I’m here talk to you about growing up in the countryside being surrounded by
the countryside being surrounded by
the countryside being surrounded by farmland be watching crops grow
farmland be watching crops grow
farmland be watching crops grow harvested and being able to buy direct
harvested and being able to buy direct
harvested and being able to buy direct from farm shops but then the other day
from farm shops but then the other day
from farm shops but then the other day in London I was watching a van unload
in London I was watching a van unload
in London I was watching a van unload now to slogan on the side and it said as
now to slogan on the side and it said as
now to slogan on the side and it said as fresh as it can get and it was unloading
fresh as it can get and it was unloading
fresh as it can get and it was unloading strawberries into a restaurant and then
strawberries into a restaurant and then
strawberries into a restaurant and then it made me wonder do we believe slogans
it made me wonder do we believe slogans
it made me wonder do we believe slogans do we ever ask the question especially
do we ever ask the question especially
do we ever ask the question especially when eating out where has our food
when eating out where has our food
when eating out where has our food actually come from was it part of last
actually come from was it part of last
actually come from was it part of last year’s bumper crop stored it just the
year’s bumper crop stored it just the
year’s bumper crop stored it just the perfect conditions to now be available
perfect conditions to now be available
perfect conditions to now be available still was it imported or is their
still was it imported or is their
still was it imported or is their technology available that’s allowing a
technology available that’s allowing a
technology available that’s allowing a farmer to grow strawberries here in
farmer to grow strawberries here in
farmer to grow strawberries here in March how many of you here want to eat
March how many of you here want to eat
March how many of you here want to eat seasonally by UK produce foods support
seasonally by UK produce foods support
seasonally by UK produce foods support the British farming industry or buy
the British farming industry or buy
the British farming industry or buy local produce in order to reduce your
local produce in order to reduce your
local produce in order to reduce your food miles in your carbon footprint but
food miles in your carbon footprint but
food miles in your carbon footprint but baby work full time and that local green
baby work full time and that local green
baby work full time and that local green grocers on the way home closes at five
grocers on the way home closes at five
grocers on the way home closes at five o’clock so you rarely make it there on
o’clock so you rarely make it there on
o’clock so you rarely make it there on time or baby of a busy social life
time or baby of a busy social life
time or baby of a busy social life planned for your week ahead and you
planned for your week ahead and you
planned for your week ahead and you don’t want to buy things in that you
don’t want to buy things in that you
don’t want to buy things in that you probably won’t get round to eating
probably won’t get round to eating
probably won’t get round to eating before they pass their best or a family
before they pass their best or a family
before they pass their best or a family to juggle and that local weekly Sunday
to juggle and that local weekly Sunday
to juggle and that local weekly Sunday farmers market just isn’t sufficient for
farmers market just isn’t sufficient for
farmers market just isn’t sufficient for that big shop and so if you’re anything
that big shop and so if you’re anything
that big shop and so if you’re anything like me if it’s not being ordered online
like me if it’s not being ordered online
like me if it’s not being ordered online then it’s a trip to the local
then it’s a trip to the local
then it’s a trip to the local supermarket it’s easy it’s convenient
supermarket it’s easy it’s convenient
supermarket it’s easy it’s convenient and it’s what we’ve become accustomed to
and it’s what we’ve become accustomed to
and it’s what we’ve become accustomed to over the past 30 years it’s a place
over the past 30 years it’s a place
over the past 30 years it’s a place where seduced into to quote a phrase
where seduced into to quote a phrase
where seduced into to quote a phrase coined by food writer Johanna Blythe
coined by food writer Johanna Blythe
coined by food writer Johanna Blythe Minh was seduced into shopping in a
Minh was seduced into shopping in a
Minh was seduced into shopping in a permanent global summertime aisles a
permanent global summertime aisles a
permanent global summertime aisles a freshly colored produce readily
freshly colored produce readily
freshly colored produce readily available with very little seasonality
available with very little seasonality
available with very little seasonality do we ever question that we might pay
do we ever question that we might pay
