Polydome Concept Overview V.3 ECOSYSTEMS & SPECIES: GOALS CULTURE & ECONOMY: GOALS HEALTH AND HAPPINESS : GOALS • The Polydome greenhouse is a polyculture. It has a diversity of plant and animal species coexisting and benefiting from one another. • It maximizes beneficial plant-plant and plant-animal interactions; relies on natural feedback loops to manage diseases and pests; and uses natural pollination services. • It derives maximal benefit from natural variations in thermal, lighting, and moisture conditions through crop placement. • It maximizes productivity per square meter through the stacking of species in both space and time. • It provides benefits to ecosystems outside of its own; it actively builds soil communities where applicable. • It considers animal welfare a top priority. Within the system, animals are not treated as “products,” but rather as part of an ecosystem. Their natural behaviors are encouraged rather than restricted. • The Polydome greenhouse is economically viable within a short- to mid-range time horizon. • It produces significant quantities of highquality, marketable products year-round. • It minimizes difficult and undesirable labor. • Polydome production is more flexible than normal greenhouse production, making the sector more resilient to economic fluctuation and improving both food security and access. • It beneficially supports and responds to local food culture. • It provides opportunities for functions in addition to food production, such as education, social uses, retail, processing, and others. • It can reduce the demand for food transportation by offering a single point of sale for a wide range of locally produced goods. • It can be used for longer than a conventional greenhouse, it integrates better into the landscape, and provides a more inspiring environment for workers and visitors alike. • The Polydome greenhouse is a healthy, safe, and enjoyable environment to work in. • It does not rely on the use of any toxic chemicals or materials that may pose a threat to human or ecosystem health. • It produces healthy and nutritious food for the local community, long-term food security and improving food access. • It is a source of enjoyment to both owners and local residents through its role in the community and relevance to the local population. • It is aesthetically pleasing in its outside appearance, enriching rather than detracting from landscape quality. Polydome: High Performance Polyculture Systems 21 Pagina 20
Pagina 22Interactieve online magazine, deze PDF of spaarprogramma is levensecht online geplaatst met Online Touch en bied het online bladerbaar maken van digi-nieuwsbrieven.
473 Lees publicatie 163Home