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Best rated hydroponic rack system supplier

Hydroponic rack system factory from China: When most consumers consider vertical farms, they think of grocery store lettuce. They’re not wrong — leafy greens are an excellent crop for a controlled, hydroponic growing setup. But how exactly does vertical farming work, and how are today’s companies and startups taking advantage of the shifting landscape to offer a new way to acquire fresh produce? What Is Vertical Farming? Vertical farming, also referred to broadly as indoor farming, is the practice of growing produce in layers, stacked vertically, as opposed to the traditional method of growing in the ground. Read extra info on vertical growing systems

Two words: perpetual growing. The high-tech engineering of vertical farms makes them practically invincible. Pests, poor weather, diseases, and even seasonal temperature changes carry no weight in these environments of complete control. Their products are organic by default — there’s no need for pesticides, and they grow with very little water (up to 70% less) for maximum efficiency. All of that fine-tuning makes for fast growth, too. Vertical facilities can turn around a crop in significantly less time than the traditional field, with growth rates up to 390 times more productive than competitors.

Automation Technologies – Indoor farms require a combination of robotics, machine learning, Internet of Things sensors and cloud computing to function as intended. These technologies are central to creating and maintaining an optimized growing environment. Employing these systems can also reduce the need for manual labor and associated costs. Warehouses Are Becoming the New Farmlands – All over the world, farmers are converting wide, spacious buildings into farmlands capable of feeding their surrounding communities. This represents an important step toward ensuring food security and lowering carbon emissions, for which the agriculture industry has received a lot of flak in recent years.

As of today almost all saffron being produced is done so on traditional outdoor farms and picked by hand at the end of summer. Our solution consists of a fully automated solar powered vertical indoors farm. Using vertical farming has already been proven to be a highly efficient method of growing spices due to it’s controlled environment and large yield per square meter of land used. A fully automated production cycle allows for fast scalability without an increase of operational personnel. Controlled and predictable yield, Solar power greatly reduces energy costs, Predictable cash flow, Low labor costs, Multiple harvests every year.

The Importance of Energy-efficient HVAC Systems in Vertical Farming: Vertical farms are typically enclosed structures where crops are grown in stacked layers or on vertical surfaces. This controlled environment allows farmers to maximize space utilization and minimize water and pesticide usage. However, maintaining optimal conditions within these structures is crucial for plant growth, yield, and overall farm profitability. Energy-efficient HVAC systems help maintain optimal temperature levels in vertical farms.

Vertical farming HVAC systems play a vital role in maintaining optimal environmental conditions for crop growth. However, they also consume a significant amount of energy. By implementing energy-efficient solutions, vertical farms can minimize their carbon footprint and achieve sustainable agricultural practices. Let’s explore some key strategies. Precision climate control systems regulate temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels in the vertical farm. By integrating smart sensors and automation, these systems can optimize the use of energy resources based on real-time crop requirements.

In a few decades, indoor city farms or vertical farms have become popular for producing healthy food year-round in urban environments and harsh climates. We began a long-term series of research studies on DFT tomatoes at our OptiClimatefarm R&D Center. To develop an effective DFT indoor farm, we built on our years of know-how and experience from both greenhouse growers and vertical farms. Over the past decade, tomato production has been optimized with high-tech automation and data management. We can use this tremendous amount of knowledge and adapt and implement the same vision and technology in an indoor farm. Find even more info at https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/.

OptiClimate Farm provides one-stop design and supporting vertical farming solution or turnkey vertical farming project according to your area. OptiClimate Farm is one of the vertical farming technology companies in China, whose original commercial vertical hydroponic facility is a high technology, modular and combined vertical production environment. It is customized for various crops/plant products/business vertical farming model of AG and CBD. Provide the best controlled vertical planting environment to grow various horticulture, flowers and agricultural products in various environments and climates. In addition to growing green leafy vegetables, you can also grow herbs and other special plants and shallow root crops.

