Hydroponic farming is a technique that grows plants without using soil. Instead of planting crops in the ground, it uses containers filled with nutrient-rich water to nourish the roots of plants, thus avoiding the need for large areas of land. Rockwell’s installation, called Clock Tower Farms, will be will be located on the fourth floor of its headquarters.
More than 70 of Fork Farms’ “Flex Acres” systems will be installed in the facility. Each Flex Acre is a 9ft-high (3m) by 9ft-long (3m) by 3ft-wide (1m) growing system capable of producing more than 100lb (45kg) of leafy greens and other vegetables every month. They require less than two hours of maintenance a month, and use 98% less water and 98% less land than traditional farms.
“We’re partnering across our industry and within communities to create sustainable impact and change,” says Rockwell chairman and CEO, Blake Moret. “Clock Tower Farms will engage employees and the community while serving as a showcase for manufacturers spanning diverse industries who want to see sustainable solutions in action.”
Each of Fork Farms’ Flex Farms has space for up to 288 plants and can grow 178kg of produce a year
Technologies developed by Fork Farms will controls the farm’s HVAC, power, dehumidification and water handling needs, allowing crops with differing requirements to grow in the same area at the same time. It will use Rockwell technologies to monitor and automatically adjust nutrient, pH and water levels.
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