Urban farming in Hong Kong

Background Suitable indoor green plants have been tested and shown to reduce Volatile Organic Compounds by 80% and carbon dioxide by up to 25% in singe offices, offering significant health benefits to office workers [1,2]. Further studies have also shown that a leafy office relieves stress and reduces negative mood states by up to 60% and just one plant is enough to make a positive difference in the workplace. This research has shown that plants in an office environment can result in 37% reduction in tension/anxiety, a 58% reduction in depression/dejection, a 44% reduction in anger/hostility, a 38% reduction in fatigue, a 30% reduction in confusion and a 5% increase in vigour [3-6]. Other researchers advocate growing green vegetables indoor which grow faster in higher carbon dioxide concentration indoor, and faster than outside in winter since the indoor space in warm. Green vegetables turn carbon dioxide into food eaten by people in the food chain, i.e. as fuel and food for humans, contributing significantly to absorbing carbon dioxide than growing non-food green plants which soon will mostly decay and turn into atmospheric carbon dioxide again [7,8].