2013 ASHS Annual Conference

The limited water situation, rising health costs both at the local and global arena have forced its population to find alternative technologies for sustainable and local healthy safe food production systems which uses less water. Burgeoning population growth is a significant driver of change in the urban US and many other cities of the world.  The overall challenge is to create a sustainable and integrative urban food system using innovative science and technology approach. The concept of “greening the city and feeding the world” is the driving force to set up a “Agriculture Innovation Lab” at the Colorado State University to support the sustainable food system in the urban environment by developing new innovative food production kits. This way the communities in small town and cities will have access to local fresh, nutritious and safe food. Such systems can be placed in indoors or outdoors or can be expanded as an enterprise. These kits work on a principle of providing safe and clean breathing space and produce nutritious and healthy food as well as also provide a clean, green and safe environment. The innovative indoor energy smart food production technology is developing as a prototype and soon will be provided to the communities and roll out as a horticulture venture. This sustainable 21st century technology idea is to promote entrepreneurship and sustainable food production opportunity at local, regional and global marketplace. In best of our knowledge, this is the unique integrated science; engineering and technology based solution for healthy food production system follows the triple bottom line principles, conserves limited natural resources (energy, water) and provides opportunity for new horticulture enterprise for economic development. Our focus for integrating technology to reduce local and global hunger and develop a possibility of safe food close to the doorstep which also helps as a one stop shop of learning entrepreneurship model for creating a sustainable environment, communities, and regional economic development.