistance provided by la libertad coffee growers cooperative, where he delivers his coffee, and from the insights he has gained through obtaining certifications like rainforest alliance and starbucks c.a.f.e practices.

“this information helps us raise awareness about the use of chemicals in coffee farming. there is still a long way to go, but progress has been made,” he said. he also highlights that his work to increase tree coverage on the farm came from a growing technical trend he noticed. as he read and informed himself, he recognized the significant benefits of shade for coffee plants and began incorporating it into his own practices.

listening to him reminds me of the importance of working directly with farmers when transitioning to sustainable practices. his message brings up his courage and humility to recognize that even after 40 years of experience, there is still more to learn. it makes me reflect on how this blend of openness and practical guidance is powerful and essential for fostering local sustainable change.

the motivation behind this positive impact

my dad unknowingly combats the urban heat island effect and enhances urban biodiversity connectivity in santo domingo, heredia. if you ask him, he probably would not even know what this climate jargon and concepts mean, yet he is doing it. his motivation for preserving his coffee farm in a highly urbanized area is not driven by economic gain or even elevated climate change awareness. his motivations are rooted in his deep love and the sentimental value of his family’s coffee legacy and a deep connection with the healthy lifestyle farm life offers. “you enter the coffee farm and you breathe a different kind of air […] and start to enjoy things that no longer exist out there,” he said. 

my dad’s story is one of the power of personal passion and cultural heritage to preserve our environment. it demonstrates that impactful actions can stem from a sincere connection with nature and one’s roots, not just from scientific and technical knowledge. by preserving his coffee farm, my dad not only honors my family’s coffee roots but also leaves a legacy for the quality of life in his — and my — hometown.

the farm’s growing season lasts from march to october, during which the space is open and hosts a plethora of health and wellness activities for the community, said charles rominiyi, the well’s program manager.

according to dc greens, a nonprofit organization that works to advance health equity and build a more resilient food system, the well harvested more than 4,000 pounds of fresh produce for the local community in 2023.

community members are allowed to plant and pick produce during the well’s hours of operation.

breaking new ground

dc greens opened the well in june 2022. “it was really a collaboration by community members, government agencies, and nonprofit agencies who dreamt of a space where community members could come and reconnect with nature, the land, and take wellness classes,” rominiyi said.

washington, d.c.’s ward 8 councilmember trayon white was one of the well’s largest donors, rominiyi said.

councilmember white said he has been working on ways to curb food insecurity in anacostia and the well was a way of doing that.

“we’re looking to bring in more grocery options to the ward, especially healthy grocery options, but it’s becoming tougher. we put a lot of energy, in the last couple of years, into the well at oxon run, a state-of-the-art community farm. it’s probably one of the biggest community farms in the city and in ward 8,” white said.  

cultivating community

this year, march 18 marked the well’s opening week, for which there were several on-site events. there was a seed giveaway, a “plant a seedling” workshop, a senior lunch, tours of the well and a community volunteering day — all shared with the community through the dc greens newsletter.

rominiyi said the events had a great turnout, with attendance varying from 20 to 50 people per event. “opening week was great. it’s really when we can get everyone excited and let the community know about all our plans for the year. we think it was a great success,” rominiyi said.

when entering the well, people are greeted by mimi the tree, which stands as a witness to the success of the community through the years, even in the face of adversity, rominiyi said. when the land was being excavated, the original plans were to cut the tree down. however, community members wanted to preserve this hundred-year-old sycamore oak tree as a reminder of how far the well has come, rominiyi said.

“we ask the community what we should grow, and we grow what they ask us to,” rominiyi said.

greatness on the horizon

according to the well’s farm manager, kenneth bridgers, the farm has eight growing fields scattered across the space which grow various foods such as bok choy and kale in the spring, strawberries and figs in the summer, and swiss chard, and snap peas throughout the year, among other crops. 

most of the seeds are provided by johnny’s seeds, a national seed provider, but members of the community can also drop off seeds at the farm’s seed exchange bench, rominiyi said.

the well is not the only community farm in anacostia, according to rominiyi. however, what makes the well unique is that the staff also conducts wellness and peace programs, which engages the community in several ways, such as in the youth section of the farm, rominiyi said.

