Sustainable Magazine 11th Issue

Submarine Farming with Nemo's
Garden
In the depths of the blue waters, 100 meters off the coast of Noli in northern Italy, is a group of balloon-like
plant tanks. Many vegetables are grown in these tanks, including peas, lettuce, basil, strawberries and red
cabbage. It may seem like sci-fi at first, but Ocean Reef Group really does it. The Italian diving company, with
the help of a group of agricultural experts, has succeeded in turning a new page in food production by using
technology.
The name of the research project is Nemo's Garden. No doubt it takes its name from the movie Finding Nemo.
Within the scope of the research, which began in 2012, seven tanks, each containing 22 plants, were placed
under water. The design of the tanks has been improved over time; It is resistant to corrosion and flooding. The
Italian Group has obtained permission from the local government to do this work and can produce five months
of the year, from May to September. Of course, patents have been obtained for tanks.
Thanks to the hydroponic system, the company purifies sea water and obtains clean water. Hydroponic means
stagnant water culture. The hydroponic system is a method used to grow plants without soil. Instead of
nutrients in the soil, plants benefit from a nutrient solution containing the minerals they need. The seawater
inside the tanks evaporates, the drops condense on the roof and then go down as fresh water to feed the
plants. Unlike underground hydroponic systems and greenhouses, which use different heating and cooling
systems and LED lights to control the weather, subsea production provides a constant temperature. In this
way, the negative effects of bad weather conditions on the soil are also eliminated.
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