HUNGRY ECOCITIES : Paths to progress Experiments
+ PROJECT
RE-SOURCE.SOCIETY
INSTAGREEN x Nicolas Rotta
SUMMARY
How can we optimise climatization in small indoor farms using minimal Re-Sources?
Indoor farming and hydroponic cultivation offer many benefits for the production of local, sustainable food. However, this type of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) can consume significant amounts of energy to create the ideal indoor climate.
This project aims to explore innovative, Re-Source-efficient climatization control systems that can be prototyped and tested. By drawing inspiration from natural phenomena and biomimicry, we seek to develop a cost-effective, energy-efficient solution for small indoor farms.
Such a system could regulate temperature and humidity through passive cooling methods, optimised water management, and the use of natural materials like terracotta.
The outcome could significantly reduce the energy required to control the indoor climate, lowering operational costs while supporting more sustainable farming practices.
Additionally, integrating this solution into InstaGreen’s product offerings and educational programs could foster the development of practical skills in resource-efficient farming. This would further enhance the company’s impact on sustainable agriculture.
“Nicolas Rotta has an inspiring passion for practical sustainable systems that leverage natural processes. He beautifully combines biomimicry and low tech approaches with high-tech design methods. Through the collaboration between Nicolas and InstaGreen we can creatively draw form very diverse fields of expertise ranging from biological, thermal and metabolic systems, to 3D modeling and printing, AI-driven design, cultivating and designing with mycelium. We look forward to working together and making the complexity of indoor climate control both simple and highly resource efficient.”
Anneke Stolk – Co-founder InstaGreen
SME HECLab opportunity card: Healthy Agriculture Climate
HEClab artist prototype card: Soil.Society+ ARTIST
Nicolas Rotta
Spain
I am dedicated to sustainability, regeneration, and social design. With a background in architecture, design and biology, I view self- sustainability a powerful tool for community empowerment, well- being, and liberation. Collaboration is at the heart of my process, and I enjoy blending different fields and perspectives to find creative and synergetic solutions with the natural, social, and technological surroundings. I love to get my hands dirty by following the building process from design to material sourcing to construction and like to use photography to explore and document.
nicolasrotta.com+ SME
INSTAGREEN
Urban farming
Barcelona, SPAIN
Instagreen is a European urban farming company based in Barcelona, that developed a disruptive way of growing vegetables in urban areas including modular hydroponic cultivation systems, e-logistics and on-site living display of the greens, with proven business models for small to medium scale local farms.
InstaGreen provides trainings and mentoring to enthusiastic entrepreneurs all over the world who want to start or scale up their own local microgreen farm in their city of choice.
The company also supplies their in-house developed cultivation systems and growing materials to microgreen farms across Europe.
The HungryEcoCities project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement 101069990.