do we ever question that we might pay attention to the country of our
attention to the country of our
attention to the country of our virgin that bag of baby spinach arrived
virgin that bag of baby spinach arrived
virgin that bag of baby spinach arrived here from Morocco but maybe you watched
here from Morocco but maybe you watched
here from Morocco but maybe you watched a recipe video on social media earlier
a recipe video on social media earlier
a recipe video on social media earlier and you have to make it now before you
and you have to make it now before you
and you have to make it now before you forget about it forever I’m sure I’m not
forget about it forever I’m sure I’m not
forget about it forever I’m sure I’m not the only person here who’s seen a recipe
the only person here who’s seen a recipe
the only person here who’s seen a recipe online and then rushed out and purchase
online and then rushed out and purchase
online and then rushed out and purchase an ingredient that they’d never even
an ingredient that they’d never even
an ingredient that they’d never even heard of before but living this way when
heard of before but living this way when
heard of before but living this way when we’re in the city it can’t remain the
we’re in the city it can’t remain the
we’re in the city it can’t remain the norm in the 1980’s the global population
norm in the 1980’s the global population
norm in the 1980’s the global population stood at 4.5 billion today that figure
stood at 4.5 billion today that figure
stood at 4.5 billion today that figure is 7 billion people with around half
is 7 billion people with around half
is 7 billion people with around half living in an urban area and it’s a
living in an urban area and it’s a
living in an urban area and it’s a widely accepted prediction that by 2050
widely accepted prediction that by 2050
widely accepted prediction that by 2050 that figure is going to be 10 billion
that figure is going to be 10 billion
that figure is going to be 10 billion for the most half living in an urban
for the most half living in an urban
for the most half living in an urban area and put some kind of context on
area and put some kind of context on
area and put some kind of context on that growth from now until 2050 that’s
that growth from now until 2050 that’s
that growth from now until 2050 that’s taking the entire population of China
taking the entire population of China
taking the entire population of China and India plus a few million more and
and India plus a few million more and
and India plus a few million more and adding it together or to bring it closer
adding it together or to bring it closer
adding it together or to bring it closer to home is the current population of the
to home is the current population of the
to home is the current population of the United Kingdom x a hundred and fifty
United Kingdom x a hundred and fifty
United Kingdom x a hundred and fifty three that’s a lot more people to feed
three that’s a lot more people to feed
three that’s a lot more people to feed and a lot more people being totally
and a lot more people being totally
and a lot more people being totally disconnected from their food supply
disconnected from their food supply
disconnected from their food supply chain consider the pressure will replace
chain consider the pressure will replace
chain consider the pressure will replace more natural resources currently seventy
more natural resources currently seventy
more natural resources currently seventy percent of fresh water consumption is
percent of fresh water consumption is
percent of fresh water consumption is used in agriculture all of that water
used in agriculture all of that water
used in agriculture all of that water that we pour into the land with only
that we pour into the land with only
that we pour into the land with only small amount being taken up by the plant
small amount being taken up by the plant
small amount being taken up by the plant itself but what about when there’s a
itself but what about when there’s a
itself but what about when there’s a flood or a drought as we’ve seen in
flood or a drought as we’ve seen in
flood or a drought as we’ve seen in recent months food rationing is
recent months food rationing is
recent months food rationing is introduced and yes some of us may have
introduced and yes some of us may have
introduced and yes some of us may have found the food rationing slightly
found the food rationing slightly
found the food rationing slightly amusing on the ice web lettuces because
amusing on the ice web lettuces because
amusing on the ice web lettuces because has anyone ever purchased three iceberg
has anyone ever purchased three iceberg
has anyone ever purchased three iceberg lettuce at one time it’s served to
lettuce at one time it’s served to
lettuce at one time it’s served to highlight the fragility of our food
highlight the fragility of our food
highlight the fragility of our food supply chain and food security in
supply chain and food security in
supply chain and food security in general both the topics we need to
general both the topics we need to
