anybody here travel more than 2,000 kilometers to come to TEDx Abbotsford
kilometers to come to TEDx Abbotsford
kilometers to come to TEDx Abbotsford today okay well I’m gonna introduce you
today okay well I’m gonna introduce you
today okay well I’m gonna introduce you to a little guy that did travel more
to a little guy that did travel more
to a little guy that did travel more than 2,000 miles thank you Tim and here
than 2,000 miles thank you Tim and here
than 2,000 miles thank you Tim and here he is this little guy traveled all the
he is this little guy traveled all the
he is this little guy traveled all the way from Southern California to be here
way from Southern California to be here
way from Southern California to be here with us today isn’t that just fantastic
with us today isn’t that just fantastic
with us today isn’t that just fantastic now he’s had a rough week of travel
now he’s had a rough week of travel
now he’s had a rough week of travel though it hasn’t been easy if I’m being
though it hasn’t been easy if I’m being
though it hasn’t been easy if I’m being honest he started out in a farmer’s
honest he started out in a farmer’s
honest he started out in a farmer’s field and then went into a crate went
field and then went into a crate went
field and then went into a crate went onto a skid had a little tractor ride to
onto a skid had a little tractor ride to
onto a skid had a little tractor ride to a little warehouse on another truck to
a little warehouse on another truck to
a little warehouse on another truck to another warehouse on another truck all
another warehouse on another truck all
another warehouse on another truck all the way up to the border no trouble
the way up to the border no trouble
the way up to the border no trouble getting across he has Nexus straight
getting across he has Nexus straight
getting across he has Nexus straight through to a Canadian warehouse went on
through to a Canadian warehouse went on
through to a Canadian warehouse went on another truck and then finally to the to
another truck and then finally to the to
another truck and then finally to the to the lovely retail shop where I walked by
the lovely retail shop where I walked by
the lovely retail shop where I walked by and I couldn’t resist I mean how could
and I couldn’t resist I mean how could
and I couldn’t resist I mean how could you resist look at that face besides a
you resist look at that face besides a
you resist look at that face besides a horrible week of travel and if I’m
horrible week of travel and if I’m
horrible week of travel and if I’m honest he probably looked a little
honest he probably looked a little
honest he probably looked a little perkier when he was a little younger
perkier when he was a little younger
perkier when he was a little younger although we all did didn’t we
although we all did didn’t we
although we all did didn’t we he probably looked a little better but
he probably looked a little better but
he probably looked a little better but it took a lot to get him here yeah one
it took a lot to get him here yeah one
it took a lot to get him here yeah one of the things that took besides a lot of
of the things that took besides a lot of
of the things that took besides a lot of diesel fuel is it took a lot of water to
diesel fuel is it took a lot of water to
diesel fuel is it took a lot of water to bring this little guy into existence any
bring this little guy into existence any
bring this little guy into existence any any guesses as to how much water it
any guesses as to how much water it
any guesses as to how much water it takes to make a head of lettuce like
takes to make a head of lettuce like
takes to make a head of lettuce like this any any thoughts at all well I’m
this any any thoughts at all well I’m
this any any thoughts at all well I’m gonna cut to the punchline it it’s 26
gonna cut to the punchline it it’s 26
gonna cut to the punchline it it’s 26 litres of water for one for one of these
litres of water for one for one of these
litres of water for one for one of these guys that’s actually quite a bit isn’t
guys that’s actually quite a bit isn’t
guys that’s actually quite a bit isn’t it the other thing that it takes a lot
it the other thing that it takes a lot
it the other thing that it takes a lot of is is this stuff so pesticides have
of is is this stuff so pesticides have
of is is this stuff so pesticides have you ever read the side of a bottle of
you ever read the side of a bottle of
you ever read the side of a bottle of pesticide it has a lot of interesting
pesticide it has a lot of interesting
pesticide it has a lot of interesting warnings and health warnings the most
warnings and health warnings the most
warnings and health warnings the most interesting one to me was was that you
interesting one to me was was that you
interesting one to me was was that you should wash your hand
should wash your hand
should wash your hand if you’ve used pesticide you should wash
if you’ve used pesticide you should wash
