HKU Students Kick off Rooftop Farming on Campus

With urban farming becoming an up-and-coming trend, HKU has brought the green concept of organic farming to the campus by initiating a ‘Rooftop Farming Project’ with over 25 different plants set up on top of the Runme Shaw Building, to further promote sustainable development and responsible citizenship. A kick-off ceremony was held on September 19, in the presence of officiating guests Dr Steve Cannon, HKU Executive Vice-President (Administration and Finance), and Mrs Ann Kung, Head of Personal Banking (General Manager) at the Bank of China (Hong Kong).

Co-organised by the General Education Unit and the Sustainability Office of HKU, the ‘Rooftop Farming Project’ not only connects people and farming, thereby fostering a sense of responsibility to the natural environment, but also serves as an example of putting the sustainable food cycle onto practice – the plants will be used in a vegetarian restaurant on campus so as to encourage consumption of local produce with a minimal carbon footprint and in return, the food waste from the restaurant can be composted.

A group of urban farmers, comprising students from various disciplines, will undertake the maintenance of the farm under the guidance of farming instructors. From time to time, urban farming workshops and activities will be organised to engage more HKU students and staff, and the farm will be open for the general public twice a year.

The ‘Rooftop Farming Project’ is sponsored by the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Charitable Foundation, and supported by Time To Grow, Greenwoods (HKU Students’ Union), and Bijas Vegetarian Restaurant.■