Q&A
Role of emerging technologies in New York City's urban agriculture landscape
1:25:09
·
151 sec
Council Member Farías asks about the role of emerging technologies like vertical farming in New York City's urban agriculture landscape. Qiana Mickie explains the Office's approach to incorporating these technologies.
- The Office supports a range of urban agriculture models, including ag tech, hydroponics, and vertical farming
- They focus on creating opportunities in the controlled environment sector for people of color and low-income individuals
- Access to land is a key issue for controlled environment agriculture
- The Office explores the use of underutilized spaces, including industrial areas, for innovative urban agriculture models
- They support diverse projects, including hydroponic leafy vegetables and mushroom cultivation
Amanda Farías
1:25:09
Great.
1:25:09
And then what role do you see for emerging technologies, like vertical farming and New York City's ab urban agriculture landscape?
1:25:16
I know you've spoken a little bit about this.
1:25:17
I think all of us, if not most of us in the council have put in hydroponic labs somewhere in a school or multiple schools.
1:25:21
We're looking at, at at least for myself, I'm looking at ways to use our recreation sensors and community sensors to also be coupled with that technology.
1:25:34
But even looking at, like, my NYCHA campuses Yes.
1:25:37
And where we can create an urban farm or where we can utilize some of these technologies.
1:25:40
So where do you see a role Yes.
Alex Paulenoff
1:25:42
For them?
Qiana Mickie
1:25:43
Oh, yes.
1:25:43
So urban, you know, ag tech and hydroponics, vertical farming, other controlled environment models are a part of the breadth of, urban agriculture in New York City.
1:25:55
So while we continue to support the existing, partners and businesses and nonprofits that are doing this work and finding ways to explore in different city agencies or, again, on different city land, part of our work is also to ensure that we're creating opportunities in the controlled environment sector for, folks of color, low income, so they have affordable scalable models in the controlled environment.
1:26:19
In the controlled environment.
1:26:21
What we've heard from partners in this, controlled environment arena is they need access to land.
1:26:24
So, this continues to support our work, not just in schools, but also in city properties like NYCHA, and other underutilized land, including industrial areas that we're continuing to see if they're suitable for, innovative models, in controlled environments, indoor and outdoor.
1:26:45
Does that answer your question?
1:26:46
I'm sorry.
Amanda Farías
1:26:47
Yes.
1:26:48
Yes.
Qiana Mickie
1:26:49
Yes.
1:26:49
But we do see that there are viable needs.
1:26:51
Other things that we've explored and will continue to try to support is the relationship building that can happen within communities and looking at underutilized land in different ways.
1:27:03
So it's not it doesn't have to just be the parcel of land.
1:27:06
It can also be underutilized, centers, spaces, like you said, like rec centers.
1:27:12
We've seen, businesses as well as community, start controlled environment work, say, not just hydroponic and leafy vegetables, but also in mushrooms.
1:27:23
So we continue to try to share resources and information with these partners, so they, again, see themselves in the fabric of work and see how they can work and engage with other city agencies and other city sites to expand the work around urban agriculture in the city.