The choice of refrigerant used in the cooling systems affects, among other things, the purchase price, service and maintenance costs, energy consumption, and lifespan. Properly maintaining an HVAC system can ensure that the system remains efficient and lasts longer. It is important to perform regular maintenance, such as replacing filters and cleaning ducts. HVAC systems can produce a lot of noise, which can be a nuisance to the surrounding area. It is important to pay attention to the different noise levels during the design phase. Growing spaces without personnel require different sound requirements than processing spaces, for example.

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Premium grow room environment control system wholesale: While vertical farming may have a host of complications, it’s particularly effective at one task: growing starter plants. For many growers, starter plants, or transplants, are extremely valuable. These fledglings can be grown rapidly, at extremely high densities, in the controlled environments of vertical farms before being inserted into the agricultural supply chain. They offer hardiness and ease of planting, saving growers the time and labor of having to start the young plants from fragile seeds in a greenhouse or field. See more information on https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/products-11255.

This convergence of technology with agriculture propels the industry towards a future where innovation plays a pivotal role in food production. There is ongoing exploration of new crops and varieties, coupled with continuous research. It propels the evolution of vertical farming techniques and methods. The commitment to research and development positions vertical farming as a key player in shaping the future of agriculture for the benefit of future generations. The future of food is looking up, literally! And as sustainable foodies, we can all play a role. Support local vertical farms, ask your favorite restaurants about their sourcing, and keep an eye on this exciting innovation. From reduced resources to year-round crop production, environmental controls, and the ability to harvest at peak freshness, vertical farming presents many benefits and untapped potential.

Vertical farms may make use of soil, aeroponic, or hydroponic growing techniques. Part of the urban farming trend, vertical farming is building on the success of urban greenhouses, such as those found in city centers on top of commercial buildings. Vertical farmers may incorporate growing systems into rooftop settings, onto the sides of commercial high rises, or into what’s referred to as “farmscrapers.” Growing fresh food has traditionally been subject to the elements: location, climate, seasonal conditions, and weather trends are just the start of the challenges that can impact plant health and crop yield.

This groundbreaking farming method saves considerable space and soil, and, as an extra perk, these vertical farms tend to pay higher wages than traditional farming setups, too. This goes hand-in-hand with rising consumer concern for employee working conditions, which are often unsafe and low-paying in agricultural sectors. Combined with extreme weather patterns and land disputes, the situation can lead to a very insecure industry. Further enhancing safety, the chance of acquiring foodborne illnesses is greatly reduced with vertical farming, cutting down on overall liability and the risk of damaged reputations and associated costs.

Artificial light vertical multi-layer growth racks are used to colonize saffron seed balls and provide a dedicated spectral formula for lighting. Temperature, humidity, airflow, light and CO2 can be precisely controlled using OptiClimat smart climate growing ACs and PLC integrated control system. OptiClimate’s smart climate growing system works with the parameters of the climatic conditions of the saffron origin in Jammu or Kashmir. Saffron grows everything freely by its timeline in OptiClimatefarm. That means a 100m2 indoor growroom could plant as the same number of saffron seed balls as in a 15-acre outdoor field . Our vertical farming technology using smart climate plant factories to grow specialty products will inspire a great business model! Indoor saffron – growing specialty products using vertical farming technology.

A good HVAC system can contribute to a sustainable vertical farming operation by reducing energy consumption, water consumption, and operational costs. HVAC systems can improve water quality by regulating the pH and dissolved oxygen in the water, which is important for plant growth. To optimize an HVAC system for vertical farming, there are several important considerations to keep in mind to choose the right HVAC system for your vertical farming operation, considering your specific needs and circumstances: There are different types of HVAC systems available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Some systems regulate temperature and humidity, while others regulate CO2.

Vertical farming HVAC systems generate significant amounts of heat as byproducts. Implementing waste heat recovery technologies can harness this excess heat and repurpose it for various applications, such as water heating or powering absorption chilling systems. Key advantages include: Reduced energy consumption for heating purposes; Increased overall energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat; Cost savings through the reuse of heat energy. Controlling temperature fluctuations minimizes stress on plants, promoting their overall health and productivity.

