IT WAS the summer of 2012 when Ocean Reef Group founder Sergio Gamberini had an epiphany, ‘would it be possible to create the perfect
growing conditions for basil underwater?’.
With a little help from his team he began to experiment by sinking two 800-litre transparent biospheres 20 feet below the surface of the sea and filling them with air.
The structures were large enough for ‘agrinauts’ to get inside in order to follow the basils growth until harvest.
The experiment found basil grown underwater had the same taste as land grown basil and the leaves contained more essential oil than the standard crop.
As the experiment progressed, Mr Gamberini found he was able to create an alternative system of agriculture, one especially dedicated to those areas where environmental conditions make plant growth extremely difficult.
The farm was named Nemo’s Garden.
Following its success, more biospheres were added and more than just basil was being grown including tomatoes and strawberries.
Chemical tests showed a high concentration of essential oils due to the pressurised environment, faster growing and no negative effects from the lower sunlight radiation.
The use of renewable energy harnessed from the sun and fresh water obtained by desalination of seawater make Nemo’s Garden a self-sustainable system.
The microclimate and thermal conditions within the biospheres are optimal for plant growth and crop yields and require no additional energy sources.
Nemo’s Garden can be found just off the coast of Noli, Italy.