The Italian underwater innovation Nemo’'s Garden, where various crops are sealed in giant balloon-like structures and grown on the Noli seabed, is being taken to a whole new level for the 2016 season.

The company behind the project, Ocean Reef Group, has been given permission from Balich Worldwide to replicate the Tree of Life which was the iconic symbol of Milan Expo 2015.

The theme of last year’'s expo was ‘'Feeding the planet, energy for life'’ and the Tree of life structure was at the core of the exhibition.

Inspired by the Tree of Life scene as part of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling frescos, the work at the expo was designed by Marco Balich, the man behind internationally renowned events including the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics.

Now, Nemo’'s Garden’s biospheres, where vegetable crops will be cultivated from June to September, will be linked to a replicated, artificially lit, underwater tree of life.

Speaking with www.freshfruitportal.com, Ocean Reef Group project coordinator Gianni Fontanesi says the 2016 project is even more extraordinary than last year.

"“It’'s so exciting and we can’'t wait to get started. We thought we couldn’'t take Nemo’'s Garden to a crazier level, but we are doing it this year,”" he says.

"“We got permission from Balich Worldwide to replicate the tree of life so we are building our own version at three meters high. It will be a central structure, a kind of portal for cabling, cameras, data from sensors and it will be connected to all the biospheres where the plants grow.

"“Of course we want to stay on the topic of growing food and sustainability for the future but we also want to recall Michelangelo's work in terms of technological and human evolution.”"

Work will begin in the coming weeks once the Ocean Reef team has decided on which crops to grow this season. The team is meeting with experts from universities in Pisa and Genoa to take advice on which vegetables and herbs to choose.

"“Everything will start at the end of May and we are planning on a super demanding period for the whole of June. We would like to complete the underwater habitat before the end of June and the research will be fully operational in July.”

"“Of course we will be growing basil because we have so much data already gathered and we want to do it again because basil is our symbol and a typical Italian ingredient.

"“We also have a revolution in the biospheres this year which is the fact that they will all be rigid with an internal structure and a vertical hydroponic system. Compared with last year, we will be completely hydroponic and by the end of April we will decide on which types of plants we are going to grow.”"

In last year’'s biospheres, which are types of sealed balloons that sit on the seabed close to Genoa, '‘great tasting'’ basil sprouted within 48 hours.

Parsley, beans, radish, onions, mint, peas, zucchini and lettuce were also cultivated and watered via a self-generating irrigation system. Fresh water was produced automatically as the air temperature inside the biosphere was higher than the ocean temperature, so fresh water was generated around the outside of the structures and dripped onto the crops like rain.

The authorities only permit Nemo’'s Garden’ biospheres to remain on the ocean floor for four months of the year so the project will have to be dismantled by September.

“"We are planning to plant at least two or three times this season and thanks to the hydroponics system hopefully we will have two or three different harvests.”"

One of the longer-terms aims of the subaquatic farming project is to effectively grow crops underwater in higher volumes and provide an alternative solution to cultivating crops in arid regions close to the ocean.

"“This year’'s hydroponics development means the biospheres are completely auto-sustainable and we are going to be 100% green as everything will be powered by solar panels mounted outside on the shore.

"“It’'s going to be a huge effort and investment for the company but it will more than pay us back.

"“Our idea is to create a connection between last year’'s Expo and our 2016 edition of Nemo’'s Garden. Our tree of life is going to be spectacular, full of artificial lights and will be lit up during the night so people can dive down and have a look around at night as well.”"

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