The most critical differences between a greenhouse and an indoor DFT system, are perhaps that the latter uses active cooling and dehumidification instead of venting and uses only LED lighting instead of mostly sunlight. It is by excluding the effects of seasonal differences in temperature, humidity and light that the optimal growing environment can be created to produce a premium product year-round. HVACD Climate optimization, selecting the right varieties and defining growth recipes. Growing successfully indoors is all about finding the right balance between light, temperature,humidity and yield and planting density. Growing the right varieties can minimize handling and labor costs. This makes them ideal for vertical farmers who may not have a lot of experience in growing a certain variety of tomato and the reduced labor costs will increase the city farm’s profitability. See extra details on https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/.

Grow Room Environmental Control System is one of the main series of OptiClimate products, which also includes HVAC, LED/HPS lighting, Co2 + controller , dehumidifiers & Ventilation equipment, OptiClimate can always provide the professional plant growth solutions. Being important parts of OptiClimate Farms, the environmental products are designed with compact size and plug-and-play installation, for the easy control of the temperature, the humidify and other elements of the environment in the farms. With its open Protocol and standard interface, it could be connected and controlled through centralized system together with other products of OptiClimate Farms. Automated climate control.Ideal environment to grow in any climate and season.

Vertical farming has gained immense popularity in recent years as a viable solution to tackle the challenges of traditional agriculture. By utilizing vertical space, these systems allow crops to be cultivated in stacked layers, reducing land usage and dependency on external factors such as weather conditions. With the advent of advanced lighting systems and hydroponic cultivation techniques, vertical farms can produce crops year-round, regardless of the seasonal limitations. Precise temperature regulation ensures accelerated plant growth, improved crop quality, and reduced crop cycle times.

Warehouse Efficiency and Productivity – Just as regular tillable land needs optimization for farming, warehouses must also have the necessary features to operate efficiently and support optimal growing conditions. This includes designing the space ergonomically, installing new equipment and creating a warehouse safety culture, among other things. Setting up a warehouse farm is capital intensive — plus, farmers also need sufficient financing to cover operating costs. For instance, even a small indoor farm can have an electricity bill of over $100,000 yearly. Switching to renewable energy sources like solar and geothermal power plants can help lower monthly expenses, but installing these systems requires substantial spending, too.

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Vertical growing systems manufacturer by opticlimatefarm.com: One of the standout features of indoor farming is the reduced reliance on soil and water. Revolutionary methods like hydroponics and aquaponics allow vertical farms to use 99% less arable land and up to 98% less water than traditional farming. Some of the most popular crops in warehouse farmlands include leafy greens, herbs and medicinal plants like cannabis. Efficient Use of Space – Conventional farming requires significant land space. Wholesale vegetable farms require at least 40 acres of fertile land on average. Bringing the process indoors allows for more efficient use of available space, maximizing food production per square foot. For instance, stacking crops vertically can accommodate up to 10 times as many plants as a regular horizontal farm with similar space dimensions. Find extra details at vertical farming solution.

When most consumers consider vertical farms, they think of grocery store lettuce. They’re not wrong — leafy greens are an excellent crop for a controlled, hydroponic growing setup. But how exactly does vertical farming work, and how are today’s companies and startups taking advantage of the shifting landscape to offer a new way to acquire fresh produce? What Is Vertical Farming? Vertical farming, also referred to broadly as indoor farming, is the practice of growing produce in layers, stacked vertically, as opposed to the traditional method of growing in the ground.

This groundbreaking farming method saves considerable space and soil, and, as an extra perk, these vertical farms tend to pay higher wages than traditional farming setups, too. This goes hand-in-hand with rising consumer concern for employee working conditions, which are often unsafe and low-paying in agricultural sectors. Combined with extreme weather patterns and land disputes, the situation can lead to a very insecure industry. Further enhancing safety, the chance of acquiring foodborne illnesses is greatly reduced with vertical farming, cutting down on overall liability and the risk of damaged reputations and associated costs.

