Photographs taken at Tsinghua University. The team members are:
- Adelaine Suhendro, Singapore
- Asyraf Omar, Singapore
- Avitra Phon, Singapore
- Sean Sam, Singapore
- Reiko Numao, Japan
- Fan Jia Qi, China
(Do note that the team is made up of people from different countries and schools too!)
🌿 FitFlora: Revolutionising Urban Spaces for Agriculture and Health! 🌱
We are thrilled to announce that FitFlora won 1st place in Design Futures: Shared Vision 2024 under Tsinghua University’s Design, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship program! The project is also gaining attention from leading institutions, including the China-Italy Design Innovation Hub at Tsinghua University, where the Associate Dean is considering its potential to enhance food security at the Mars Base Camp! In addition, FitFlora is under evaluation for a prototype at LongTan ZhongHu Park in Beijing, where it aims to transform public parks into productive agricultural hubs.
With Beijing facing urbanisation and land scarcity, the need for sustainable food production solutions is more urgent than ever. FitFlora tackles this challenge by converting parks into interactive agricultural spaces, where users contribute to food cultivation while staying fit. By using modified exercise machines, the energy from their workouts powers an automated irrigation system, delivering highly calibrated amounts of water and light to crops in real-time. This unique system seamlessly integrates fitness with sustainable food production.
What truly sets FitFlora apart is its incorporation of advanced material science and precision vertical farming. The system uses an amino-polymer matrix substrate that replaces traditional soil, boosting moisture retention and nutrient delivery while allowing ultra-dense planting – with up to 700 plants per square meter! This cutting-edge material ensures ideal growing conditions even in space-constrained environments, optimising yields without compromising quality.
FitFlora also features digital twin prediction, IoT sensors and modular pot designs, creating a low-maintenance, high-yield farming system. Through the FitFlora Companion App, users earn points from their efforts which are redeemable for fresh produce grown within the parks. This innovative, tech-driven approach makes horticulture accessible to everyone and helps foster a community-based food system. Our vision is that one day, Beijing can become a self-sustained source of fresh, organic food! 🍅🥬