Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre's general manager Alan Pryor harvests the first batch of salads grown on the venue’s rooftop with Liz Jasri, director of The Green Attap.
Earlier last month in August, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC)
celebrated the first harvest of its hydroponic (where plants are grown
in sand, gravel, or liquid) farm on its rooftop.
KLCC has partnered with The Green Attap, a Kuala Lumpur-based urban
farming company, to set up and maintain its rooftop farm, growing and
harvesting fresh, pesticide-free vegetables that will feature in
delegate menus.
Chef Hisham Jaafar, executive chef at KLCC said: “We want to provide
the thousands of people meeting at our venue daily with healthy food
that is free from pesticides. We are growing a variety of lettuces,
lollo bionda, lollo rossa and butterhead, serving them fresh at small
and short-lead meetings. Our rainwater harvesting system is channelling
water to the farm making it completely sustainable.”
Lord Mayor Sally Capp; Brendan Condon, director of Melbourne Skyfarm; and Peter King, CEO of Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre at the launch of the rooftop farm.In Australia, Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has been
involved with Melbourne Skyfarm, which has transformed a rooftop car
park in the city’s central business district into an urban farm. In a
recent update on the building’s progress, MCEC chief executive Peter
King said: "Skyfarm is a wonderful opportunity for MCEC to lead the way
for businesses to take charge of their responsibility to the
environment.”
The site, which is still under construction, will demonstrate how to
grow fresh produce and incorporate nature into city spaces whilst using
greenery to help cool the urban environment. When completed, it will
feature a 90-seat licensed café and a range of public spaces, with some
spaces available for events, exhibitions, meetings, conferences, and
celebrations.
The hospitality elements of Melbourne Skyfarm will champion best
practices in sustainable farming and low-waste hospitality techniques,
as well as sustainable produce from the Greater Melbourne and Victorian
regions.
New York’s Javits Center has unveiled Jacob’s Harvest, a new line of pickled produce from its one-acre rooftop farm.In July, New York’s Javits Center has unveiled Jacob’s Harvest, a new
line of pickled produce from its one-acre rooftop farm, managed by
urban farming company Brooklyn Grange. The first 250 jars feature
pickled radishes, with pickled cucumbers, banana peppers and red
cabbages available later this year.
Alan Steel, CEO of the New York Convention Center Operating
Corporation, which operates the Javits Center said: “We’re proud to
provide our customers with produce grown only steps from where they are
consuming it, and we hope our efforts inspire others to follow our
lead.”
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles’ urban rooftop farm, called Nature
Urbaine, opened in 2020 and is the largest in Europe. It produces around
30 varieties of fruit and vegetables for local residents and businesses
and the site offers a range of workshops where participants can tour
the urban farm and taste a range of products.