The University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada has installed a compact building-integrated agriculture pod next to the Orchard Commons dining hall on its Vancouver campus. It has stacked hydroponic trays and tuned LED lights, runs on a standard electrical connection and can grow plants all year round.
The pod is a full-scale research prototype and a living laboratory on producing food in buildings and urban infrastructure, including for remote communities. The first harvest of lettuce and herbs was planned for 6 October, and researchers will compare this produce with supermarket produce for nutrition, growing conditions and public perception.
The pod was designed by Perkins&Will and FORM3, and the hydroponic system was built by a Vancouver company. It was funded by UBC, Mitacs, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the BC Centre for Agritech Innovation, and is expected to move to other locations next year.