Artificial light vertical multi-layer growth racks are used to colonize saffron seed balls and provide a dedicated spectral formula for lighting. Temperature, humidity, airflow, light and CO2 can be precisely controlled using OptiClimat smart climate growing ACs and PLC integrated control system. OptiClimate’s smart climate growing system works with the parameters of the climatic conditions of the saffron origin in Jammu or Kashmir. Saffron grows everything freely by its timeline in OptiClimatefarm. That means a 100m2 indoor growroom could plant as the same number of saffron seed balls as in a 15-acre outdoor field . Our vertical farming technology using smart climate plant factories to grow specialty products will inspire a great business model! Indoor saffron – growing specialty products using vertical farming technology.

HVAC provides the right humidity level in the growing environment, which is essential for plant growth. An HVAC system can maintain constant humidity levels and thus provide optimal growing conditions. HVAC ensures good air circulation in the growing environment, which provides sufficient CO2 and oxygen for healthy plant growth. Additionally, air circulation can help prevent mold and rot. HVAC ensures good air quality in the growing environment by filtering out pollutants like dust, mold, and bacteria, which creates a healthy growing environment. The filtration system can also reduce odors in the environment.

Vertical farming HVAC systems generate significant amounts of heat as byproducts. Implementing waste heat recovery technologies can harness this excess heat and repurpose it for various applications, such as water heating or powering absorption chilling systems. Key advantages include: Reduced energy consumption for heating purposes; Increased overall energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat; Cost savings through the reuse of heat energy. Controlling temperature fluctuations minimizes stress on plants, promoting their overall health and productivity.

The most critical differences between a greenhouse and an indoor DFT system, are perhaps that the latter uses active cooling and dehumidification instead of venting and uses only LED lighting instead of mostly sunlight. It is by excluding the effects of seasonal differences in temperature, humidity and light that the optimal growing environment can be created to produce a premium product year-round. HVACD Climate optimization, selecting the right varieties and defining growth recipes. Growing successfully indoors is all about finding the right balance between light, temperature,humidity and yield and planting density. Growing the right varieties can minimize handling and labor costs. This makes them ideal for vertical farmers who may not have a lot of experience in growing a certain variety of tomato and the reduced labor costs will increase the city farm’s profitability. Find additional info at https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/.

OptiClimate Farm provides one-stop design and supporting vertical farming solution or turnkey vertical farming project according to your area. OptiClimate Farm is one of the vertical farming technology companies in China, whose original commercial vertical hydroponic facility is a high technology, modular and combined vertical production environment. It is customized for various crops/plant products/business vertical farming model of AG and CBD. Provide the best controlled vertical planting environment to grow various horticulture, flowers and agricultural products in various environments and climates. In addition to growing green leafy vegetables, you can also grow herbs and other special plants and shallow root crops.

Vertical farming has gained immense popularity in recent years as a viable solution to tackle the challenges of traditional agriculture. By utilizing vertical space, these systems allow crops to be cultivated in stacked layers, reducing land usage and dependency on external factors such as weather conditions. With the advent of advanced lighting systems and hydroponic cultivation techniques, vertical farms can produce crops year-round, regardless of the seasonal limitations. Precise temperature regulation ensures accelerated plant growth, improved crop quality, and reduced crop cycle times.

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Vertical grow racks supplier with OPTICLIMATE: Historically, vertical farms look at urban areas for production. This helps alleviate the issue of food deserts, which are areas that have no fresh produce available within five miles. The proximity to densely populated areas reduces transportation costs and emissions. It also fosters a sense of food security within urban centers. This vertical farm-to-table approach can supply local communities and restaurants with delicious, nutritious foods in less time. ?Vertical farming addresses the issue of food miles, promoting local agriculture and connecting urban communities with fresh, locally grown products. Local farms in urban communities create new jobs for people that live in the community that people may not have had access to before. The creation of jobs in urban areas through vertical farming contributes to economic development and bolsters the agricultural sector. It’s notable that since these farms operate all year round, the employment is more stable year-round as well. As the industry grows, it becomes a significant player in sustaining and employing urban populations. Discover even more details on https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/products-11255.

