Rome - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today unveiled a prototype rooftop farm at its Rome headquarters, an initiative that highlights how innovative technology contributes to making agri-food systems more sustainable and to increasing access to healthy diets.

The farm will help explore the potential of urban agriculture to alleviate food shortages in areas where agricultural land and soil is limited, such as mountains and cities.

Sponsored by the Italian retailer NaturaSì and designed by the Italian urban garden design company Ecobubble, the installation is housed entirely in mobile, triangle-shaped modules made of corrosion-retarding steel. The farm is also equipped with an “intelligent” automated system that ensures crops get what they need to thrive, as well as with sensors that monitor nutrients, pathogens, atmospheric pollution, moisture and climate.