“we partner with the green scheme, which brings young people to the well to use the youth garden beds, learn about environmental literacy, environmental sustainability and environmental justice,” rominiyi said.

another unique aspect of the well is the programming pavilion, the structure of which allows for rainwater collection during the off season. the staff treats this rainwater and uses it to water plants in the greenhouse when the well is closed to the public, rominiyi said.

“i’ve been here since the start and we’ve seen tremendous growth in engagement. we can’t wait for all the great things that are happening this season,” said bridgers.

schenker is an avid traditional grower with wild roots, but along with the other organization members, she will be pivoting toward an innovative form of gardening called hydroponics that wild roots is incorporating.

hydroponics is the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil, according to the usda national agricultural library.

“it’s kind of like a constant flowing water system, and there’s no soil needed,” schenker said. “the plants are just growing out of the water.”

rachel silverman, a mccormick school of engineering second-year industrial engineering major, is the co-vice president of engineers without borders, a student organization using engineering to promote sustainability. their newest project is partnering with wild roots to build the hydroponic system.

silverman said hydroponic systems pump water directly to the roots of the plants, which is beneficial for the environment.

“due to soil degradation, we lose soil faster than we can make it, so having an alternative available when we can grow produce without soil is really essential,” silverman said. “second of all, it uses a lot less water than how you would normally grow plants because it doesn’t have to be saturated in the soil and water can be recycled through the system.”

hydroponic systems work circularly, with water pumping from the nutrient-filled water into the grow tray, and then cycling back to the solution tank where more nutrients are added. the nutrient-water solution is typically replaced every two to three weeks for an average-sized hydroponic structure, according to floraflex. an energy source is needed to provide light for the plants when grown indoors and to pump the water.

engineers without borders and wild roots are working out these technical details in an effort led by silverman and juliana gonzalez, a mccormick second-year majoring in manufacturing and design engineering. silverman said she and gonzalez weren’t familiar with gardening alternatives like hydroponics before wild roots reached out, but when the organizations connected, engineers without borders researched the system and decided to take on the project.

“i think you learn a lot more through doing. joining this club has taught me a lot more about the different solutions that exist,” silverman said. “[i am] just getting a better grasp of the situation with the environment and the ways we can help.”

once engineers without borders agreed to collaborate with wild roots, they put together a rough design and worked through logistics with wild roots advisor corbin smyth. their final sketch is a 6-feet long and 4-feet wide structure with plants growing in horizontal rows above a water basin. while many hydroponic structures feature lights above the plants for controlled growth, this system will not need them because it will receive natural light outdoors. 

gonzalez said the biggest barrier they faced was getting their materials approved. engineers without borders sent their material proposal to the northwestern student organization finance office (sofo) to order before spring break, she said. sofo officials asked the students to restructure their plans solely with materials from vendors approved on ibuynu, a web-based ordering platform providing organizations with streamlined purchasing options.

“they ended up sending us the materials [list] back, and then we redid the materials and sent it back to our advisor, who sent it to sofo,” gonzalez said. “the whole process took a really long time. it was very frustrating, honestly.” but the process and patience paid off.

gonzalez said the students decided to exclusively choose items from home depot when rebuilding their materials list because the store is approved on the sofo platform. while engineers without borders initially planned to unveil the structure in late may of 2024, gonzalez said they are postponing the project launch until the coming academic year due to the delays. she said that even with delays, she thinks a hydroponic system will be meaningful enough for the university that the students are sticking with the plan.

the hydroponic system will bring awareness about water consumption and waste on campus, gonzalez said. she added that sustainability is a large part of the world now, and integrating it into engineering projects is very interesting to her.

