Urban Agriculture Integration Typology
The Urban Agriculture Integration Typology, was developed by the Association for Vertical Farming to categorise Urban Agriculture projects from around the world. Scroll down within the Integration Typology description and hover over each individual icon to find out more. You can see the Integration Typology in use by clicking on locations on the Map or by viewing our Infographics section.
Grower: Produces food in or around cities.
Technology: Developers and suppliers of technology for urban and vertical farmers e.g. Lights, Production Systems, Nutrients;
Institution: Research Institutes, Universities, Govern-mental/Non- Govern-mental Organizations, Non Profit Organizations.
Consultancy: Consultants and advisors in hydroponics, building-integrated agriculture, greenhouse, perma-culture, vertical farming, urban agriculture.
Organization Type
Start-up: Small in scale and size.
Small Medium Enterprise: More than one location or structure. 6+ employees.
Established: Multiple locations or structures. 40+ employees.
Organization Size
Holistic: The food production components are integrated at concept stage of the building design.
Retrofitted: The food production components are retrofitted onto the existing building. Rooftop farm add-on.
Converted: The food production components replace existing components of the building program.
Integration
Rooftop: On top of a roof.
Interior: Inside of a building.
Facade: Attached to the façade exterior or interior of a building.
Underground: Underneath a structure or below ground.
Placement
On Ground: On the ground in or near a city.
Exposed: Exposed to sunlight and the elements. e.g. A rooftop, open-air farm.
Enclosed: Protected from the elements, but still uses sunlight as primary source of lighting and heating.
Closed: No natural sunlight. Plants are grown using LED plant lighting technologies.
Other: No natural sunlight. Plants are grown using other plant lighting technologies (TL, HPS, etc.)
Exposure
Aeroponic: Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium.
Aquaponic: Aquaponics combines aquaculture
with hydroponics in
a symbiotic environment.
Hydroponic: Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil.
Planter: Grown in a raised planter. Built into its context and not easily movable.
Growing Medium
Containerized: In easily movable containers.
Intensive: Plants are grown on the surface directly and in soil with a depth of 6 inches or more.
Extensive: Plants are grown on the surface directly and in soil with a depth of 6 inches or less.
Grow to share: Community-focused
Grow to teach: Education-focused
Grow to prepare: Restaurants, cafeterias, home-use
Grow to retail: In/at market production
Production Purpose
Grow to wholesale: e.g. Commercial greenhouse or warehouse
Grow to clean: Primary purpose is to treat air/water
Grow to heal: Bio-pharma
Grow to develop: Main purpose is R&D