Grow Your Own Greens: AI-Powered Farming Takes Centre Stage at Bengaluru Sustainability Talk

Urban residents interested in sustainable living and home-grown food production will get a glimpse into the future of farming at the fifth edition of the Public Talk Series, themed "Urban Farming and Greening - The Science for Sustainable Urban Living," scheduled to be held on May 30 at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), GKVK campus in Bengaluru.

One of the key attractions at the event will be the showcase of India's first AI-powered Grow Towers by Bengaluru-based agri-tech startup Agrowitz under its 'Grow Your Own' Initiative. The technology is designed to help urban households cultivate fresh, pesticide-free vegetables and leafy greens in compact apartment spaces using precision hydroponics and artificial intelligence.

According to Agrowitz, the Grow Towers can produce high yields while occupying just 2-3 square feet of space, making them suitable for balconies and small urban homes. The system reuses up to 90 per cent of water compared to conventional farming methods and is integrated with an AI-powered mobile application that provides plant health monitoring, growth insights and harvest alerts.

The initiative aims to make hyperlocal food production more accessible by combining sustainability, wellness and smart technology. Visitors attending the event will also have an opportunity to participate in a giveaway and stand a chance to take home a Grow Tower free of cost.

The Public Talk Series is being organised by the Bengaluru Science and Technology Cluster (BeST Cluster) in collaboration with the Bangalore Apartments' Federation, bringing together experts, researchers, urban farmers and sustainability advocates to discuss innovative solutions for greener cities.

The programme will feature a panel discussion involving experts including Dr Chennareddy Aswath, Dr Rajendra Hegde, Prof. Sheshshayee Sreeman and Dr Shiva Prakash. Agrowitz founder Bharathi Athinarayanan will deliver a flash talk, while award-winning organic terrace farmer Pratima Adiga will conduct a demonstration session.

The event will be held from 3 pm to 6 pm on May 30 at the North Block Auditorium, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bengaluru, and will also feature community showcases, stalls and exhibits focused on sustainable urban living.