An Italian project, known as Nemo’s Garden, is testing the viability of underwater greenhouses
An hour’s drive from Genoa in northwestern Italy, off the coast of the picturesque village of Noli, nine transparent plastic bubbles appear to hover underwater—their trapped air fragrant with the scent of herbs.
The installation, known as Nemo’s Garden, is an experiment meant to test the viability of underwater greenhouses. The submerged “biospheres” consist of plastic domes rigged up with hydroponic equipment, plant seeds, and air-circulating fans. Each dome is like “a miniature space station,” says Sergio Gamberini, the inventor of Nemo’s Garden and the CEO of Ocean Reef, a U.S.-Italian company that primarily makes scuba diving equipment.
Plants experience unique stressors at depth, so they grow differently in Nemo’s Garden than they do on the surface. One 2020 study found that the garden’s basil contained more chlorophyll and antioxidants than surface basil did, as well as a different mix of essential oils.Gamberini’s hope is to help arid coastal countries grow more food without the costly need to desalinate water for crops.
The first five biospheres of Nemo‘s Garden were arranged in a pentagon around a central hub. Over the years, four more have been added .Two team members anchor one of the biospheres to the seabed with chains. Small platforms beneath each biosphere‘s dome lets divers enter to check in on and harvest plants.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.: The devoted team behind Nemo’s Garden includes Swedish-born diver Teddie Falkeborn.
Each biosphere‘s sensors wirelessly report real-time readings such as humidity, temperature, and air composition to a central control tower styled as a “Tree of Life.”A small ring of lights on the ceiling of each biosphere provides extra illumination, and a small fan helps keep the air circulating.So far, the underwater farm’s most visible environmental impact is a surprising one: Acting like an artificial coral reef, the garden appears to have attracted marine life to the surrounding area.
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