Indoor, or greenhouse, farming creates a controlled environment to combat troubles like pests and drought. The strategy dates as far back as the Roman Emperor Tiberius, and its latest iteration bears the promise of an efficient “Plantopia” that we’ve yet to truly tap. As the name suggests, vertical farms grow upwards, engaging with shelf-style structures that tend to operate via hydroponics or aeroponics. Robotics, data analysis, computerized controls, and sophisticated algorithms do the heavy lifting of optimizing every inch of the growing environment — all day long, every day of the year. This vertical solution maximizes even more urban square footage, proponents argue, without requiring higher investments or major changes to the growing process.

Two words: perpetual growing. The high-tech engineering of vertical farms makes them practically invincible. Pests, poor weather, diseases, and even seasonal temperature changes carry no weight in these environments of complete control. Their products are organic by default — there’s no need for pesticides, and they grow with very little water (up to 70% less) for maximum efficiency. All of that fine-tuning makes for fast growth, too. Vertical facilities can turn around a crop in significantly less time than the traditional field, with growth rates up to 390 times more productive than competitors.

As of today almost all saffron being produced is done so on traditional outdoor farms and picked by hand at the end of summer. Our solution consists of a fully automated solar powered vertical indoors farm. Using vertical farming has already been proven to be a highly efficient method of growing spices due to it’s controlled environment and large yield per square meter of land used. A fully automated production cycle allows for fast scalability without an increase of operational personnel. Controlled and predictable yield, Solar power greatly reduces energy costs, Predictable cash flow, Low labor costs, Multiple harvests every year.

Even still, vertical farming requires intense oversight, labor costs can add up quickly. Some studies show that vertical farms will need to hire 100,000 workers over the next 10 years if growth continues at the same pace. And while consumers have shown they are willing to pay more for local, eco-friendly products, it’s not yet proven that customers are willing to shell out more for food grown indoors. Studies have shown that consumers do not necessarily think of vertical farms as “natural,” which may impede overall growth.

The Importance of Energy-efficient HVAC Systems in Vertical Farming: Vertical farms are typically enclosed structures where crops are grown in stacked layers or on vertical surfaces. This controlled environment allows farmers to maximize space utilization and minimize water and pesticide usage. However, maintaining optimal conditions within these structures is crucial for plant growth, yield, and overall farm profitability. Energy-efficient HVAC systems help maintain optimal temperature levels in vertical farms.

Airflow for vertical grow racks allows CO2 to spread through the farming facility, which reduces humidity and supports plant growth. Without constant airflow, significant growth would be next to impossible. As air moves through the tightly packed racks it collects heat from the lights, causing air to become hot and humid, which can create mold and mildew in plants. The Innovative Airflow System is designed to keep airflow moving throughout the growing areas, to ensure healthy growth and optimal conditions. Today, OptiClimateFarm’s dedicated air duct system for indoor growth HVACD has completely solved this problem. Discover more details at opticlimatefarm.com.

OptiClimate Farm provides one-stop design and supporting vertical farming solution or turnkey vertical farming project according to your area. OptiClimate Farm is one of the vertical farming technology companies in China, whose original commercial vertical hydroponic facility is a high technology, modular and combined vertical production environment. It is customized for various crops/plant products/business vertical farming model of AG and CBD. Provide the best controlled vertical planting environment to grow various horticulture, flowers and agricultural products in various environments and climates. In addition to growing green leafy vegetables, you can also grow herbs and other special plants and shallow root crops.

Using advanced technologies: One HVAC system can help control the growing environment, but it is important to regularly measure and adjust temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels as needed. This can be done, for example, through sensors and monitoring systems. Finally, advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning can be used to optimize HVAC systems for vertical farming. This can use all available data, which we analyze, make a digital twin, perform predictive maintenance and performance management, and apply hyperspectral image recognition. These technologies can help automatically adjust the growing environment to the needs of the plants, which can lead to higher yields and more efficient energy consumption.