eric weber, director of operations at plant chicago, embraces and builds upon the sustainable aspects of hydroponics, they said. plant chicago, on chicago’s south side, adopted hydroponic and aquaponic urban gardens in 2011 when the organization launched. their first systems were located at the plant, a former meat processing warehouse welcoming a collaborative community of small food businesses, according to the plant website. plant chicago relocated their hydroponic and aquaponic structures to their current space a few blocks away in 2020, said weber.

hydroponics is one component of an aquaponics system, which pumps naturally fertilized water from fish tanks to plants growing in water, then redirects the plant-purified water back to the fish tanks, according to nelson + pade. fish waste fertilizes the water and special bacteria in the water breaks down the ammonia in the waste that would be harmful to plants.

weber walked us through plant chicago’s indoor space, which boasts several hydroponic and aquaponic towers of various sizes. in the aquaponic structure, fish swim lazily on the lowest level and a series of pipes lead up to neat rows of plants growing in the water. weber said the main benefit of aquaponics over hydroponics is that it grows fish in addition to plants.

“you get the ability to have a potential protein source that you can harvest and eat in addition to your veggies,” weber said. “you treat the system as its own living organism; you’ve got fish, you’ve got plants, you’re trying to keep them living in harmony with each other.”

the nutrient source in a hydroponic system differs significantly from that of an aquaponic system, weber said. in a solely hydroponic structure, the plants rely on a synthetic fertilizer rather than organically processed fish waste. according to weber, this ties into one of the main criticisms of hydroponic growth.

critics of hydroponic growth don’t see hydroponics as organic and instead prefer more natural methods, said weber. while the u.s. department of agriculture (usda) makes no mention of soil growth in their definition of organic, the usda does specify that “the basic rule for organic agriculture is to allow natural substances and prohibit synthetic,” according to the website’s organic 101 subsection. if hydroponic and aquaponic systems do not use synthetic fertilizers, the usda recognizes them as eligible for organic certification.

but, according to the real organic project, a defining characteristic of organic produce is growth in soil. weber acknowledged that for both hydroponic and aquaponic growth, the plants grow in a controlled environment rather than letting nature take its course.

“you’re trying to control as many parameters of the environment as possible, so the amount of light, temperature, humidity, airflow, oxygen, co2…” weber said. “all that requires technology in some form, which tends to be fairly expensive, and electricity. depending on your electricity source or part of the world, it can vary in its environmental impact and cost.”

weber said the “gut check” for these technology-based growth methods is properly weighing cost and energy use against the systems’ benefits. they said some gardeners can build a small in-home hydroponic system for a couple hundred dollars, but the systems can cost upwards of $10,000 depending on size customizations and energy needs. some structures rely primarily on renewable energy sources, such as the systems at plant chicago, which operate from a 16-kilowatt solar array on the roof installed over a year ago, according to weber. however, others can rack up energy from non-renewable sources such as coal or natural gas, they said.

opposing organizations such as the real organic project look at the potential cost- and energy-related negatives of hydroponic growth and rule it out as a sustainable option. weber takes a more holistic approach. they said multiple factors should be considered when implementing hydroponics, such as which crops thrive naturally in that geographical area, which financial resources are available, and whether renewable energy is easily accessible. hydroponics also recycles water in a world where drought is spreading due to climate change.

