We began by analyzing transportation logistics data, which revealed that the average distance produce traveled from farm to table was approximately 373 kilometers, contributing to 15-20% spoilage rates and significant delays in delivery times. This lengthy supply chain resulted in restaurants receiving produce that was often days old, compromising freshness and nutritional value.

The team also gathered data through a combination of field visits, remote interviews, and surveys. We interviewed over 30 farmers in Jeollanam-do, discovering that, on average, transportation costs accounted for 13% of their total expenses, significantly impacting their profitability. These farmers also highlighted labor shortages, with many reporting a 17% decrease in available workers over the past decade.

Simultaneously, the team engaged with 30 restaurant owners in Seoul, who expressed frustration with inconsistent produce quality and supply. They reported that due to spoilage and delays, they often had to reject 10-15% of delivered produce, leading to financial losses and menu limitations.

Additionally, we used GIS mapping to pinpoint key locations for potential underground farms, taking into account factors such as proximity to high-demand areas, accessibility, and existing infrastructure. This spatial analysis revealed that an underground farm in Gwanghwamun Square could reduce travel distances to major restaurants by up to 80%, significantly improving supply chain efficiency.

We also explored the use of advanced hydroponics, which could reduce labor intensity by 35% compared to traditional farming methods, and employ disabled individuals more effectively through automation. These systems also promoted pesticide-free produce, aligning with the rising consumer demand for organic options.

We began by conducting a feasibility study, which included soil sampling and hydrogeological surveys to ensure the subterranean environment could support hydroponic systems. Collaborating with PhD students from the University of Seoul, we performed in-depth analyses of the site’s structural integrity, confirming that the underground space could safely house the necessary equipment and infrastructure.

We designed a comprehensive plan for the hydroponic systems, specifying the use of vertical farming racks to maximize spatial efficiency. These racks were engineered to support a variety of crops suited to hydroponic cultivation, such as leafy greens, herbs, and tomatoes. To optimize crop yields, we incorporated LED grow lights with adjustable spectrums, allowing precise control over light conditions to simulate optimal sunlight exposure. During this process, we developed detailed schematics illustrating the layout of the hydroponic systems, irrigation channels, and ventilation pathways to ensure proper airflow and temperature regulation.

Logistically, we meticulously planned to streamline the farm-to-table process. We designed a supply chain model that included direct delivery routes from the underground farm to restaurants in Seoul, mapping out these routes using GIS technology and selecting paths that minimized travel time and fuel consumption. The proposal included a schedule for harvesting and delivery, ensuring that produce could be transported to restaurants within hours of being picked to maintain freshness.

Additionally, we calculated the potential yield of the underground farm, estimating that it could produce up to 2,000 kilograms of fresh produce per month. This estimate was based on crop growth rates observed in similar hydroponic systems and adjusted for the specific conditions of the underground environment. We also projected a significant reduction in transportation costs and spoilage rates, anticipating a 50% decrease in both metrics compared to traditional supply chains.

Based on these considerations, we drafted an initial proposal.

To implement our plans, we sought a partnership with Farm8, an indoor vertical farm (IVF) company that had been operating its Metro Farm out of Sangdo Station in Seoul, to integrate our underground agriculture project with Farm8’s ongoing efforts. We began by presenting our proposal, showcasing how the collaboration could expand Farm8’s urban farming footprint and introduce innovative underground farming techniques in a high-traffic area like Gwanghwamun Square.

Recognizing the potential to scale their efforts, Farm8 agreed to partner with us.

This partnership included technical advisory from Farm8’s experts, who provided insights on optimizing the underground environment for agriculture, and shared advanced hydroponic systems and vertical farming modules that would be integrated into the existing underground space.

During this process, we reached out to the University of Seoul. We proposed collaborative research projects focusing on urban agriculture innovations, offering students and faculty the chance to conduct practical, cutting-edge research within the underground farm.

In the implementation phase, we initiated a pilot project to establish a metro farm beneath Gwanghwamun Square. This involved installing modular hydroponic units designed to maximize space efficiency and crop yield. The pilot used vertical farming techniques, where LED grow lights were strategically positioned to ensure even light distribution across multiple layers of crops. With guidance from Farm8's automated tech network, we adapted similar control systems to monitor temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels, ensuring optimal growth conditions for a variety of microgreens and herbs.

The pilot project started with a selected cohort of local restaurants that agreed to participate in a farm-to-table initiative, pledging to source produce directly from the underground farm.

We organized weekly harvests, with a streamlined delivery system facilitated by local volunteers and participating restaurant staff. This not only ensured freshness but also reduced the carbon footprint associated with traditional supply chains.

During the pilot's first 3 months, we collected data data on yields and sales metrics. The farm aimed for a production goal of 1,250 pounds of microgreens within this period, with actual results exceeding expectations at 1,500+ pounds. Feedback from the restaurants highlighted improved customer satisfaction due to the freshness of the produce, which contributed to a 15% increase in menu sales featuring locally sourced items.

In addition to giving food sovereignty to local restaurants and cafés, we initiated an outreach program aimed at local elementary and secondary schools, formatted as half-day trips.

Each visit begins with a guided tour of the hydroponics and aquaponics systems, where students learn about the specific mechanics of nutrient delivery and water filtration. Following the tour, s seeds in the vertical farm's grow trays, applying their learning about optimal spacing and light exposure.

