Reimagining the Farming Future of Merthyr Tydfil

Food supply chain accounts for up to one-third of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Most agricultural processes such as farming, distributing and packaging emit carbon footprints. The project aims to obtain a deeper understanding of the living conditions in Merthyr Tydfil that are reliant on food imports due to a lack of access to local produce.

Transitioning from a traditional to a modern diet has consequences for other city-wide issues. This project aims to alleviate the food security crisis of a community in Merthyr Tydfil by introducing a foodscape that incorporates cutting-edge technology to suit the community's current situation.

Increasing the amount of conventional farming, like in the pre-industrial era, is a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Ironwork history and mountainous landscape in Merthyr Tydfil makes it barely possible to reintegrate traditional agriculture due to the poor soil quality, which has the worst soil grade in the UK. A more holistic solution which include scientific and community approaches would be required for Merthyr Tydfil's food security in order to become a resilient community. People should be able to participate and familiarise themselves with the process of food production to repair the community-to-food relationship.

I reimagined Merthyr's future without relying on supermarkets. What if the community is self-sufficient in the food supply chain and meets the RIBA Climate Challenge by 2030?

Multiple building programmes are proposed in this project. Vertical farm is practical as it utilises less land and uses precision technology to optimise plant growth to maximise its yield. I chose to implement an aeroponic farm out of other types of vertical farming as it uses less water and precise amount of nutrients. Experimental plant field can act as a community allotment to plant and harvest their own plants to make them feel inclusive. A market and restaurant will let the patrons taste the local produce and appreciate the final process of growing food. It refers to the past where the community will come to dine together after a long day of work in the mines; the social aspect is what makes food enjoyable and strengthens the bond of the community. I want to create a unique dining experience in the restaurant, a moment that the patrons will not forget as they taste the farm-to-table dishes. Moreover, an anaerobic digestion plant will power the facilities utilising the city waste as its power source.

We have seen how architecture has the potential to assist societies in overcoming issues. I hope that this project will demonstrate the possibilities of vertical farming, a new perspective to view the climate emergency, and a holistic solution for communities without arable land.