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Secondary pupils at Lornshill, Alloa, Alva and Dollar Academies are testing the waters of sustainable agriculture by using hydroponic growing towers to raise crops that they put to use in their school every day.

The state-of-the-art growing towers were supplied by Stirling-based environmental charity FEL Scotland, which supports a variety of educational and lifestyle initiatives in the region to increase community sustainability and educate young people.

Stuart Guzinski, Project Coordinator for FEL Scotland, said that the growing towers serve the double purpose of teaching future generations about sustainable, scalable agricultural practices while also kickstarting the basis for local food systems.

The project is part of a £10,000 pilot programme funded by the Scottish Government's Vacant and Derelict Land Fund. Because hydroponic towers are vertical structures and require much less water than traditional farming, they can open up agricultural opportunities in areas with nutrient-poor or damaged soil.

Alloa students have said that they are learning how vertical growing can support a growing population, and first-year Reggie Kiff believes towers like these "will help feed man in the future."

Greenhouse network under construction in Atyrau, Kazakhstan

Farmers in Atyrau region, Kazakhstan, are expanding greenhouse production to grow vegetables year-round and increase exports. A new 5-hectare greenhouse complex is set to open this year, with farmers in Makhambet district preparing to supply tomatoes by September.

A former oil industry worker turned farmer has been developing a greenhouse business for four years. The facility, covering over 3,000 square meters, follows strict temperature control, ensuring a steady supply of cucumbers to major retailers.

Operating a greenhouse is costly, with over 1 million tenge spent monthly on utilities. To support growers, local authorities are considering 40% subsidies for gas heating and offering low-interest loans for expansion.

Currently, Makhambet district has 14 greenhouses, but only one operates on an industrial scale. Farmers plan to scale up production and compete with vegetable suppliers from Iran, Uzbekistan, and Russia.

Source: 24.kz