Our final day started with an exciting visit to the Floating Farm. We first started with a quick presentation that went over the Floating Farms entire premise and promoted its sustainable efforets. Our presentator explained that the Floating Farm is a small farm that is in the water supported by a platform that moves with the 1.5 meter tide difference. They make a variety of dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt outside of dairy they also grow vegetables with led lights in the basements, eventually they are hoping to expand to a vertical floating farm. Another unique element of the Floating Farm is that for the entire farm the feeding and milking is automated so every batch is controlled by a computer and robots do a majority of the typical human work

Some of their sustainabiliy efforts include using food returns from supermarkets and beer grain to aid in the more than 900 billion kilograms of food return waste that happens every year in just the Netherlands. Additionally they also reuse the poo and urine which is collected by a robot then buffered and seperated the pee becoming plant water, while the poo is pressed in pellets and sold at a local city garden. These practices help minimize waste and maximize resource ultilzation which overall contributes to a more sustainable food system at the Floating Farm.

After our very informational presentation we were able to see the farm in action. This included saying hi to the cows (petting them was my favorite part!), watching someone package the yogurt, and getting a close look at the led farm.

Following the Floating Farm we took a very exciting new form of transportation: A water taxi. We took this taxi to the RDM campus where we enjoyed a quick lunch before starting our tour of the RDM building. RDM Rotterdam is a historic shipyard that has been transformed into a place for new innovative companies to grow and develop through the access of various testing facilities. Our tour guide explained that RDM prioritizes companies with sustainable practices and climate forward premises. They do this by keeping rent low and taking chances on businesses that align with RDM’s values. An example of my favorite business that we got to see is Coastruction which is a business that creates coral bases to encourage coral growth in areas where the coral is put. I love that the company aims to revive coral and transofrm concrete (which is typically not a very climate friendly product) into something circular and eco-friendly!

To end off our day we enjoyed one last tasty meal as a group at the restaurant!