if you’ve used pesticide you should wash your hands before going to the bathroom
your hands before going to the bathroom
your hands before going to the bathroom so with that lovely thought I’m not sure
so with that lovely thought I’m not sure
so with that lovely thought I’m not sure why so it took a lot of diesel a lot of
why so it took a lot of diesel a lot of
why so it took a lot of diesel a lot of water and a lot of pesticides to get
water and a lot of pesticides to get
water and a lot of pesticides to get them here but but what does that really
them here but but what does that really
them here but but what does that really matter
matter
matter well our mothers told us to eat our
well our mothers told us to eat our
well our mothers told us to eat our greens and we as good Canadians do in
greens and we as good Canadians do in
greens and we as good Canadians do in fact we import as a country two hundred
fact we import as a country two hundred
fact we import as a country two hundred thousand metric tons of lettuce every
thousand metric tons of lettuce every
thousand metric tons of lettuce every year into Canada any idea how much two
year into Canada any idea how much two
year into Canada any idea how much two hundred thousand metric tons of lettuce
hundred thousand metric tons of lettuce
hundred thousand metric tons of lettuce is what that looks like it’s about a
is what that looks like it’s about a
is what that looks like it’s about a billion of these to give you an idea
billion of these to give you an idea
billion of these to give you an idea that’s a lot so we we have a lot a lot
that’s a lot so we we have a lot a lot
that’s a lot so we we have a lot a lot of lettuce available to us because we
of lettuce available to us because we
of lettuce available to us because we eat about 65 heads of lettuce a year and
eat about 65 heads of lettuce a year and
eat about 65 heads of lettuce a year and I know you’re all beginning to salivate
I know you’re all beginning to salivate
I know you’re all beginning to salivate so I’m just going to cut this guy up we
so I’m just going to cut this guy up we
so I’m just going to cut this guy up we are let’s get him ready to eat shall we
are let’s get him ready to eat shall we
are let’s get him ready to eat shall we now we have to cut off the bottom bit
now we have to cut off the bottom bit
now we have to cut off the bottom bit because it’s really too hard and sort of
because it’s really too hard and sort of
because it’s really too hard and sort of woody too to eat try not to murder
woody too to eat try not to murder
woody too to eat try not to murder anybody while I’m up here now these
anybody while I’m up here now these
anybody while I’m up here now these outside bits are just a little bit nasty
outside bits are just a little bit nasty
outside bits are just a little bit nasty so we’ll just sort of put these here and
so we’ll just sort of put these here and
so we’ll just sort of put these here and I just got this yesterday but it it’s
I just got this yesterday but it it’s
I just got this yesterday but it it’s been here yeah so this is about the
been here yeah so this is about the
been here yeah so this is about the amount that we have that we can eat so
amount that we have that we can eat so
amount that we have that we can eat so we’d wash this up and get the pesticide
we’d wash this up and get the pesticide
we’d wash this up and get the pesticide off of it and then begin to eat it it’s
off of it and then begin to eat it it’s
off of it and then begin to eat it it’s actually a lot of waste isn’t it
actually a lot of waste isn’t it
actually a lot of waste isn’t it but interestingly this little guys
but interestingly this little guys
but interestingly this little guys actually the lucky one a lot of his
actually the lucky one a lot of his
actually the lucky one a lot of his friends didn’t make it on the journey
friends didn’t make it on the journey
friends didn’t make it on the journey when they went to harvest all of him and
when they went to harvest all of him and
when they went to harvest all of him and his friends some of them just didn’t
his friends some of them just didn’t
his friends some of them just didn’t look good enough so they just left him
look good enough so they just left him
look good enough so they just left him in the field and then some of them when
in the field and then some of them when
in the field and then some of them when they got to that second warehouse they
they got to that second warehouse they
they got to that second warehouse they didn’t look quite good enough so they
didn’t look quite good enough so they
didn’t look quite good enough so they just toss them into the compost and then
just toss them into the compost and then
just toss them into the compost and then when they finally got to the retailer if
when they finally got to the retailer if
when they finally got to the retailer if they didn’t look quite good enough to go
they didn’t look quite good enough to go
