Dozens of cows arrived at the world's first floating farm as part of an effort to find new ways to feed a growing population, despite less space for food.
Cows arrived at a self-contained floating farm in Rotterdam on Monday, May 13, and will produce about 800 liters of milk per day. Each of the 32 cows on a floating farm will have about 160 square feet of space, while on ordinary, "terrestrial" farms, cows are much smaller.
When the tides allow, with the help of the bridge between the farm and the pier, the animals will have access to the adjacent pasture. Urine secreted by cows will drain through the floor into a special sealed storage that will limit ammonia emissions, and later use urine for fertilizer.
A city farm located in a specific place in the port of Rotterdam will produce various types of milk and yogurt. The idea of the concept is aimed at solving the problem of how to feed a growing population in the face of increasing competition for land.
The project is a partnership between three companies. Courage is an innovative institute in the Dutch agricultural and dairy sector, Uit Je Eigen Stad operates urban farms in cities throughout the Netherlands, and Beladon is an authority on floating structures.
Companies are currently considering plans to build a floating poultry farm and greenhouse.
