In the 1950s, Hong Kong produced around 75% of the vegetables it consumed. Today it produces about 1.6%. That’s a pretty shocking statistic when you also consider Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities on the planet.
But in the fast-paced concrete jungle of Hong Kong, vertical farms and urban farms are sprouting up, bringing renewed energy to the agricultural landscape and a burst of green to unexpected places.
One of those places is an abandoned bicycle warehouse, where Jack Leung has converted the space into a lush landscape of lateral lettuce and a thriving, modern agricultural hub named Agrician.
Agrician provides innovative solutions and products, it focuses on growing a thriving community and fostering a richer understanding of the relationship between food, health, and sustainability. They believe the food system is essential to our well-being and a healthy planet. “That’s why we’re excited about exploring new ways to revolutionize our modern food system,” says Jack, who started Agrician in early 2021 with no agricultural background. He spent a year researching and learning about farming, especially hydroponics, before starting the controlled environment agriculture business and writing a business plan to consolidate his idea.
His commercial ZipFarm™ consists of 360 hydroponic ZipGrow™ Towers. Nutrient-rich water is pumped from a central reservoir through the recirculating system, and the Matrix Media inside the Tower casing supports the root structures of the crops for healthy harvests.
The walls of green and bright LED lights are a refreshing change to the typical industrial landscape. But this farm isn’t just about looking cool; it’s tackling real issues too. By producing fresh greens, fruiting crops, and herbs all year round, it’s helping to feed the city while reducing the need for long-distance transportation. It’s a game-changer for food security and sustainability.
Cities in Asia are significantly affected by food insecurity, with millions of people migrating from rural areas to cities in search of better opportunities; the influx of people strains the urban infrastructure and challenges the local food systems to meet the growing demand.
Sourcing high-quality fresh produce in the city can be difficult for residents. “Our local urban farm can fill the gap to serve the local customers. Our official name is Agrician, which I created by combining Agriculture and Magician. We called the farm “THE FARM CLUB by Agrician,” we wanted to build a farm and a space for the community to meet, learn, connect, and innovate together, like a club.”
We recently caught up with Jack to find out how business is going two years in and learn more about the day-to-day operations.