they didn’t look quite good enough to go on the shelf
on the shelf
on the shelf then they got toss in the compost as
then they got toss in the compost as
then they got toss in the compost as well and of course we have to come in
well and of course we have to come in
well and of course we have to come in buy these things within a couple days or
buy these things within a couple days or
buy these things within a couple days or of course it’s just going into the
of course it’s just going into the
of course it’s just going into the compost as well it’s an enormous amount
compost as well it’s an enormous amount
compost as well it’s an enormous amount of waste
of waste
of waste for a little bit of salad isn’t it you
for a little bit of salad isn’t it you
for a little bit of salad isn’t it you see the the real point in the topic that
see the the real point in the topic that
see the the real point in the topic that I have today salads don’t collect travel
I have today salads don’t collect travel
I have today salads don’t collect travel points the reason is they don’t like to
points the reason is they don’t like to
points the reason is they don’t like to travel they need to be eaten where
travel they need to be eaten where
travel they need to be eaten where they’re grown
they’re grown
they’re grown you see lettuce as soon as you harvest
you see lettuce as soon as you harvest
you see lettuce as soon as you harvest it and cut that root off it begins to
it and cut that root off it begins to
it and cut that root off it begins to decay it’s a very thin leaf it’s mostly
decay it’s a very thin leaf it’s mostly
decay it’s a very thin leaf it’s mostly water weight and so as soon as you
water weight and so as soon as you
water weight and so as soon as you harvest it it begins to shed its water
harvest it it begins to shed its water
harvest it it begins to shed its water and it just doesn’t last very long of
and it just doesn’t last very long of
and it just doesn’t last very long of all the things that we eat this needs to
all the things that we eat this needs to
all the things that we eat this needs to be grown where we live and thankfully
be grown where we live and thankfully
be grown where we live and thankfully now the technology exists to make that
now the technology exists to make that
now the technology exists to make that happen
happen
happen and that’s what I want to share with you
and that’s what I want to share with you
and that’s what I want to share with you today so just like a half a century ago
today so just like a half a century ago
today so just like a half a century ago greenhouse technology really took off
greenhouse technology really took off
greenhouse technology really took off around the world and it changed how a
around the world and it changed how a
around the world and it changed how a slice of produce in the world is grown
slice of produce in the world is grown
slice of produce in the world is grown and now we can have peppers cucumbers
and now we can have peppers cucumbers
and now we can have peppers cucumbers tomatoes we can have them 12 months a
tomatoes we can have them 12 months a
tomatoes we can have them 12 months a year and they can be grown much near
year and they can be grown much near
year and they can be grown much near where population centers are well we’ve
where population centers are well we’ve
where population centers are well we’ve got new technology now that lets us do
got new technology now that lets us do
got new technology now that lets us do that with leafy greens but they can be
that with leafy greens but they can be
that with leafy greens but they can be done anywhere on earth hot climates cold
done anywhere on earth hot climates cold
done anywhere on earth hot climates cold climates it can be done cost-effectively
climates it can be done cost-effectively
climates it can be done cost-effectively near where people live so no longer does
near where people live so no longer does
near where people live so no longer does salad or lettuce have to be shipped all
salad or lettuce have to be shipped all
salad or lettuce have to be shipped all over the place let me show it to you if
over the place let me show it to you if
over the place let me show it to you if it looks like a shipping container it’s
it looks like a shipping container it’s
it looks like a shipping container it’s because it is and this is a technology
because it is and this is a technology
because it is and this is a technology that was invented only 20 miles away
that was invented only 20 miles away
that was invented only 20 miles away that Bevo farms in Langley a very large
that Bevo farms in Langley a very large
that Bevo farms in Langley a very large greenhouse in fact this is what the
greenhouse in fact this is what the
greenhouse in fact this is what the inside of it looks you’ll see at the top
inside of it looks you’ll see at the top
inside of it looks you’ll see at the top there’s a big row of LED lights and
there’s a big row of LED lights and
