"Gardening will Save the World" explored the importance of sustainable urban farming at Chelsea Flower Show

While food is a crucial part of everyday life, one of the ways to help us maintain a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle while not wasting food is to grow plants and vegetables in our own home.

“Gardening is unique in its universal appeal and its transformational power. Without plants and more planting, we are all in trouble,” said Tom Dixon.

Showing at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show which took place 21 May 2019 – 25 May 2019 in London, British design guru Tom Dixon's design and innovations agency - Design Research Studio, in collaboration with Ikea showcased what could be the future of urban farming.

In order to find solutions that can be used to grow plants and vegetables at home and beyond, they  designed and realised an experimental model for growing plants in the urban environment.

The garden - split into two levels and featuring over 4,000 plants - demonstrated how people can contribute to the movement of growing food at home and make a difference to reducing food waste, as well as communicating the beauty and functional importance of horticulture, through both traditional knowledge and the latest in growing innovation.

The base layer was a horticultural laboratory where hydroponic technology was implemented, and the raised garden was a botanic oasis with a natural aesthetic for visitors to immerse themselves in.

Tom Dixon says, "Aiming to give back to cities and create productive landscapes within urban zones, the garden includes a raised modular landscape with edible and medicinal plants and an enclosed based garden fuelled by hydroponic systems and controllable lighting.’

The exhibition also offered an exclusive look at some of the first prototypes that Tom Dixon has designed on urban growing, which will be available globally at IKEA stores in 2021.

Grown vertically around a central stem, vegetables, herbs and salad leaves are grown with aeroponic technology where nutrient-rich water is sprayed on the roots.

After the Chelsea Flower Show, the garden is to be donated to the charity Participatory City and moved to Barking and Dagenham in East London.