“just as easy as it is to say, ‘oh, hydroponics is going to save us from world hunger,’ those broad strokes could be used to say, ‘oh no, this is terrible, it’s a huge waste of space and time and money and electricity,’” weber said. “i don’t think either of those are right.”

to exemplify their point, weber said they would never set up huge greenhouses in florida to grow trees inside because the climate is ideal for growing them naturally outdoors. however, they may consider growing leaf lettuce in nevada using indoor hydroponics. the state’s desert climate means far more water would be required to irrigate fields than it would be to grow plants in a nutrient-based water solution. they said in that case, the overall water loss is significantly less, which is a clear benefit to growing crops in a desert environment.

kellye fleming, branch assistant at the evanston public library’s robert crown branch, said hydroponics may not always be sustainable, but offers a great resource nonetheless. she implemented a rental program for hydroponics systems at her branch two years ago, where patrons can rent out small structures for 11 weeks at a time for free.

hydroponic growing is great for people such as fleming who live in apartments and don’t have much access to greenspace, she said. she added that soil can contain lead or other heavy metals in urban areas, making it impossible to grow healthy crops. indoor hydroponic growth makes fresh produce more accessible in that circumstance and for growing greens and herbs off-season. flemings said she doesn’t rule out the benefits of hydroponics simply because it’s not considered organic.

“if you are sustainability growing items, does it matter if it’s organic?” fleming said. “as long as people are growing, it’s great.”

schenker also frowns upon black-and-white criticism of hydroponic systems. to her, everything has a positive and negative, she said, and giving people more options for plant growth in different situations is a move in the right direction.

“i’m not saying that we should completely move toward hydroponics — i think that would be unsustainable,” schenker said. “but when it comes to how little access to good, clean food people have nowadays, a diverse amount of solutions to implement is great.”

the hydroponic system created by engineers without borders and wild roots will tentatively be placed outside norris university center in 2025.

silverman said the system will feature a qr code with information about hydroponics so students can learn more about why this structure was built. she thinks the project will spark interest in the environment on campus, she said.

“i hope it draws curiosity toward sustainability-focused tools,” silverman said. “i want it to open the conversation about other ways we can be more environmentally conscious.”

this article was originally published in north by northwestern.

to continue reading, click on the full story below!

this story was supported by the planet forward experiential learning fund.

before that day, the only coconut i had eaten was from the supermarket in my new jersey hometown, probably shipped in from across the globe, and covered in powdered sugar. though all the imported, processed food and plastic bags i was used to seemed wasteful and inefficient, i never felt like i could do anything about it and didn’t know what different food systems could look like. however, sitting there with morgan jr., this coconut was soft and not too sweet, and it was nice to be able to look directly above me and see exactly where it came from.

i visited oceania for the first time when i was 13. at the time my mother was directing a nonprofit organization operating in the pacific island country of vanuatu, and during one summer she was able to bring me along during a work trip. while she worked, i spent a week living with a local farming family on the remote, volcanic island of tanna.

stepping off the plane in tanna for the first time, and out of the single-room wooden airport, the color i saw more than any other was green. the rainforest covered every part of the island, and what was immediately remarkable was that the houses, farms and markets were not built against the forest or in giant man-made clearings. multi-lane roads did not cut through the trees, and large buildings did not stand in empty lots where nature used to be.

the morgan family grew all their own food and lived in houses they built from the plants and trees around them. the houses were small and not obstructive to the forest. food crops were grown within the rainforest alongside other endemic plants. people lived and built and farmed with the ecosystem and inside it.

the morgan family was large and included grandparents and great grandparents. their days were spent tending to their pigs and chickens, and preparing foods like ‘laplap,’ a local dish made of ground breadfruit, bananas, taros, and other root vegetables. whereas a home cooked meal in my house had at most some basil from our small garden in the backyard, this family could stand up and point to exactly where each of their foods came from.

the mother, mariline morgan, who introduced herself as my new “tanna mama,” was delightful and would prepare meals all from freshly caught fish or fresh eggs from her hens.

i didn’t see any supermarkets in tanna, but instead a huge local market with people selling the crops they grew on-island and the fish they caught themselves. there were no plastic or paper bags, instead there were baskets made from woven leaves.

i was generously shown around the island throughout the week. on my last day in tanna, i was sitting on the bench outside the grass bungalow, looking at the view of the rainforest and the mountains, when the father of the family, rex, sat next to me and said, “when people come and stay with us here, it really is like they are part of our family.”