there’s a big row of LED lights and inside is a machine a conveyor belt that
inside is a machine a conveyor belt that
inside is a machine a conveyor belt that has hundreds of trays that hold
has hundreds of trays that hold
has hundreds of trays that hold thousands of heads of lettuce that move
thousands of heads of lettuce that move
thousands of heads of lettuce that move the produce throughout and every 2 weeks
the produce throughout and every 2 weeks
the produce throughout and every 2 weeks you can harvest 4,000 heads of lettuce
you can harvest 4,000 heads of lettuce
you can harvest 4,000 heads of lettuce just going to show you sort of an
just going to show you sort of an
just going to show you sort of an expanded view of it here for those of
expanded view of it here for those of
expanded view of it here for those of you that like technical drawings kind of
you that like technical drawings kind of
you that like technical drawings kind of cool
cool
cool now this is a dozen of them inside an
now this is a dozen of them inside an
now this is a dozen of them inside an environmentally controlled warehouse
environmentally controlled warehouse
environmentally controlled warehouse here you can sort of see the side the
here you can sort of see the side the
here you can sort of see the side the rows of light at the top the trays are
rows of light at the top the trays are
rows of light at the top the trays are moving up to the light and away from the
moving up to the light and away from the
moving up to the light and away from the light and it takes about an hour and a
light and it takes about an hour and a
light and it takes about an hour and a half to bring a whole tray of produce
half to bring a whole tray of produce
half to bring a whole tray of produce from the back to the front so you can
from the back to the front so you can
from the back to the front so you can actually stand at the front of the
actually stand at the front of the
actually stand at the front of the machine do all the harvesting all the
machine do all the harvesting all the
machine do all the harvesting all the planting so it’s physically easy work
now isn’t that ridiculously good-looking
now isn’t that ridiculously good-looking lettuce and don’t I look ridiculous in a
lettuce and don’t I look ridiculous in a
lettuce and don’t I look ridiculous in a hairnet I want you to notice that right
hairnet I want you to notice that right
hairnet I want you to notice that right there so the good news is is that we can
there so the good news is is that we can
there so the good news is is that we can grow produce locally but why does that
grow produce locally but why does that
grow produce locally but why does that matter well the local part obviously
matter well the local part obviously
matter well the local part obviously matters a lot we don’t have to ship
matters a lot we don’t have to ship
matters a lot we don’t have to ship these things all over the place anymore
these things all over the place anymore
these things all over the place anymore but there’s there’s several other
but there’s there’s several other
but there’s there’s several other enormous benefits to growing these
enormous benefits to growing these
enormous benefits to growing these things locally one of the first is that
things locally one of the first is that
things locally one of the first is that it only actually takes about one liter
it only actually takes about one liter
it only actually takes about one liter of water to grow a head of lettuce in a
of water to grow a head of lettuce in a
of water to grow a head of lettuce in a cubic farm much much less and because
cubic farm much much less and because
cubic farm much much less and because it’s grown in a clean contained
it’s grown in a clean contained
it’s grown in a clean contained environment there’s no pests so you
environment there’s no pests so you
environment there’s no pests so you don’t need any pesticide and here’s what
don’t need any pesticide and here’s what
don’t need any pesticide and here’s what a tray of produce looks like very
a tray of produce looks like very
a tray of produce looks like very similar to what you just saw on that
similar to what you just saw on that
similar to what you just saw on that video this is one week old this lettuce
video this is one week old this lettuce
video this is one week old this lettuce another week from now it’ll be a single
another week from now it’ll be a single
another week from now it’ll be a single sized serving head just like you saw in
sized serving head just like you saw in
sized serving head just like you saw in that short video why is it important to
that short video why is it important to
that short video why is it important to be a single size serving of lettuce that
be a single size serving of lettuce that
be a single size serving of lettuce that you grow and eat you can see the
you grow and eat you can see the
you grow and eat you can see the enormous amount of waste that you end up
