How can food production, water management, and resource conservation be intelligently combined in urban areas? An interdisciplinary team of students at Hof University of Applied Sciences addressed this question in the “EcoFloatFarm” project. Within just 16 weeks, 13 students developed a practical guide that shows how planted floating islands can help improve water quality while producing food directly on the water.
The project was initiated and supervised in the field of environmental resource protection by Dr. Harvey Harbach, research group leader for resource-efficient food production in integrated aquaculture at Hof University of Applied Sciences.
Holistic concept for sustainable cities
The project focused on developing a theoretical overall concept for planted floating islands. The students examined the design, planting, and installation as well as the ecological, economic, and social impacts of the system. The aim was to absorb nutrients directly from the water, improve water quality, and at the same time relieve pressure on agricultural land.
The guidelines were developed as an example for the Hof University campus and at the same time designed as a transferable model for future urban spaces in the context of the Green Tech University.
Project management meets sustainability
The project was managed by Philipp Moser and Celine Stumpf, students in the Master’s program in International Project Management. The project was embedded in the modules “Management of Project Groups” and “Fundamentals of Project Management,” which are taught by Prof. Dr. Manuela Wimmer. The central question of Dr. Harbach’s project was: How must a planted floating island be designed so that it is practical, scalable, and transferable to different locations? To answer this question, the students used specific project management methods and tools with direct practical relevance.
Practical guide with added value
The guide describes in detail all the steps necessary to implement such a system. These include, among others:
- Literature and market research
- Criteria-based evaluation of existing floating island concepts
- Selection of suitable, nutrient-efficient plant species
- Technical dimensioning as well as installation and anchoring concepts
- Cost, sustainability, and impact analyses
The result was a modular floating island system validated for the Hof University of Applied Sciences site with vegetation adapted to the location.
Problem-solving expertise
“The project has shown how important a holistic approach is – from plant selection and technical implementation to ecological, economic, and social impacts,” emphasizes Celine Stumpf, project manager of EcoFloatFarm. Philipp Moser also draws a positive conclusion: “It was great fun to work as a team to develop a guide that can actually be used in practice. I would love to take more modules with Dr. Harbach.”
Dr. Harvey Harbach is also impressed:
“During the regular coaching sessions, I was always amazed at how much the students had developed their problem-solving skills, self-reflection, and soft skills.”
Dr. Harvey Harbach
Strong contribution to resource conservation
With projects such as EcoFloatFarm, Hof University of Applied Sciences—in particular the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa)—is underlining its profile in the field of environmental resource conservation. The project is a prime example of how applied research and teaching can produce concrete, sustainable solutions for sustainable urban development.
The results of the project will serve as a basis for the practical implementation of floating island concepts in the future – literally bringing sustainable food production and water treatment to life.
