3D Printed Mini-Farm Tackles Big Problems.

.

Davide Sher of 3D Printing Industry recently wrote an article showcasing Mike Adams, the founder of FoodRising.org. According to the article, agricultural activist Mike Adams created a compact food production system that utilizes 3D printed components to grow food hydroponically without the need for costly electronic equipment. The Mini-Farm Grow Boxes give gardening hobbyists or homesteaders the ability to grow food using only 5% of the water needed in conventional soil-based agriculture. This is a welcomed development to folks who live in drought stricken areas such as California where water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource.

Food Rising Mini-Farm kit addresses economic and climatic challenges.

The “Food Rising Mini-Farm” kit utilizes 3D printable components shown here to manufacture a “bottom feeding constant water level” necessary for non-circulating hydroponic systems.  Many of the other components read like a MacGyver© shopping list with things like: a No. 2 pencil eraser, a paperclip, and a garden hose washer, to name just a few. Inventions like these highlight the increasing role that 3D printing will play in response to the economic and climatic challenges of our future. The Mini-Farm concept, for example, can be scaled by users to offset, or supplant, their household food costs which may help families cope with the fluctuating prices and availability of drought-impacted foodstuffs.  Additionally, agricultural products like the Mini-Farm Grow Box may help urban-dwelling residents to grow fresh produce in so called, “Food Deserts” where traditional food production methods are not feasible.

Sher’s article also suggests a looming explosion of innovation in private industry. 3D printing technology has the potential to break down many of the traditional economic barriers inherent to bringing a product from idea to market. In Mike Adam’s own words, “This method is so cheap that it remained in obscurity for decades, as there is basically nothing to sell.” While this may be true of traditional mass-production methods it is not true for entrepreneurs or activists like Adams, who sells the mini-farm box kits on-demand to those who do not have the ability to 3D print their own kits.

Learn more about the Food Rising Mini-Farm Grow Box

If you already own a 3D printer Foodrising.org offers helpful DIY videos and downloadable files for building Mini-Farms. They also provide a link for people who do not yet own a 3D printer to purchase complete kits for about $99 USD. Both products and services can be found on their website located here: FoodRising.Org.

You may find the original Food Rising Mini-Farm article by author, Davide Sher on the official 3D Printing Industry blog located here: Home Manufacturing and Food Production Combined to Create 3D Printable Mini-Farm.

Airwolf 3D offers a full line of professional quality 3D printers capable of printing with more than 30 different materials. Click here If you are interested in learning more about purchasing your own 3D printer from Airwolf 3D: Shop Airwolf 3D.