Today was our first full day in Rotterdam. We began with breakfast at the hotel and then took the bus to the Floating Farm. The Floating Farm opened in 2019 and is the only floating farm in the world.
At the Floating Farm we began by getting an introduction from one of the workers at the farm. During this we learned how the farm operates and how it is the first and only farm that floats on water. The key idea of the farm is to use unused space on water that is nearby cities to provide residents with local produce. We learned that the farm produces both plant and animal products. The bottom level of the farm grows microgreens in a sealed environment. This limits the greens exposure to bacteria and bugs, so pesticides aren’t needed. After the brief lecture we visited each part of the farm and learned how they make the farm sustainable. We saw the vertical farm that grows micro greens and learned that the diet of the cows are all leftovers such as orange peels and grass clippings. The farm is also sustainable as everything is very local. Since products and resources are sourced locally there are minimal fossil fuels emitted for transportation. My favorite part of the Floating Farm visit was the milk and cheese taste testing which was delicious. After this we took a water taxi to a Rotterdam shipping port that serves as a hub for entrepreneurs.
The Rotterdam shipping port was interesting as it hosts startups that align with sustainable goals. RDM consists of the Rotterdam Technical College, the Port Authority of Rotterdam, and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. RDM used to be a shipyard but now has offices, classrooms and maker spaces. It is a great place for companies to grow while also collaborating with students and investors. The company in RDM that I found most interesting is Paebbl. This company focuses on making eco-friendly building materials. This works by turning carbon dioxide into a mineral powder which can be made into cement like material for buildings. After this we headed back to the hotel and relaxed for the rest of the evening.