general both the topics we need to seriously start thinking about the salad
seriously start thinking about the salad
seriously start thinking about the salad shortage of 2017 may seem like they’ve
shortage of 2017 may seem like they’ve
shortage of 2017 may seem like they’ve passed this now but that’s only because
passed this now but that’s only because
passed this now but that’s only because supermarkets have source of produce from
supermarkets have source of produce from
supermarkets have source of produce from further afield and discussions indicate
further afield and discussions indicate
further afield and discussions indicate that this
that this
that this in a blip but the potentially the start
in a blip but the potentially the start
in a blip but the potentially the start of things to come country should be
of things to come country should be
of things to come country should be looking after their own population
looking after their own population
looking after their own population before exporting so is the answer to
before exporting so is the answer to
before exporting so is the answer to only eat UK produce when it’s in season
only eat UK produce when it’s in season
only eat UK produce when it’s in season well not necessarily as the University
well not necessarily as the University
well not necessarily as the University of Sheffield carried out research that
of Sheffield carried out research that
of Sheffield carried out research that showed some of the UK’s countryside has
showed some of the UK’s countryside has
showed some of the UK’s countryside has only a hundred harvest left in it with
only a hundred harvest left in it with
only a hundred harvest left in it with some urban plots of soil being richer in
some urban plots of soil being richer in
some urban plots of soil being richer in nutrients than some farmland so that’s
nutrients than some farmland so that’s
nutrients than some farmland so that’s more reason for us all to go out and
more reason for us all to go out and
more reason for us all to go out and grow our own on the Fertile rich soil of
grow our own on the Fertile rich soil of
grow our own on the Fertile rich soil of the city or good luck because my local
the city or good luck because my local
the city or good luck because my local London allotment closed our waiting list
London allotment closed our waiting list
London allotment closed our waiting list five years ago and that list still has
five years ago and that list still has
five years ago and that list still has 200 people on it so maybe we need to
200 people on it so maybe we need to
200 people on it so maybe we need to stop looking out onto the horizon for
stop looking out onto the horizon for
stop looking out onto the horizon for better growing methods maybe we need to
better growing methods maybe we need to
better growing methods maybe we need to look up maybe we need to look for a
look up maybe we need to look for a
look up maybe we need to look for a vertical growing revolution and that’s
vertical growing revolution and that’s
vertical growing revolution and that’s what we’re doing at grub urban farms
what we’re doing at grub urban farms
what we’re doing at grub urban farms we’re the uk’s first commercial
we’re the uk’s first commercial
we’re the uk’s first commercial aquaponic vertical farm and we’re doing
aquaponic vertical farm and we’re doing
aquaponic vertical farm and we’re doing it all from a warehouse in East London
it all from a warehouse in East London
it all from a warehouse in East London so we have fish and the fish we use take
so we have fish and the fish we use take
so we have fish and the fish we use take their waste and we store the
their waste and we store the
their waste and we store the nutrient-rich water until it’s required
nutrient-rich water until it’s required
nutrient-rich water until it’s required by the plants in which turn we flood the
by the plants in which turn we flood the
by the plants in which turn we flood the benches or irrigate the plants and the
benches or irrigate the plants and the
benches or irrigate the plants and the roots filter the water that then get
roots filter the water that then get
roots filter the water that then get recirculated back to the fish and we’re
recirculated back to the fish and we’re
recirculated back to the fish and we’re growing salad greens micro green salad
growing salad greens micro green salad
growing salad greens micro green salad leaves micro greens and herbs and these
leaves micro greens and herbs and these
leaves micro greens and herbs and these are some of the most perishable of all
are some of the most perishable of all
are some of the most perishable of all produce if you’re flying it in how long
produce if you’re flying it in how long
produce if you’re flying it in how long has it taken to get from the farm to
has it taken to get from the farm to
has it taken to get from the farm to your plate and we’ll use it with not
your plate and we’ll use it with not
your plate and we’ll use it with not using soil with sowing seeds by hand on
using soil with sowing seeds by hand on