i wasn’t sure what to say. “thank you,” i finally said, but it meant more to me than those words were able to express.

the second time i visited oceania was as a rutgers undergraduate student. i had the honor of accompanying rutgers food systems scientists to micronesia, when i was 17. we visited the islands of kosrae and pohnpei, in the federated states of micronesia.

kosrae is a small island, and their local food system is not as intact as that of tanna. centuries of colonialism and disease brought by foreigners had a negative impact on the local community, which is now dependent on imported food. i had the privilege of meeting with a local family who has had a significant impact on restoring and rejuvenating local food production. 

robert and nora sigrah have brought more than 70 greenhouses to the island providing them for free to any farmer on kosrae who needs them. as these islands are some of the wettest places on earth, the greenhouses are vital for shielding crops from seasonal downpours. “for about six months it was raining between 20 and 30 inches a month,” said nora sigrah.

“clearly the greenhouses are needed to protect the crops, not only from overwatering, but also from being damaged by torrential downpour,” she said.

in addition to providing free greenhouses, robert sigrah also promotes local farming by providing free cuttings of his green tangerine trees to anyone on the island who wants them. “since we start propagating from branches, it would take only three to five years to start bearing fruits, as opposed to if we started from seeds,” said robert sigrah. green tangerines are signature to the island of kosrae. “if every household, every family has tangerines,” sigrah said, “then everybody will be happy.”

on an island where practically everyone knows each other by name, it is not the work of the large organizations, but the actions of local individuals that make all the difference.

in pohnpei, micronesia, many people practice subsistence agroforestry in their main island’s tropical rainforest. they also raise their own pigs and chickens, but primarily for family consumption.

according to mark kostka, a local farmer of pohnpei, traditional chief, and manager of the green climate fund food security project for farming families in the federated states of micronesia, those who live in the town of kolonia are almost 100% dependent on imported food. the local food system is not developed enough for people harvesting in the forest to regularly sell their foods at a public market. pohnpei state senator jason walter said that the pohnpei state government is eager to find the best ways to support sustainable, local food production so that their residents are not dependent on imported foods.

in pohnpei, i met manuj r. nair, ph.d., the director and chief scientist of aquaculture research at the college of micronesia. nair works hard to promote local food security by studying the viability of aquaculture, or ocean farming, in the island’s waters. specifically, the farming of sea cucumbers.

i spent a day with nair and his crew, helping them measure and weigh the growing sea cucumbers from their farm. the team of five local men dove into the water where the sea cucumbers were being grown and lifted the bags of cucumbers up from the bottom of their cages. 

the process is surprisingly simple, involving only a few plastic pipes and some cages to protect them. sea cucumbers are filter feeders, meaning they do not require additional feed, and simply filter out the algae, bacteria, etc., already present in the water and convert that into protein. this actually cleans the water while they grow. sea cucumbers are eaten by some of the locals in pohnpei and can also support the local economy through export to chinese markets where they are sold for their medicinal value.

growing up in new jersey, i observed these things:

1. land is bought and sold. people move to different cities or states and leave their communities and families when they do so, especially if they get a better job somewhere else.
2. food comes from the store. it does not matter what the weather or climate is like, or where the supply trucks ultimately come from. as long as the store is open, food is available.
3. families usually spread apart as time goes on, and extended families rarely get together more than a few times a year.

none of these are true in tanna, kosrae, or pohnpei, and not until i saw the culture and food systems for myself did i realize how crucial community, local food production, and connection to one’s land are to the strength and resilience of a society. when one has an obligation to their community and their family, they adapt to problems rather than simply moving away from them. 

when faced with global problems such as climate change or food insecurity, it can feel daunting to be only one person in a world of disconnected people. in micronesia, i learned how people work together as communities in which each individual makes a difference. though the world may be huge, it is made up of millions of small communities, who are made up of individuals like you.