Today we visited a business called Floating Farm. This idea of this farm was created following Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The owners saw the devastation the hurricane created on the people and how fresh food was completely unavailable for weeks after. They then started working on the idea of a floating farm which came to fruition seven years later. In May 2019, the Floating Farm was officially launched in Rotterdam.

This farm is meant to allow access to fresh food and dairy for people living in urban areas. There are more than 30 cows on the farm and various plants. The farm operates within a circular cycle, which means it uses waste from other places as fuel. For example, grass clippings from the Feyenoord stadium and grain from nearby breweries are fed to the cows. 28% of city waste is used for cattle feed. The farm repurposes its waste by putting it through machines. Urine is filtered into water which is used for plants and cows. Rainwater is also used for this purpose. Manure is formed into fertilizer and other products such as pots for plants or bricks. However, manure is not water resistant so Floating Farm is collaborating with a university to come up with a solution so the bricks can be realistically used.

The farm itself is the first of its kind. It’s designed with pillars in the middle of the unit to allow for the building to rise and fall with the changing tide. It is run on 60% solar energy and the company is figuring out how to incorporate wind energy as well. Floating was preferred as there is more available space in water and it can be transported to different areas close to customers. Additionally, there are no consequences for the farm if the Netherlands were to flood. Other farms are being built in Singapore, China, Dubai, Aruba, and Chicago.

Products sold by the farm include flavored and unflavored buttermilk, cheese, and yogurt. These products are sold in grocery stores or cafes. Most of the profits of Floating Farm are from business to business. We were allowed to taste the cheese and buttermilk. I tried the raspberry buttermilk as well as the ginger. The first tasted more like yogurt than the traditional flavored milk in the US, however, the ginger milk was very good.

Floating Farm appeals to consumers as they want to feel good about their decisions and are more likely to shop from sustainable companies. The entire purpose of Floating Farm was geared towards the consumer.

We also visited a place called RDM. RDM is a space where young inventors can come and create new inventions. Mechanical Engineering students from the Hogeschool of Rotterdam come in once a week to work on projects assigned by professors or companies. There is a composites lab, materials lab, and woodwork shop. Study and work areas are also present in the space.

The Port Authority also hosts a space, free of charge, for students who wish to work on projects that can improve the harbor. To rent in the harbor, three questions must be answered: What do you want to innovate? Why? How does this project help the harbor? Students can receive funding from the Port Authority as well so that upcoming tech companies don’t have to worry about finding funding.

Many of the projects we saw were very interesting. We were shown a company called Urban Reef which 3D printed clay objects that could be used to revitalize the harbors. The objects have lots of surface area for the sun and include hiding places for insects. An algorithm mimics the growth of fungi and plants in order to create shapes and designs. The clay objects can be used to cool the water as well as it traps humidity in itself. Another start-up named Coastruction had a similar idea. Since coral reefs are dying due to climate change and bleaching, they decided to 3D print coral substitutes. The company prints with sand, cement, and recycled concrete. Another benefit of the company is that materials can be sourced locally and just the printer needs to be imported.

Overall, this trip to the Netherlands was informative and exciting. I’m super grateful for this opportunity to learn about other companies and another culture. Our farwell dinner was on a boat, which is featured on the front page.