using soil with sowing seeds by hand on recycled carpet with seeding harvesting
recycled carpet with seeding harvesting
recycled carpet with seeding harvesting and packaging by real humans we’ve
and packaging by real humans we’ve
and packaging by real humans we’ve created permanent jobs in an industry
created permanent jobs in an industry
created permanent jobs in an industry mostly associated with seasonal workers
mostly associated with seasonal workers
mostly associated with seasonal workers and we’re paying a London living wage a
and we’re paying a London living wage a
and we’re paying a London living wage a regular salary in an industry being
regular salary in an industry being
regular salary in an industry being propped up by us as consumers are
propped up by us as consumers are
propped up by us as consumers are constant desire to buy cheaper foods and
constant desire to buy cheaper foods and
constant desire to buy cheaper foods and also what we’re doing isn’t new
also what we’re doing isn’t new
also what we’re doing isn’t new technology traditional farmers in China
technology traditional farmers in China
technology traditional farmers in China would quite often add fish to their
would quite often add fish to their
would quite often add fish to their flooded rice paddy fields and when the
flooded rice paddy fields and when the
flooded rice paddy fields and when the harvest when it was ready to harvest
harvest when it was ready to harvest
harvest when it was ready to harvest then the farmer had fish and rice but on
then the farmer had fish and rice but on
then the farmer had fish and rice but on the farm we are also reducing delivery
the farm we are also reducing delivery
the farm we are also reducing delivery times we can harvest package and deliver
times we can harvest package and deliver
times we can harvest package and deliver all on the same day so if you’re talking
all on the same day so if you’re talking
all on the same day so if you’re talking about solids that’s an extra three to
about solids that’s an extra three to
about solids that’s an extra three to five days of shelf life so hopefully
five days of shelf life so hopefully
five days of shelf life so hopefully going some way to reduce your food waste
going some way to reduce your food waste
going some way to reduce your food waste so our farm we have 12 fish tanks and
so our farm we have 12 fish tanks and
so our farm we have 12 fish tanks and they contain to lapeer and these are a
they contain to lapeer and these are a
they contain to lapeer and these are a fresh white water fish and if you’ve had
fresh white water fish and if you’ve had
fresh white water fish and if you’ve had a fish curry recently then you’ve most
a fish curry recently then you’ve most
a fish curry recently then you’ve most likely eaten tilapia and they’re great
likely eaten tilapia and they’re great
likely eaten tilapia and they’re great fish for farming due to their feed
fish for farming due to their feed
fish for farming due to their feed conversion ratio it takes around 1.2
conversion ratio it takes around 1.2
conversion ratio it takes around 1.2 kilos of feed to enable a fish to grow
kilos of feed to enable a fish to grow
kilos of feed to enable a fish to grow one kilo in size now if you compare that
one kilo in size now if you compare that
one kilo in size now if you compare that to cattle that requires eight kilos of
to cattle that requires eight kilos of
to cattle that requires eight kilos of feed in order to obtain one kilo of meat
feed in order to obtain one kilo of meat
feed in order to obtain one kilo of meat so it’s a sustainable source of protein
so it’s a sustainable source of protein
so it’s a sustainable source of protein and then our grow room we have eight
and then our grow room we have eight
and then our grow room we have eight benches which are all ten floors high
benches which are all ten floors high
benches which are all ten floors high and that’s 16 square meters of floor
and that’s 16 square meters of floor
and that’s 16 square meters of floor space converted into a hundred and sixty
space converted into a hundred and sixty
space converted into a hundred and sixty square metres of actual growing space
square metres of actual growing space
square metres of actual growing space but that one hundred and square 160
but that one hundred and square 160
but that one hundred and square 160 square meters will get you around
square meters will get you around
square meters will get you around 200,000 bags of salad a year that’s a
200,000 bags of salad a year that’s a
200,000 bags of salad a year that’s a 3800 people a bag of salad a week so
3800 people a bag of salad a week so
3800 people a bag of salad a week so we’re going to be a little short if we
we’re going to be a little short if we
we’re going to be a little short if we want to feed the city so let’s not end
want to feed the city so let’s not end
want to feed the city so let’s not end it here let’s dream big if you go to the
it here let’s dream big if you go to the
it here let’s dream big if you go to the outskirts of any city you’ll find
