Weathering the ‘perfect storm’: transforming cities into water catchments and urban farms

This paper outlines the work of Biofilta in advancing a soil-based urban farming method that is scalable from household to community-scale food production. Biofilta was selected from a global search of 280 applications across 74 countries in 2017 by LAUNCH Food, funded by DFAT and USAid. All products are made in Australia and the new Foodcube system is made from recycled food-grade plastic that was destined for landfill. Biofilta has demonstrated that the sealed food growing system works in Tuvalu where water availability, space constraints and robust technology are issues facing many similar communities. DFAT has now issued a contract to implement larger-scaled community gardens using the Foodcube to create a circular economy, close nutrient loops and showcase to the world how appropriate the technology is for urban agriculture. Statistics of other gardens being grown in urban car parks showcase how little space it takes to grow the yearly recommended amount of vegetables for an adult according to the World Health Organization. Biofilta is a small private business based in Melbourne. The owners want to expand and partner with organisations across the world to deploy urban agriculture and help smallholders make an income and raise nutrition levels within the community.