Building Integrated Agriculture

Building-integrated agriculture (BIA) is of the practice of locating high performance hydroponic

greenhouse and vertical farming systems on and in mixed use buildings to exploit synergies
between the built environment and agriculture.
VERTICAL FARMING
Vertical Farm Systems are a revolutionary approach to producing high quantities of nutritious
and quality fresh food all year round, without relying on skilled labour, favorable weather, high
soil fertility or high water usage
The smart technology integrated into our systems offers many advantages, including:
1. RELIABLE HARVESTS
Vertical Farm Systems growing cycles are consistent and reliable, allowing commercial growers
to confidently commit to delivery schedules and supply contracts. In a well-managed Vertical
Farm System there is no such thing as 'seasonal crops' or ‘crop losses’.
Vertical Farm Systems are fully enclosed and climate controlled, completely removing external
environment factors such as disease, pest or predator attacks. It also means our farms are not
dependent on fertile arable land and can be established in any climatic region globally
irrespective of seasonal day light hours and extremes in temperature.
2. MINIMUM OVERHEADS
Production over heads in Vertical Farm Systems installations is commercially competitive and
predictable. In some cases profitability of over 30% has been demonstrated even after
deducting full amortization of capital equipment over a 10 year period.
Minimum over heads and grow costs are maintained through:
 LOW ENERGY USAGE
The use of high efficiency LED lighting technology ensures minimum power usage for
maximum plant growth. Computer management of photosynthetic wavelengths in
harmony with phase of crop growth further minimizes energy use while ensuring
optimized crop yields.The potential for use of green energy and the elimination of fossil
fuel powered tractors, irrigation pumps and other horticultural equipment, Vertical
Farm Systems can be structured as carbon emissions competitive.
 LOW LABOUR COSTS
Vertical Farm Systems are fully automated growing systems. Manual labour is only
required on-site for planting, harvesting and packaging of crops - and the required skill
levels are very low.
 LOW WATER USAGE
Being a totally closed growing system with controlled transpiration losses, Vertical Farm
Systems use only around10% of the water required for traditional open field farming
and around20% less than conventional hydroponics. Water from transpiration is
harvested and re-used and spent nutrient water is also processed for re-use.
 REDUCED WASHING & PROCESSING
Vertical Farm Systems growing environments are fitted with strong bio-security
procedures to eliminate pest and disease attacks. Total elimination of the need for foliar
sprays, pesticides and herbicides in cropping systems results in produce that does not
 require holding times or expensive and product damaging washing or post-harvest
processing.

 REDUCED TRANSPORT COSTS

Vertical Farm Systems can be established in any geographic location with suitable power
and water supplies. Strategic positioning of facilities close to the point of sale or in
distribution hubs dramatically decreases the time from harvest to consumer and also
reduces costs for refrigerated storage and transport.
3. INCREASED GROWING AREA
For the same floor area, Vertical Farm Systems multi-level design provides nearly 8 times more
growing area than single level hydroponic or green house systems. This compact design enables
cost-effective farming installations in industrial estates, urban ware houses and other low cost
and typically under-utilized environments not previously associated with high-quality high-
margin agricultural activities.
4. MAXIMUM CROP YIELD
Irrespective of external conditions, Vertical Farm Systems can reliably provide more crop
rotations per year than open field agriculture and other farming practices.
Crop cycles are also faster due to the systems’ controlled temperature, humidity, daylight hours
optimization and the use of bioponic biologically active organic plant nutrients.
5. WIDE RANGE OF CROPS
Vertical Farm Systems has a wide range of crops that are able to be grown in their systems. The
crop growth is controlled by a comprehensive computer database that manages and maintains
the optimum growing conditions for each specific crop variety being grown.
6. OPTIMUM AIR QUALITY
Temperature and humidity levels are closely monitored and maintained in an optimum range
for each crop being grown. In ware house installations the addition of CO² is an optional
addition that further increases crop growth and yield rates.
7. OPTIMUM NUTRIENT AND MINERAL QUALITY
Essential for maximum plant growth and the nutritional well being of consumers, Vertical Farm
Systems use specially formulated biologically active nutrients in all the crop cycles. Levels of
nutrition available to the plants is constantly managed and adjusted to optimum levels relative
to the growth stage of each crop.
8. OPTIMUM WATER QUALITY
All freshwater into Vertical Farm System installations has particulate, fluoride and heavy metal
contaminants removed and are sterilized before entering the system.
9. OPTIMUM LIGHT QUALITY
High-intensity low-energy LED lighting has been specifically developed and is used for maximum
growth rates, high reliability and cost-effective operation.