Urban Vertical Farming Start-up Alternative cum Social Enterprise.
How Hi-tech Urban Farming R&D and Social Enterprise Become A Winning Approach.
Updated on May 19, 2010.
Whenever we think of Research and Development (R&D), we tend to think only post-graduate scientists and researchers working together. Rarely do we thinks of any non-university school leavers involvement. Well, the Japan first hi-tech urban underground farming project is an exception example. There can be other examples that I may not know of.
Let’s make life simple. For this article, we just focus on the Japan urban underground farming concept example. In this Japanese business cum social enterprise case study, the Pasona Group which is a Japanese temporary staffing recruitment agency creates an agricultural sector employment awareness. Why there is a need for such awareness? In Japan alone, the country is facing an ageing working population. Japanese agricultural workforce population is mostly make up of an ageing population.
Source: Japundit, Tomatoes growing in Pasona O2, Hi-tech urban underground.
In addition, there is a need to create employment for unemployed youth and non-degree school leavers. Before the current global subprime mortgage crisis , it used to be a general global trend that not many youths want to work in plantation fields. At the same time, we are facing a global food security crisis. Beside improving traditional soil-based farming output, we need to research for better alternative urban farming solutions.
“By working proactively and collectively, we can find win -win solutions to many issues.” - James Ang, The omniGens Blog - Make Life Simple .
While researching for better hi-tech urban underground farming techniques, Pasona O2 (pronounced as “oh-tsoo”) creates jobs for unemployed youths. (I not sure exactly how people are directly hired in Pasona O2 urban underground farm project.) Some refer this business model as social enterprise model. It is a win-win situation for parties involve in this advanced urban underground farming research.
Based on News report, the crops production is not significant at the moment. Pasona O2 urban underground farm project best annual rice production is around 60 kg. This is normal for any major innovation and technology breakthrough. After all, both advanced urban vertical farming and urban underground farming concept model is still in its infancy development stage .
Let’s look at automobile development history. There is a huge technology development improvement from the first steam-powered vehicle built around 1672 to first petrol-powered car in 1894 to other alternative powered autos. Automobile technology development takes a long history to reach current advanced level. Even now, automobile technologies still constantly revolve. This creates jobs for many people in the process.
By working proactively and collectively, we can find win -win solutions to many issues. For example, we can achieve reduction in global warming, carbon footprint while maintaining global economic growth. Yes, it’s definitely not an easy task. Perhaps, we can find some win – win solutions to these global issues. Let’s start one step at a time. Just like what we have known about our automobile development history.
About James Ang
James Ang is a Gen Y Blogger (or Gen Y Pro blogger – stands for Professional Blogger) who blogs mainly on innovation, peer learning, personal development and well beings. The omniGens Blog’s articles are written from a non-partisan peer learning and crowdsourcing perspective.
About The omniGenerations Blog’s Concept
The omniGenerations Blog (or The omniGens Blog in short) is a peer learning community blog or a peer learning micro wiki blog that focus on the holistic development of our lives. The omniGens Blog leverages on the collective wisdom of our proactive community in helping us to achieve simple work – life balance and happiness. Make Life Simple.
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