Students then take part in data collection exercise, using measuring tools to record plant growth and environmental conditions like pH levels and humidity

Feedback from students and teachers indicated an increase in student interest in pursuing agricultural science, with several schools expressing interest in ongoing collaborations to integrate these experiences into their curricula. We hope our program can help increase the number of youth entering the agricultural workforce.

We initially focused on enhancing the newly implemented metro farm beneath Gwanghwamun Square, which features vertical farming shelves using hydroponic systems. The team introduced aquaponics to this setup, integrating fish farming (aquaculture) with soilless plant cultivation (hydroponics) to create a closed-loop system that maximizes resource efficiency.

Given the metro farm’s limited space, the introduction of aquaponics allowed for efficient nutrient cycling within the vertical hydroponic shelves.

The team installed a compact 300-gallon aquaponics tank, housing tilapia, which produce waste that serves as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for the plants above.

This not only improved the nutrient profile of the water but also reduced the need for chemical fertilizers, increasing overall yield by 21% — particularly in herbs and leafy greens like basil and arugala — and a 25% increase in growth rate for leafy greens like kale and lettuce within 4 weeks.

Recognizing that optimal light conditions are crucial for plant growth, we upgraded to an LED system featuring full-spectrum lighting capabilities, which provides light wavelengths tailored to each growth stage — from germination to flowering.

The new system includes smart sensors that monitor plant health indicators, such as chlorophyll levels and growth rates, allowing for real-time adjustments in light intensity and duration. This automation ensures that plants receive the optimal light exposure without wasting energy.

Additionally, the team implemented a climate monitoring system with machine learning algorithms that tracks temperature and humidity levels, integrating it with the LED controls to create an automated environment.

This setup not only improved crop yields by 15% due to reduced stress on plants but also minimized the risk of diseases that thrive in suboptimal conditions.

Given the metro farm's limited space and the need for precisely managing resources, we installed a drip irrigation network that delivers water directly to the roots of each plant on the vertical farming shelves.

The system was designed with a network of individual drip lines, each equipped with pressure regulators to maintain consistent water flow tailored to the specific needs of our crops. We strategically placed moisture sensors at different depths within the vertical farming shelves, allowing the system to gather real-time data on soil moisture levels.

When the sensors detects moisture levels dropping below 30%, the central control unit triggers the drip irrigation system to deliver precise amounts of water, calculated based on the crop type and growth stage.

This automated response minimized overwatering and reduced water waste by about 28% compared to previous methods. As a result, the metro farm observed a 24% increase in the growth rate of microgreens and herbs within the first 2 months of implementation. Furthermore, the system contributed to a significant reduction in water usage, from an estimated 1,000 liters per week to just 700 liters.

In this step, we partnered with Agsight to use their services in our metro farm to increase operational efficiency and sustainability. Agsight is a novel SaaS business offered as a cost-effective, sensor-free spatial machine learning app to help underresourced specialty crop farmers combat water scarcity, vegetation stress, latency, and unsustainable farming practices via near-real-time, machine learning monitoring algorithms to mitigate stress diagnoses and prognoses from plant diseases, pests, and nutritional deficiency indicators while promoting personalized irrigation automation and soil fertility monitoring.

One key feature we used was the personalized irrigation automation, which adjusted water delivery based on individual crop needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

For instance, the app recommended irrigation schedules that accounted for daily temperature changes and humidity levels, improving water conservation efforts by about 11%. The integration of Agsight ultimately led to a 9% increase in crop yield over 3 months due to timely interventions from the app's stress diagnostics.

The metro farm also significantly reduced instances of crop stress. For example, our basil crop had shown signs of leaf discoloration and wilting, but using Agsight's diagnostics, the farm team quickly identified that the issue was related to inadequate nitrogen levels in the hydroponic solution. As a result, the team adjusted the nutrient mix in the hydroponic system, increasing the nitrogen concentration to optimal levels for basil growth. This was crucial, as it allowed the plants to recover rapidly and prevented the spread of crop stress.

When planning to scale metro farms with Farm8, we conducted a feasibility study that focused on both spatial and market analysis. Using GIS technology, we mapped potential new locations for metro farms across Seoul, prioritizing areas with high foot traffic and access to local restaurants to improve farm-to-table efficiency. This analysis revealed 5 strategic sites, each with a projected increase in fresh produce accessibility by over 40% for nearby establishments.

The 5 strategic sites selected for expansion were Gwanghwamun, Dongdaemun, Hongdae, Gangnam, and Yeouido. These locations were determined through a combination of foot traffic analysis, proximity to high-density restaurants, and accessibility to public transportation. Data from local traffic studies indicated that Gwanghwamun and Dongdaemun experienced daily foot traffic exceeding 30,000 pedestrians, making them prime candidates for metro farms.

With Farm8, we developed a modular expansion blueprint that detailed the setup of additional vertical farming units tailored for each new location's unique space constraints. This blueprint incorporated lessons learned from the initial metro farm, particularly in optimizing LED lighting and hydroponic systems. For example, we planned for smaller-scale units with adjustable shelving to accommodate varying ceilings and layouts to maximize spatial efficiency. Each new farm was designed to fit within 100 sq. m., using vertical farming techniques that could yield up to 54 kg. of produce per week.

To assess economic viability, we used a cost-benefit analysis to project an ROI of 120% within the first 2 years of operation for each new site, based on reduced transportation costs for restaurants and increased sales of fresh produce. We expect to open 3 new metro farms by April 2026.

We hope to adopt this paradigm into other contexts to promote agriculture in environments  where traditional farming is not feasible – such as other cities, stations in Antarctica, and even on spacecraft.