Research Paper

Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Alaska are close to the North and South poles and experience six months of long days in summer and six months of long nights in winter. The unconducive climate for growing plants in these cold regions requires people to import food from afar. Even in America, where the climate is comparatively conducive for planting, meals travel about 1500 miles to get from farm to plate [1]. Long distance transportation of food not only consumes large quantities of fossil fuels, approximately 10 kcal of fossil fuel energy for every 1 kcal of energy from food, but also emits carbon dioxide which adds to the carbon footprint [1]. Although import and distribution of food worsen the global warming crisis, people do not buy produce locally as it is expensive, seasonally available or unavailable in cold climates. Furthermore, the worldwide population is projected to hit nine billion by the year 2050 and the need for efficient farming without straining valuable resources will be highly sought after. An automated hydroponic greenhouse can enable people who do not have the time or knowledge about gardening to grow a wide variety of plants in their own home. The greenhouse would not require human intervention as sensors in the greenhouse determine the amount of light, water, and nutrients the plant needs and monitors its growth.