JFB produces a large amount of food near the final consumer with no bearing on existing resources. The water needed is extracted from the body of water on which the greenhouse floats, whether salt, brackish or polluted water, using a technology called solar distillation. The internal environment of the greenhouse is cooled/warmed by the same water, radically cutting energy expenditure, thus allowing a small photovoltaic system (800w) to provide the little amount of electricity needed.

Jellyfish Barge (JFB) is a floating modular system designed to bring agriculture into urban areas in a sustainable and economically viable way. It combines food production with urban regeneration, creating spaces that connect farmers directly with consumers while revitalizing neglected city areas. This innovative solution is composed of two integrated modules that work together to produce food and foster community engagement.

The Greenhouse Module is dedicated to food production, using efficient, self-sufficient methods to grow crops without relying on existing resources. It produces enough fresh food to sustain the nutritional needs of a significant group of people, making it an impactful addition to urban environments. This module operates with minimal energy requirements and no greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring environmental sustainability.

The Zip Module, on the other hand, creates a dynamic platform for activities such as farmers’ markets, educational events, and food processing. It enables direct sales, allowing farmers to bypass intermediaries and retain their full profits. This approach not only makes urban agriculture more economically viable but also spreads benefits to a wide range of stakeholders involved in urban renewal efforts.

By establishing a direct relationship between farmers and urban residents, JFB contributes to the vitality of neighborhoods. It attracts people to underutilized areas, enhancing their relevance and aesthetic appeal while also helping to reduce crime. This dual focus on agriculture and community makes JFB a powerful tool for urban regeneration, integrating food production into city planning and laying the foundation for scalable models of renewal in postindustrial cities.

The global demand for fresh and local vegetables highlights two key market needs: ultra-fresh, locally produced crops within 20 km of consumption in developed regions like Europe and North America, and access to fresh, nutritious produce in developing regions, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

In developed areas, local vegetables are increasingly sought after due to consumer preferences for sustainability and freshness. In SIDS, however, reliance on imported, calorie-dense, and nutritionally poor food creates a significant challenge, driven by limited arable land, water scarcity, and high transport costs for perishable goods. Tourism, a major economic driver in these islands, exacerbates this issue, as the food consumed by tourists is predominantly imported, causing significant financial outflows.

FAO emphasizes the importance of improving agricultural productivity in urban and peri-urban areas, particularly through techniques like hydroponics, to address these vulnerabilities. Linking local food production with tourism could further stimulate economic growth, reduce imports, and improve public health.

The market demands a disruptive solution that maximizes the economic and social benefits of local vegetable production while overcoming scalability challenges. The Jellyfish Barge emerges as a transformative innovation, meeting these needs by enabling sustainable, local, and scalable fresh vegetable production.

The Greenhouse module has been built on an octagonal platform (7.5 x 7.5 meters, 3.5 meters high) that floats on recycled polyethylene barrels. Even at full load, the platform remains above the waterline. A larch wood structural framework supports the crop cultivation gutters and the external envelope. This framework is designed to be both lightweight and highly rigid, enabling the structure to withstand strong winds up to 100 km/h.

The external envelope is made of ETFE, a lightweight plastic membrane that is fire-safe, highly transparent, and durable, with a 25-year guarantee. ETFE weighs just 2% of glass, costs a tenth as much, and offers insulation comparable to double glazing when used in multiple layers, as it is here. Future plans include adopting a thermoforming technique to stretch the ETFE membrane over a frame, enhancing its application.

The Zip module, which complements the Greenhouse module, is built on a square platform (6 x 6 meters, 0.5 meters high) using the same materials and structural elements for consistency and simplicity.

One of the key goals of Jellyfish Barge’s industrialization process is to enhance transportability and reduce the labor required for final assembly. The buoyant elements, which are the most voluminous components (around 20 cubic meters), are designed for efficiency by utilizing standardized 220-liter polyethylene barrels available in ports worldwide. This strategy ensures that a 40′ intermodal container can transport a typical setup comprising two JFB modules and one Zip module, with barrels sourced locally near the installation site.

The design prioritizes simplicity, with pre-constructed and numbered elements that are assembled using bolts and clearance holes, minimizing errors and reducing the need for screws. The external envelope is composed of just three pre-assembled elements for quick and straightforward connection, making it compatible with the self-construction paradigm.