Sustainable Practices – Warehouse farmlands can make agriculture more efficient and sustainable. The reduced reliance on soil and water means less natural resource consumption. Additionally, indoor farming allows farmers to cultivate crops in urban areas, reducing transportation costs and carbon emissions from long-distance shipping. Lastly, warehouse farms don’t require toxic chemicals and pesticides that cause greenhouse gas emissions since the controlled environment naturally keeps pests and weeds out. Indoor farming shows great promise in tackling today’s biggest agricultural challenges. However, there are several critical factors to consider when setting it up.

Additionally, some HVAC systems may be more energy-efficient than others. When considering energy consumption, some factors to consider are: Can you use waste heat? Can you use free cooling directly or indirectly, allowing you to use other sources and, in some cases, reduce energy consumption by up to 85%? Dehumidification requires energy, so it is important to determine the best technique for the specific situation to save energy. We examine the most favorable dehumidification method. This starts with the initial condition of the crop and the corresponding climate. Then we can focus on the best technology for the specific situation and choose what is best to apply. Energy can be saved by choosing cold recovery methods such as cross-flow heat exchangers, heat pipes, or run-around coils.

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Grow room air conditioner manufacturers in 2023: OPTICLIMATE Provides professional Vertical Commercial Cultivation Solutions for customers. OptiClimate Farm’s original commercial vertical hydroponics facility is a highly engineered, modular and combined vertical production environment, tailored for various crops, plant products and business models of AG and CBD. Provide the best controlled vertical planting environment to grow a variety of gardening, flowers and agricultural products in various environments and climates. In addition to growing green leafy vegetables, herbs and other special plants and shallow root crops can also be grown. See more details at grow room air conditioner.

Vertical farming is a promising solution to address the challenges presented by increasing population growth. However, energy-efficient HVAC techniques are critical to the success and sustainability of these operations. By implementing cutting-edge solutions such as smart HVAC controls, heat recovery systems, and advanced insulation, vertical farms can optimize energy usage and reduce their environmental impact. The advantages of energy-efficient HVAC techniques include cost savings, increased crop yield, improved crop quality, and enhanced reliability. Embracing energy efficiency in vertical farming not only ensures continued food production but also contributes to a greener and more sustainable future.

We’ve often referred to the importance of HVACD systems to every layer of the cultivator’s business, but how do you choose which approach is right for your facility? The truth is, OptiClimatefarm there are a number of technologies that can successfully manage the climate in an indoor facility. One of our most important responsibilities as your design partner is to review with you all options in depth, along with budgets and their respective pros and cons, to assist with the decision-making process.

Using advanced technologies: One HVAC system can help control the growing environment, but it is important to regularly measure and adjust temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels as needed. This can be done, for example, through sensors and monitoring systems. Finally, advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning can be used to optimize HVAC systems for vertical farming. This can use all available data, which we analyze, make a digital twin, perform predictive maintenance and performance management, and apply hyperspectral image recognition. These technologies can help automatically adjust the growing environment to the needs of the plants, which can lead to higher yields and more efficient energy consumption.

Our solution consists of a fully automated solar powered vertical indoors farm. Innovative DFT transpiration hydroponics model, Improved flower, root and bulb growth by adjusting the B-R light ratio formula, using vertical farming has already been proven to be a highly efficient method of growing spices due to it’s controlled environment and large yield per square meter of land used. The world’s most expensive spices can be grown on a vertical farm,do you know? Reality,it’s going very well with the help of smart climate technology!

HVAC provides the right humidity level in the growing environment, which is essential for plant growth. An HVAC system can maintain constant humidity levels and thus provide optimal growing conditions. HVAC ensures good air circulation in the growing environment, which provides sufficient CO2 and oxygen for healthy plant growth. Additionally, air circulation can help prevent mold and rot. HVAC ensures good air quality in the growing environment by filtering out pollutants like dust, mold, and bacteria, which creates a healthy growing environment. The filtration system can also reduce odors in the environment. Find more information on https://www.opticlimatefarm.com/.