enormous amount of waste that you end up
enormous amount of waste that you end up having when you grow such a large head
having when you grow such a large head
having when you grow such a large head the bottom several inches are too hard
the bottom several inches are too hard
the bottom several inches are too hard to eat it it’s it’s inedible and we need
to eat it it’s it’s inedible and we need
to eat it it’s it’s inedible and we need to throw it away the outside leaves are
to throw it away the outside leaves are
to throw it away the outside leaves are always getting a little bit ratty so
always getting a little bit ratty so
always getting a little bit ratty so when we grow single serving size heads
when we grow single serving size heads
when we grow single serving size heads you eat the whole thing you’re able to
you eat the whole thing you’re able to
you eat the whole thing you’re able to cut the root off but the whole thing on
cut the root off but the whole thing on
cut the root off but the whole thing on the plate dress it up not chop it up
the plate dress it up not chop it up
the plate dress it up not chop it up don’t have to wash it it’s clean and
don’t have to wash it it’s clean and
don’t have to wash it it’s clean and ready to go the other thing you noticed
ready to go the other thing you noticed
ready to go the other thing you noticed is that the root stays on
is that the root stays on
is that the root stays on until you go to eat that produce and
until you go to eat that produce and
until you go to eat that produce and that’s crucial as soon as you cut those
that’s crucial as soon as you cut those
that’s crucial as soon as you cut those roots off that lettuce begins to decay
roots off that lettuce begins to decay
roots off that lettuce begins to decay and it starts to die it will last for
and it starts to die it will last for
and it starts to die it will last for weeks in the fridge if you leave that
weeks in the fridge if you leave that
weeks in the fridge if you leave that root on and in a nice little container
root on and in a nice little container
root on and in a nice little container this is a picture of a dozen of them it
this is a picture of a dozen of them it
this is a picture of a dozen of them it almost kind of looks like a greenhouse
almost kind of looks like a greenhouse
almost kind of looks like a greenhouse doesn’t it so here we have clean lettuce
doesn’t it so here we have clean lettuce
doesn’t it so here we have clean lettuce locally grown one cubic farm one eight
locally grown one cubic farm one eight
locally grown one cubic farm one eight foot wide by 40 foot long cubic farm can
foot wide by 40 foot long cubic farm can
foot wide by 40 foot long cubic farm can produce the same amount of produce as an
produce the same amount of produce as an
produce the same amount of produce as an acre of field farming enormous amount of
acre of field farming enormous amount of
acre of field farming enormous amount of productivity in a very small amount of
productivity in a very small amount of
productivity in a very small amount of space and do it 12 months a year and do
space and do it 12 months a year and do
space and do it 12 months a year and do it anywhere on earth hottest climates
it anywhere on earth hottest climates
it anywhere on earth hottest climates coldest climates it really doesn’t
coldest climates it really doesn’t
coldest climates it really doesn’t matter but why does this matter let’s
matter but why does this matter let’s
matter but why does this matter let’s say you don’t care that it takes a lot
say you don’t care that it takes a lot
say you don’t care that it takes a lot of diesel to get your lettuce to you
of diesel to get your lettuce to you
of diesel to get your lettuce to you let’s say it doesn’t matter how much
let’s say it doesn’t matter how much
let’s say it doesn’t matter how much fresh California water is used to make
fresh California water is used to make
fresh California water is used to make your lettuce you don’t really mind and
your lettuce you don’t really mind and
your lettuce you don’t really mind and maybe you enjoy pesticides on your salad
maybe you enjoy pesticides on your salad
maybe you enjoy pesticides on your salad I mean so let’s say you don’t care about
I mean so let’s say you don’t care about
I mean so let’s say you don’t care about any of that there are two things you
any of that there are two things you
any of that there are two things you should care about one this lettuce is
should care about one this lettuce is
should care about one this lettuce is delicious when it’s locally grown and
delicious when it’s locally grown and
delicious when it’s locally grown and that root is on it is still alive it
that root is on it is still alive it
that root is on it is still alive it tastes fantastic I mean when you’re a
tastes fantastic I mean when you’re a
tastes fantastic I mean when you’re a kid and you’d go out to the garden and
kid and you’d go out to the garden and