outskirts of any city you’ll find
outskirts of any city you’ll find industrial parks empty warehouses once
industrial parks empty warehouses once
industrial parks empty warehouses once home to businesses that have now gone
home to businesses that have now gone
home to businesses that have now gone overseas to cheaper locations we can
overseas to cheaper locations we can
overseas to cheaper locations we can turn them into farms we could put 10
turn them into farms we could put 10
turn them into farms we could put 10 times the number of fish tanks that
times the number of fish tanks that
times the number of fish tanks that would then be the ability to produce
would then be the ability to produce
would then be the ability to produce 48,000 fish year and if we’re going ten
48,000 fish year and if we’re going ten
48,000 fish year and if we’re going ten times the size let’s go ten times of
times the size let’s go ten times of
times the size let’s go ten times of floor space in the grow room and then go
floor space in the grow room and then go
floor space in the grow room and then go twice the height that would then be the
twice the height that would then be the
twice the height that would then be the ability to produce four million bags of
ability to produce four million bags of
ability to produce four million bags of salad a year that’s 80,000 people a week
salad a year that’s 80,000 people a week
salad a year that’s 80,000 people a week but we’re only limited by our size so
but we’re only limited by our size so
but we’re only limited by our size so let’s go Depot size and if we’re going
let’s go Depot size and if we’re going
let’s go Depot size and if we’re going deep oh sorry
deep oh sorry
deep oh sorry we could diversify the crop range if we
we could diversify the crop range if we
we could diversify the crop range if we wanted to they might need more height to
wanted to they might need more height to
wanted to they might need more height to grow or maybe the plants would need more
grow or maybe the plants would need more
grow or maybe the plants would need more time than the salad leaves we currently
time than the salad leaves we currently
time than the salad leaves we currently grow well maybe they need more lighting
grow well maybe they need more lighting
grow well maybe they need more lighting but if we’re obtaining it from a
but if we’re obtaining it from a
but if we’re obtaining it from a renewable energy source then why not and
renewable energy source then why not and
renewable energy source then why not and then the next mission we want to reduce
then the next mission we want to reduce
then the next mission we want to reduce food miles and every city every major
food miles and every city every major
food miles and every city every major town has empty warehouses let’s turn
town has empty warehouses let’s turn
town has empty warehouses let’s turn them into farms let’s bring food and
them into farms let’s bring food and
them into farms let’s bring food and employment to each city and then let’s
employment to each city and then let’s
employment to each city and then let’s look at closing the circuit even more we
look at closing the circuit even more we
look at closing the circuit even more we could feed the fish insects or but a
could feed the fish insects or but a
could feed the fish insects or but a farm near to an energy source say a
farm near to an energy source say a
farm near to an energy source say a manufacturing plant here instead of
manufacturing plant here instead of
manufacturing plant here instead of releasing all of their heat into the
releasing all of their heat into the
releasing all of their heat into the atmosphere we could use it to power the
atmosphere we could use it to power the
atmosphere we could use it to power the farm let’s look at ways to console let’s
farm let’s look at ways to console let’s
farm let’s look at ways to console let’s keep looking at way to constantly close
keep looking at way to constantly close
keep looking at way to constantly close down that circuit let’s ensure we keep a
down that circuit let’s ensure we keep a
down that circuit let’s ensure we keep a level of food security for future
level of food security for future
level of food security for future generations that we have been so lucky
generations that we have been so lucky
generations that we have been so lucky enough to enjoy let’s make sure we keep
enough to enjoy let’s make sure we keep
enough to enjoy let’s make sure we keep food diversity to which we’ve become so
food diversity to which we’ve become so
food diversity to which we’ve become so accustomed to without having to search
accustomed to without having to search
accustomed to without having to search for it from further and further afield
for it from further and further afield
for it from further and further afield let’s make sure we don’t eat a way off
let’s make sure we don’t eat a way off
let’s make sure we don’t eat a way off this planet
this planet
this planet [Applause]
”
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