The Intersection of Sustainability, Environmentalism, and Social Responsibility: Plantations International’s Sustainable Agriculture Model

How Plantations International’s Sustainable Agricultural Practices Benefit the Environment: We recognize that climate change is a serious issue that demands attention and action from the business community. Plantations International has set performance targets, and will continue to take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from both direct and indirect business operations. We are committed to conducting our operations in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and to engaging with industry and public stakeholders to develop responsible standards and voluntary initiatives that support this policy.

As food prices are closely linked to inflationary trends, owners of agricultural assets and those exposed to farming businesses possess a hedge against inflation. This is one key diversification benefit of the asset class. Agriculture has been shown to have low correlation with many other asset classes such as equities and corporate debt, which dominate the investment market. This means that including agricultural in a portfolio can provide significant diversification benefits, resulting in an increase in portfolio return or reducing overall portfolio risk. Population driven food demand remains the core base of demand for agricultural commodities. The demand for food is relatively inelastic to income, making demand for agricultural commodities less subject to an economic slowdown.

Despite multiple definitions for food security there are common themes or indicators that tend to appear and underline its characterization. These include food affordability, food availability and accessibility, food quality and safety, and existing natural resources. The FAO and The Economist both measure food security on a country based on these indicators at varying degrees. Food security ought to be a priority for all countries, whether developing or developed. Although low levels of food security are commonly associated with poverty stricken countries they are also found in affluent developed countries as well. Food security rankings despite providing a decent gauge of performance are not without limitations. For example, some of wealthiest countries logically fare well in overall rankings as they have the capability and infrastructure to provide accessible, healthy food to their populations. Yet these high rankings dangerously mask their poor natural resources and resilience rank which measures food import dependency to a small degree. This raises the question, how can a country be food secure when they can be highly dependent on others for their food supply?

With offices, plantations, and representatives across Asia, Europe, and Africa, Plantations International is a multinational plantation and farm management company that specializes in providing sustainable agricultural and forestry or “agroforestry” management services for its clients. Plantations International has clients ranging from private individuals to large landholders and corporate investors. We put teamwork, innovation, and our passion for creating “Ethical & Sustainable Capital” at the heart of everything we do.

Water scarcity is another impending crisis. 28% of agriculture lies in water stressed regions. It takes roughly 1,500 litres of water to produce a kilogram of wheat, and about 16,000 litres to produce a kilogram of beef. In 2050, the world will need twice as much water. As the world population soars, arable land per person proportionally shrinks. The stresses on food production and food prices will inevitably keep rising. Arable land loss can be combated by improving productivity per acre and taking measures against climate change and erratic weather conditions. 1.4 billion hectares of land the equivalent of 28% percent of the world’s agricultural area is used annually to produce food that is lost or wasted. The total volume of water used each year to produce food that is lost or wasted (250km3) is equivalent to three times the volume of Lake Geneva.

Different greenhouse gases have very different heat-trapping abilities. Some of them can even trap more heat than CO2. A molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming of a molecule of CO2. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful than CO2. Other gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons (which have been banned in much of the world because they also degrade the ozone layer), have heat-trapping potential thousands of times greater than CO2. But because their concentrations are much lower than CO2, none of these gases adds as much warmth to the atmosphere as CO2 does. In order to understand the effects of all the gases together, Plantations International scientists tend to talk about all greenhouse gases in terms of the equivalent amount of CO2. Since 1990, yearly emissions have gone up by about 6 billion metric tons of “carbon dioxide equivalent” worldwide, more than a 20% increase. Plantations International often use the term “climate change” instead of global warming. This is because as the Earth’s average temperature climbs, winds and ocean currents move heat around the globe in ways that can cool some areas, warm others, and change the amount of rain and snow falling. As a result, the climate changes differently in different areas.