The British plan to turn abandoned coal mines into vegetable farms

Old coal mines that have been decommissioned are always a huge problem. The voids remaining after the development of the deposit can cause catastrophic collapses, and the territory covered with waste rocks requires reclamation and significant investments. But scientists offer an original solution to this problem: many abandoned mines throughout Britain can be turned into vegetable farms.

Despite the lack of sunlight, a mine with its huge underground expanses is a suitable place for organizing a greenhouse complex. A stable microclimate is formed underground, which is not affected by external factors, as is often the case on the surface, especially in regions with a temperate climate.

Of course, the lack of light will require the creation of a system of artificial ultraviolet lighting, but, according to experts, the cost of providing plants with light is not comparable to the cost of heating greenhouses located on the surface. In addition, it will be possible to use groundwater, the output of which can often be observed at lower levels in coal mines. As scientists calculated, one farm will approximately consume the same amount of energy as 3 private houses, and up to 10 green crops can be harvested here in a year.

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