kid and you’d go out to the garden and you’d pick a liquor it out you rinse it
you’d pick a liquor it out you rinse it
you’d pick a liquor it out you rinse it off with the hose and eat it and it’s
off with the hose and eat it and it’s
off with the hose and eat it and it’s just taste so much better because it’s
just taste so much better because it’s
just taste so much better because it’s fresh it’s alive it’s just vibrant
fresh it’s alive it’s just vibrant
fresh it’s alive it’s just vibrant the other thing that you should care
the other thing that you should care
the other thing that you should care about is the nutritional value as soon
about is the nutritional value as soon
about is the nutritional value as soon as a head of lettuces is harvested it
as a head of lettuces is harvested it
as a head of lettuces is harvested it does begin to lose its nutritional value
does begin to lose its nutritional value
does begin to lose its nutritional value if you’re eating something with the root
if you’re eating something with the root
if you’re eating something with the root on that is still alive it retains all
on that is still alive it retains all
on that is still alive it retains all that wonderful nutritional value so
that wonderful nutritional value so
that wonderful nutritional value so between the taste and the nutrition
between the taste and the nutrition
between the taste and the nutrition great reasons to grow produce locally
great reasons to grow produce locally
great reasons to grow produce locally and now the technology exists where it
and now the technology exists where it
and now the technology exists where it can be done
can be done
can be done cost to fly cost-effectively and that’s
cost to fly cost-effectively and that’s
cost to fly cost-effectively and that’s very important it’s nice to be able to
very important it’s nice to be able to
very important it’s nice to be able to do all of this locally but if it’s too
do all of this locally but if it’s too
do all of this locally but if it’s too expensive then nobody can access
expensive then nobody can access
expensive then nobody can access but it can be done at very similar
but it can be done at very similar
but it can be done at very similar prices to any other kind of farming for
prices to any other kind of farming for
prices to any other kind of farming for lettuce so we have new technology it’s
lettuce so we have new technology it’s
lettuce so we have new technology it’s gonna let us grow leafy greens all sorts
gonna let us grow leafy greens all sorts
gonna let us grow leafy greens all sorts of leafy greens locally herbs micro
of leafy greens locally herbs micro
of leafy greens locally herbs micro greens lettuces but what can we do I
greens lettuces but what can we do I
greens lettuces but what can we do I think we should go into our grocer and
think we should go into our grocer and
think we should go into our grocer and we should ask could you get produce for
we should ask could you get produce for
we should ask could you get produce for us that’s grown locally twelve months a
us that’s grown locally twelve months a
us that’s grown locally twelve months a year
year
year and could you get it and assure us that
and could you get it and assure us that
and could you get it and assure us that it’s using as little fresh water as
it’s using as little fresh water as
it’s using as little fresh water as possible the world’s running out of
possible the world’s running out of
possible the world’s running out of fresh water we need to preserve it and
fresh water we need to preserve it and
fresh water we need to preserve it and could we have it grown in a clean
could we have it grown in a clean
could we have it grown in a clean environment so we don’t have pesticides
environment so we don’t have pesticides
environment so we don’t have pesticides along with our salad and could we grow
along with our salad and could we grow
along with our salad and could we grow it in a single serving size so we don’t
it in a single serving size so we don’t
it in a single serving size so we don’t have to throw so much of it away and
have to throw so much of it away and
have to throw so much of it away and could we have it with the roots still on
could we have it with the roots still on
could we have it with the roots still on so that it’ll stay alive in my fridge
so that it’ll stay alive in my fridge
so that it’ll stay alive in my fridge for more than a day wouldn’t it be
for more than a day wouldn’t it be
for more than a day wouldn’t it be wonderful to have lettuce that lasts for
wonderful to have lettuce that lasts for
wonderful to have lettuce that lasts for weeks in your fridge well this does so
weeks in your fridge well this does so
weeks in your fridge well this does so one thing to say lettuce anyone
one thing to say lettuce anyone
one thing to say lettuce anyone thanks for listening
thanks for listening
thanks for listening [Applause]
”
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