Netherlands: Floating farm's expansion beyond dairy into vegetable cultivation
Source: The DairyNews
Floating Farm, nestled amidst the cranes at a Dutch shipping port, has revolutionized the dairy industry by taking it off traditional dry land.
Utilizing advanced technology, this high-tech farm employs robots for milking and managing manure, presenting a climate-adaptive solution for consistent production of fresh and healthy food in urban settings.
Owner Minke van Wingerden emphasizes the environmental resilience of a floating farm, making it particularly well-suited for countries grappling with flooding or drought. The success of Floating Farm has prompted plans for a second location dedicated to vegetable cultivation, leveraging cow manure as a sustainable fertilizer.
The concept of a floating farm was born in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, as Van Wingerden witnessed the vulnerability of urban areas to disruptions in the food supply chain. The cows at Floating Farm enjoy a diet of hay and repurposed orange rinds from a local grocery store, contributing to the exceptional quality of the milk produced.
Beyond its functional role, Floating Farm has also become a captivating tourist destination, showcasing the harmonious blend of technology, sustainability, and agriculture on the water.
Owner Minke van Wingerden emphasizes the environmental resilience of a floating farm, making it particularly well-suited for countries grappling with flooding or drought. The success of Floating Farm has prompted plans for a second location dedicated to vegetable cultivation, leveraging cow manure as a sustainable fertilizer.
The concept of a floating farm was born in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, as Van Wingerden witnessed the vulnerability of urban areas to disruptions in the food supply chain. The cows at Floating Farm enjoy a diet of hay and repurposed orange rinds from a local grocery store, contributing to the exceptional quality of the milk produced.
Beyond its functional role, Floating Farm has also become a captivating tourist destination, showcasing the harmonious blend of technology, sustainability, and agriculture on the water.
