Article
AEROFARMS
Engineering, Life Science,

No Soil Needed

This indoor farm grows crops in the air!

By Dani Leviss
From the December 2022/January 2023 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will make an evidence-based claim about how plants can grow indoors without soil. 

Lexile: 870L; 630L
Guided Reading Level: S
Focus Area: Structure & Function,
Standards
  • NGSS: Core Idea: LS1.C, ETS1.B CCSS: Writing: 9. TEKS: Science: 3.1B, 4.1B, 5.1B, 6.1B; ELA: 3.6G, 4.6G, 5.6G, 6.5G

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AEROFARMS

The farm shines purple light instead of sunlight on the crops. The plants use this light to make food.

Most farms have rows of crops in the ground. But inside a warehouse in Newark, New Jersey, you’ll find a different kind of farm. At AeroFarms, trays of leafy green plants are stacked 11 meters (36 feet) high. And they’re not growing in soil—they’re growing in air!

The site, which opened in 2016, is one of many vertical farms popping up around the world. These multistory structures are designed to grow food indoors. Vertical farms can carefully control the plants’ environment, such as temperature, light, and water. That allows the farms to grow fresh food year-round.

Vertical farms have many benefits. They use less water than traditional farms. They don’t need to use chemicals to control pests. Though vertical farms require more electricity than traditional farms do, they often use solar power or other types of renewable energy that will never be used up.

Most farms have rows of crops in the ground. But you’ll find a different kind of farm in Newark, New Jersey. It’s called AeroFarms. And it’s inside a warehouse. Trays of leafy green plants fill the building. They’re stacked 11 meters (36 feet) high. And they’re not growing in soil. They’re growing in air!

The site opened in 2016. It’s one of many vertical farms around the world. These tall buildings are built to grow food indoors. Vertical farms carefully monitor plants. They control their temperature, light, and water. That allows the farms to grow fresh food year-round.

Vertical farms have many benefits. They use less water than regular farms. They don’t need to use chemicals to control pests. Vertical farms do need more electricity than normal farms. But it often comes from solar power or other types of renewable energy. These energy sources will never be used up.

AEROFARMS

AeroFarms built a small indoor farm at a school in Newark, New Jersey. Seeds sprout from a moist cloth stretched over a tray.

AeroFarms uses a system called aeroponics (EHR-uh-pon-iks) to grow crops. Seeds sit on a cloth that covers a large tray. The roots poke through the cloth and hang beneath it. Small pipes spray water containing nutrients on the roots. “We’ve created recipes to give each plant what it needs when it needs it,” says AeroFarms co-founder Marc Oshima.

Oshima and his team founded AeroFarms to provide healthy food to people who don’t have access to it. Right now, the farm grows baby greens—small leaves harvested early—and microgreens, or edible seedlings. The products are sold at nearby grocery stores. Keeping the food local requires less energy for transporting it.

AeroFarms also builds small farms for schools. “We want to grow the best food possible to nourish communities with locally grown food,” says Oshima.

AeroFarms grows crops using aeroponics (air-uh-PON-iks). Seeds sit on a cloth that covers a large tray. The roots poke through the cloth and hang beneath it. Small pipes spray water on the roots. The water contains nutrients. “We’ve created recipes to give each plant what it needs when it needs it,” says Marc Oshima.

Oshima and his team founded AeroFarms. They wanted to grow healthy food for people who don’t have access to it. The farm grows baby greens right now. They’re small leaves harvested early. The farm also grows microgreens. They’re edible seedlings. The veggies are sold at nearby grocery stores. Less energy is needed to transport locally grown food.

AeroFarms also builds small farms for schools. “We want to grow the best food possible to nourish communities with locally grown food,” says Oshima.

How the Plants Grow

Plants in an aeroponics system don’t grow in soil. The roots hang in the air and are misted with water. Here’s how it works.

Plants in an aeroponics system don’t grow in soil. The roots hang in the air and are misted with water. Here’s how it works.

DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATION BY KATE FRANCIS

The plants grow through a cloth barrier. This keeps the plants’ leafy tops clean and dry.

The plants grow through a cloth barrier. This keeps the plants’ leafy tops clean and dry.

The plants grow under purple light, the ideal color for photosynthesis, the process plants use to make food.

The plants grow under purple light, the ideal color for photosynthesis, the process plants use to make food.

Pipes spray the roots with a mist containing nutrients.

Pipes spray the roots with a mist containing nutrients.

How the Plants Grow

Plants in an aeroponics system don’t grow in soil. The roots hang in the air and are misted with water. Here’s how it works.

Plants in an aeroponics system don’t grow in soil. The roots hang in the air and are misted with water. Here’s how it works.

DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATION BY KATE FRANCIS

The plants grow through a cloth barrier. This keeps the plants’ leafy tops clean and dry.

The plants grow through a cloth barrier. This keeps the plants’ leafy tops clean and dry.

The plants grow under purple light, the ideal color for photosynthesis, the process plants use to make food.

The plants grow under purple light, the ideal color for photosynthesis, the process plants use to make food.

Pipes spray the roots with a mist containing nutrients.

Pipes spray the roots with a mist containing nutrients.

video (1)
Activities (3)
Skills Activities
Quizzes (1)
Answer Key (1)
Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
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1. ENGAGE: Watch a video about plants and determine what a plant needs to survive.

  • Ask: What do plants need to grow? Brainstorm your ideas. Watch the video “Powerful Plants.” Have students add anything additional to the list.
  • Have students draw a typical plant and label the parts: stem, leaves, and roots. Have them label what each of the parts does. (e.g., Roots hold the plant in place and soak up water and nutrients.)

2. EXPLORE: Predict and discover whether plants could grow under different conditions.

  • Ask: Do you think plants can grow indoors? How about without soil? Have students discuss and record their thinking, explaining what observations or experiences support their ideas.
  • Read the article. Ask students to find quotes in the first paragraph that support the idea that plants can grow indoors and without soil. (e.g., “inside a warehouse” and “They’re not growing in soil.”)

3. EXPLAIN: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of vertical farming.

  • Discuss advantages of vertical farming over traditional farming.(e.g.,Vertical farming takes up less space and gives more control over the environment.) Ask students what kinds of crops AeroFarms grows. (baby greens and microgreens)
  • Ask students: Based on these names, and on the article’s visuals, what can you infer about when the plants are harvested and how large they grow? (These plants are harvested early, when they are small.)
  • Ask: How is this different from some other plants we eat, like tomatoes or apples? (Both plants have to grow large enough to put out fruit.) Why might it be difficult to grow some crops inside? (e.g., they might take up a lot of space, require a lot of light and water) Have students complete the article’s Quick Quiz.

4. EXTEND: Carry out an investigation into soil-free plant growth.

  • Preparation notes for the hands-on activity Growing Gains: Obtain chia seeds, available at most grocery stores. Plan for at least five days of measurements, ideally starting on a Monday and ending on a Friday. The seeds can be left alone over a weekend if they are in a warm place and are well-watered. (You can use other, larger seeds instead, but it is recommended to grow them instead in cotton balls, briefly soaked in water, placed in clear cups, and covered with plastic wrap.) Do not eat the plants after they have sprouted. Students should wash their hands before and after handling the greens.
  • Distribute the hands-on activity Growing Gains and review the directions. Arrange students into groups. Review how to take accurate measurements if needed. Have students observe and measure for five days. Briefly discuss what they are noticing each day. On Day 5, have them answer the questions on the skills sheet.

5. EVALUATE: Use evidence to support a claim about plant growth.

  • Preview the Make a Claim skills sheet and have groups complete it, writing collaboratively in response to the question: Do plants always need soil to grow? Students should use evidence from the article and their investigation to develop their claims. Students can write their claims on a piece of paper or on a whiteboard, and the class can discuss the quality of evidence and reasoning with teacher guidance.

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