6.2.6

Case Study: Thanet Earth

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Thanet Earth

Thanet Earth is the largest complex of greenhouses in England. Thanet Earth is in Kent and it uses hydroponics (growing plants in a water solvent) instead of growing plants in soil.

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Advantages of Thanet Earth

  • Thanet Earth produces tomatoes every week of the year. This would not be possible outdoors in the UK.
  • Thanet Earth produces 225 million tomatoes each year (12% of the UK's total production).
  • Thanet Earth produces 13 million cucumbers each year (8% of the UK's total production).
  • The Thanet Earth complex is environmentally-friendly and any excess power generated is put into the UK's National Grid.
  • Over 250 people are employed at Thanet Earth.
  • More of the UK's vegetables are grown in the UK, rather than imported, so the UK has better food security.
  • Thanet Earth uses lower amounts of fertilisers and pesticides because of its greenhouses.
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Disadvantages of Thanet Earth

  • The greenhouses were developed on top of existing farmland, so the development has reduced the amount of greenbelt land and likely destroyed some wildlife's habitats.
  • Heating, lighting, and running the greenhouses consume a lot of energy (although excesses are put back into the National Grid).
  • The high levels of lighting needed to grow plants creates light pollution.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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