By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A New Providence-based hydroponic farm is using racks of produce in shipping containers to scale-up 320 square feet into the equivalent of 15 acres of farmland.

Lincoln Deal, founder of Eeden Farms, said: “Eeden started as a research project back in 2013, and from that point I continue to look at what are the opportunities and threats are in the industry. So seeing this happen today, some eight years later, is a blessing. We are extremely excited and happy to see where we are now”

Eeden is farming with three 40-foot containers side-by-side on property that will use a system of “vertical hydroponic farming”. This mean each container will feature multiple racks of produce that will be grown inside. This will give these containers the equivalent of 15 acres of farmland using just under 320 square feet of space.

Mr Deal added: “Our operating system controls almost the exact amount of carbon dioxide and nutrient levels, along with water and light schedules, and the climate temperature. This combination all results in hyper-locally grown lettuces, kale, basil, and other leafy greens free of pesticides and using only five gallons of water per day, which is up to 99 percent less water than traditional agriculture over a fraction of the space.

“The containers are north of $100,000, and operationally we are partners with BRON. In-house we would have collaborated and made this happen. Our customers are extremely eager to receive fresh hyper-local crops that can be supplied on a consistent basis.”

Carlos Palacious, managing principal of BRON Ltd, a subsidiary of Caribbean Coastal Services, said: “We sell mostly direct to restaurants. Our prime customers right now are Manuelos, Louis and Steens and Café Channing Noel. So we’re going to continue as we increase crop count to provide to more restaurants and then expand into retail.”

Mr Deal added: “We have to reinvent the traditional farming systems that we were so accustomed to. We have to rediscover the talent of our partners and plant scientists that have gone abroad with their skills, and we have to redefine what is possible for us to achieve as Bahamians.”