Group F

• Abbas Abbasli
• Chrisler Machado
• Shanmuga Kumar S M
• Subbiah Balaji
• Tyrone Julius Machado
PPU 215- Research Methodology in Production Projects 2018
Facts
• The UN statistics show that the world population is
expected to be nine billion in which 80% will be city
population by 2050 (Khan et al., 2016)

• “ It is estimated that food will run out within 2

weeks in Sweden if imports stop completely,
according to a FAO report in 2018 “
 Introduction

• Why Vertical farming?

• 3 Technologies:
• Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Aquaponics
• Why Hydroponics?

Photo from futurefarms.in

 Research
question
What is the importance of
Vertical Farming especially
Hydroponics in Sweden?
Research question

What are the crops that are in most demand and

which crops suit Hydroponics?

How can Hydroponics be adapted into the city

culture?

What is the energy consumption of Hydroponics in

the selected crops?

How to budget for a Hydroponic Business Model?

 Hydroponics – market
study and business viability
Selection of Crops

Scope Focused on businesses and

their scalability.
To Answer: Will it
transplant to Urban
Environments?
 • Building Information Modelling and Vertical Farming [Rana Raheel
Afzal Khan, Vian Ahmed (2017)]
• Zezza Alberto, Tasciotti Luca, 2010. Urban agriculture, poverty, and
food security
• A. Muller; M. Ferré; S. Engel; A. Gattinger; A. Holzkämper; R. Huber;
M. Müller; J. Six, 2017. Can soil-less crop production be a sustainable

Literature Study •
option for soil conservation and future agriculture?
P. J. Mahesh, M. Naheem, R. Mubafar, S. Shyba and S. Beevi, 2016.
New aspect for organic farming practices: Controlled crop nutrition
and soilless agriculture
• Al-Kodmany K, 2018. The Vertical Farm: A Review of Developments
and Implications for the Vertical City Buildings

• Statistics explaining future food demands

• Need to tackle issues on population growth, food
Extracted security
• Urban agriculture as a solution
Information • Statistics of vertical farming
• Soilless agriculture
• Hydroponics – A sustainable choice
Interviewees

Albert Payaro, Co-Founder& CEO

UrbanOasis AB.
• Based in Stockholm.
• Mainly focused on Hydroponics.
Qualitative
Kreshnik Rama, Master Thesis Student
Challenge Lab, Chalmers. Study
• Based in Gothenburg.
• Potential of Urban Agriculture in Gothenburg and how it
would help in Sustainability.

Mahesh P J, Master’s in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

TKM College of Engineering, India.
• Based in Kerela, India.
• Focus on New Organic Farming Practices.
➢ Population density in Gothenburg set to
increase by 30%.
➢ Sweden will require a food strategy and
Industrialized agriculture such as vertical
farming is one solution
➢ Hydroponics provides social, ecological
and environmental benefits.
➢ Hydroponics is very energy intensive due
to the increased use of LED lights. This
makes it very expensive for individuals
➢ Hydroponics is 100% organic. Photo by Tony James Andersson from Pexels

➢ The crop selection for Hydroponics depends on the

economic profitability of the crops i.e production
time. Kales, spinach, lettuce etc.
➢ Mushrooms require less light and hence the energy
consumption can be lower.
➢ Stakeholders : Corporates,High end Restaurants,
Supermarkets & Breweries, and Upcoming Startups.
➢ Efforts are being made to reverse the growth cycle of
plants.
➢ Hydroponics is not capable of feeding a large
population.
Photo by GothamGreens
➢ Availability of fresh water not an issue in Sweden.
➢ Hydroponics can save upto 70% water.
➢ Climate changes have no effect on the produce
eg:- Hydroponics in radioactive areas of Japan–
Eric Ma.

Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger from Pexels

Photo by Jatuphon Buraphon from Pexels

➢ People in Sweden care about the origin of their food. Target

audience
➢ Set-up ”Microgreen” for restaurants and corporates. Eventually
expand to private homes.
➢ Public organizations in Sweden assist infrastructure development.
➢ Use economically profitable crops to expand to other crops.
➢ Tomatoes and Strawberries may be the next crops of interest.
➢ Challenges faced - labor intensive and as the business grows
logistics could be a major issue.
➢ Start the company in areas where the cost of electricity is bit
lower and using renewable energies.
➢ Urban Oasis runs their farm 24/7 and is connected with the
Photo by UrbanOasis
electricity grid
Quantitative
study
Products to be
cultivated

Consider 2 aspects
➢ Products that are
demanded most
➢ Less production time

Products
➢ Chicory
➢ Mushrooms
➢ Lettuce
➢ microgreens
 Energy consumption
Hydroponics VS Conventional

• Lighting
• Water pumps
• Heating
• Cooling loads

• Hydroponics 90,000 ± 11,000 kJ/kg/y

• Conventional 1100 ± 75 kJ/kg/y

Energy consumption of Lettuce production in Arizona, USA

 Conclusion

➢ The implementation of Hydroponics in USA has created new employment

opportunities
➢ Hydroponics is an energy intensive process. However, up to 70% water can be
saved and the yield can be increased by 30%.
➢ The main requirements of hydroponics are a continuous supply of fresh water
and light source.
➢ Hydroponics can be implemented anywhere irrespective of weather conditions.
➢ The main factors in crop selection is the production time of the plants.

➢ Sweden relies heavily on food imports requires a food strategy due to a growing
population.
➢ Sweden has an abundance of fresh water and clean energy with many unused
spaces such as rooftops.
➢ The current benefits are limited to stakeholders with high financial capabilities
such as corporates, high end restaurants, breweries, supermarkets and agro-
companies
➢ Hydroponics has the ability to reduce the traffic congestion in cities and time to
market of fresh food produce thus contributing to a sustainability.
Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels