The Eden Grow Tower is a carbon-negative, NASA Spinoff, vertical farming system that uses aeroponic technology to grow crops in environments where humans live and work. It produces up to 48.99 kg of fresh produce per 132 day cycle while also removing -49.21 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere, making it a sustainable and eco-friendly option. Compared to traditional vegetable farms, the Eden Grow Tower has a significantly lower carbon footprint of -1 kg of CO2 per kilogram of vegetables produced as compared to the 12.7kg for traditional vegetable farms and 5.2kg for indoor vertical farms. The system uses less water and nutrients than traditional farming methods, reducing energy consumption and emissions. With it’s paradigm changing employment the Eden Grow Tower has the potential to generate carbon credits through its sustainable and eco-friendly practices, contributing to the carbon market and promoting a more sustainable future.
Traditional farming emits 62.3 million metric tons of CO2 per year for producing the recommended daily amount of vegetables per person in the United States.
Large scale indoor agriculture emits 563.8 million metric tons of CO2 per year for producing the same amount of vegetables per person.
Eden Grow System tower removes 22.2 million metric tons of CO2 per year for producing the same amount of vegetables per person.
84.5-586 Million Net Metric Tons avoided/removed by Eden Towers per year
Eden Grow Tower Description
Eden Grow Systems (EGS, aka Eden) is a mission-based, for-profit, business entity with the mission to provide sustainable food and energy independence to local communities around the world, and one day, off it. This mission allows Eden to focus on all aspects of food and energy production including community and education. For Eden to accomplish its mission, we must help build community and educate that community in these critical areas. In addition to community building and education, Eden believes in the appropriate use of technology to increase the quality of life for all on the planet, and one day, off it. The first Eden product, the Eden Tower, is an unmanned food growing systems, or robot.
The Eden Tower is based on NASA-derived technology that reduces water consumption by over 95% compared to traditional agriculture, decreases human labor by 75%, increases space utilization by up to 300%, can grow the entire range of crops (including root vegetables) indoors, uses no dirt, requires no pesticides or herbicides, and consumes hardly any power.
Each tower, or robot, is autonomous, controlled by a computer that manages the watering, light, and fan schedules for the plantings. Users are required to simply monitor the crops, look for any issues, and perform minor maintenance requiring less than 5 minutes per day, and can do so with no training or prior existing knowledge of how to grow crops. Some towers come with an optional 60 gallon bi-modal reservoir, which allows users to operate the tower in hydroponic mode (add nutrient solution) or aquaponic mode (grow fish and utilize fish waste as the plant food). Four of these towers can produce 2000 calories per day, every day, 365 days-per-year and take up the same space as a queen size mattress. This system requires no understanding of farming, plants, or indoor growing, which enables any user of any level to set up, operate and maintain it. The towers are mobile, require no permits for installation, and take less than two hours with two people to set up.
Background
The carbon marketplace is a platform where companies and organizations can buy and sell carbon credits to offset their own carbon emissions. Carbon credits represent a reduction of one ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gases, and they can be generated by activities such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency improvements, or sustainable farming practices like the Eden Grow Tower. The demand for carbon credits comes from companies that have committed to reducing their carbon footprint or are subject to carbon pricing schemes, while the supply of carbon credits comes from projects certified by recognized carbon standards.
To generate carbon credits, the Eden Grow Tower would need to be certified by a recognized carbon standard, such as the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) or the Gold Standard. This would involve measuring and verifying the carbon emissions reductions achieved by the system and then issuing carbon credits based on those reductions. Once certified, the carbon credits generated by the Eden Grow Tower could be sold on the carbon market to companies or organizations looking to offset their own emissions. This would provide a source of revenue for the vertical farming system, while also contributing to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Discussion
According to our data the Eden Grow Tower produces up to 48.99 kg of fresh produce per 132 day cycle, while also removing -49.21 kg of CO2 during that same cycle. This means that the system is removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and can be considered a carbon-negative technology. When compared to traditional vegetable farms, the carbon footprint of the Eden Grow Tower is significantly lower. According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, the average carbon footprint of vegetable farms in the United States is approximately 12.7 kg of CO2 per kilogram of vegetables produced . In contrast, the Eden Grow Tower produces -1 kg of CO2 per kilogram of vegetables produced, making it a much more sustainable and eco-friendly option.
The Eden Grow Tower's carbon footprint is also lower than that of large-scale indoor agriculture facilities such as Plenty or AeroFarms. According to a life cycle analysis conducted by the University of California, Davis, large-scale indoor agriculture facilities emit an average of 5.2 kg of CO2 per kilogram of lettuce produced, primarily due to energy usage . In contrast, the Eden Grow Tower uses efficient LED lighting and can be located in urban areas where heating and cooling energy usage is already accounted for, resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
The following sections compare CO2 emissions from traditional farming, large scale indoor agriculture, and Eden Grow System towers for producing the recommended daily amount of vegetables per person, which, according to the USDA, the recommended amount of fresh vegetables per day for an adult is approximately 0.5 to 1.5 kilograms, depending on age, sex, and level of physical activity:
Traditional Farming:
The average carbon footprint of conventional farming methods is 12.7 kg CO2 per kg of vegetables produced1.
Assuming each adult consumes 0.5 kg of vegetables per day, traditional farming methods would generate 0.5 kg * 12.7 kg CO2/kg of vegetables = 6.35 kg CO2 per person per day.
Based on the estimated adult population above 21 years of age in the United States of approximately 246.8 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 data, traditional farming methods would generate 6.35 kg CO2 per person per day * 246.8 million adults consuming vegetables per day * 365 days = 555,397,880 metric tons of CO2 emitted per year.
Large Scale Indoor Agriculture:
The carbon footprint of indoor agriculture varies depending on factors such as energy source, equipment efficiency, and location.
According to a study by the University of California, Davis, the average carbon footprint of indoor cannabis cultivation in California was estimated to be 5.2 kg CO2 per kg of product (Fletcher et al., 2018).
Assuming a similar carbon footprint for indoor vegetable cultivation, producing 0.5 kg of vegetables per day would generate 0.5 kg * 5.2 kg CO2/kg of vegetables = 2.6 kg CO2 per person per day.
Based on the estimated adult population above 21 years of age in the United States of approximately 246.8 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 data, large scale indoor agriculture would generate 2.6 kg CO2 per person per day * 246.8 million adults consuming vegetables per day * 365 days = 225,013,840 metric tons of CO2 emitted per year.
Eden Grow System Towers:
According to the previous calculation, Eden Grow System towers would remove approximately 0.245 kg CO2 per person per day, or 90 kg CO2 per person per year.
Based on the estimated adult population above 21 years of age in the United States of approximately 246.8 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 data, Eden Grow System towers would remove 90 kg CO2 per person per year * 246.8 million adults consuming vegetables per day = 22,212,000 metric tons of CO2 removed per year.
Overall, traditional farming methods and large scale indoor agriculture generate significantly more CO2 emissions than using Eden Grow System towers for producing the same amount of vegetables.
Addressing Pitfalls in Carbon Credit Market
The Eden Grow System towers have the potential to address several challenges associated with the generation of carbon credits. Here are some ways in which the system can be beneficial for each major carbon credit problem area:
• Measurement and verification: accurately measuring the amount of emissions reduction achieved by a particular project and verifying that it has actually occurred can be difficult and costly.
o The tower is computer-controlled and monitored with sensors, ensuring plants are growing and in place.
o Mass of plants can be directly used to measure CO2 consumed, validated by any remote user, 24/7/365.
o Each plant grown can be tracked using blockchain technology, providing a transparent and secure record of CO2 consumption.
• Additionality: ensuring that carbon credit projects actually result in emissions reductions that would not have occurred without the project, rather than simply displacing emissions from one location to another or being something that would have happened anyway.
o The system enables year-round, local food production that does not require transportation, thereby reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation.
o The Eden Tower can be installed in any living or working space, providing a source of fresh, healthy food where it would not have existed before.
• Leakage: the risk that emissions reductions achieved in one area or industry may be offset by increases in emissions in another area or industry, thereby reducing the overall effectiveness of the project.
o The tower is an enclosed system that uses water and nutrients to grow plants, eliminating the need for soil or fertilizers that can pollute nearby ecosystems.
o The system is designed to be energy-efficient, using LED lighting and recycled water to minimize carbon emissions.
o The system is made of almost 100% recyclable parts including aluminum, fabric, and plastics.
o The system upcycles older android devices, keeping them out of land fills.
• Permanence: ensuring that carbon sequestration or emissions reductions achieved through a project are maintained over the long term, and not reversed by natural or human causes.
o The system is designed for long-term use and requires minimal maintenance, ensuring that it can continue to sequester carbon emissions over time.
o The tower can be easily disassembled and moved to a new location if necessary, ensuring that the carbon sequestration benefits can be maintained.
• Price volatility: the price of carbon credits can be volatile and subject to fluctuations based on market conditions, policy changes, and other factors, which can create uncertainty for investors and project developers.
o The system provides a stable and predictable source of carbon sequestration that is not subject to the same market volatility as carbon credits.
o The tower can provide a source of fresh, healthy food that can generate revenue for individuals or organizations, reducing reliance on volatile carbon credit markets.
Conclusion
Overall, the Eden Grow System towers have the potential to address several challenges associated with carbon credits. They are an innovative and sustainable way to produce food while reducing carbon emissions and promoting transparency in the carbon credit market. The Eden Grow Tower offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to traditional farming methods, with a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to both traditional farming and large-scale indoor agriculture facilities. The tower's ability to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and its potential for carbon credit generation make it a valuable asset in the fight against climate change.
Head over here to check out more about this topic: Embracing Sustainability as Responsible Stewards (edengrowsystems.com)