How Container Farms Help Islands Achieve Food Independence & Sustainability

Your island is the perfect place for a container farm.

Container farming can create a resilient and sustainable local food system.

One of the most pressing issues island communities face is a lack of local food production due to space, climate, and weather restrictions. As a result, many island communities rely on imported food that degrades the local culture and increases the amount of unhealthy food products on the market. A reliance on imports also creates instability for regions that will likely be the most affected by climate change in the years to come.

Change your community today

4 Common Limitations to Island Food Production:

1. Limited Space

One of the greatest limitations to island food production is simply the lack of space! Many islands or archipelagos are tiny, with not enough land available to hold residents, tourists and visitors, the necessary infrastructure, and productive farmland.

Three examples of tiny islands:

The Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean (69.8 sq. mi/ 181 sq. km.)
The Maldives in the Indian Ocean (115 sq. mi./298 sq. km.)
Malta in the Mediterranean Sea (122 sq. mi./ 316 sq. km.)

To compare just how small these islands are, the tiny state of Rhode Island in the U.S. is 1,212 sq. mi, or 3,139 sq. km!

Signapore, Photo by Swapnil Bapat on Unsplash

2. High Population Density

Another largely limiting factor aside from size is population density. While an island can be large enough to host farmland, the space is not necessarily available, or even large enough, to support the dense local populations.

Islands with the highest population density (Source: World Bank, 2016):

Singapore: 20,169 people/ sq. mi. (7,788 people/ sq. km.)
Bahrain: 4,822 people/ sq. mi. (1,863 people/ sq. km.)
Malta: 3,581 people/ sq. mi (1,383 people/ sq. km.)

3. Unsupportive Climates

While we usually think about islands located in the warmer regions of our planet, some of the largest islands–like Iceland, Greenland, and parts of Canada–have very cold climates. This doubles the pressures of importing food, as there’s a large part of the year where nothing can grow!

Unfortunately, tropical islands also have problems with growing food locally. The hot and humid environments are breeding grounds for destructive plant pests and diseases that have only become more aggressive with climate change.

4. Changing Environment and Natural Disasters

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable to climate change-driven natural disasters, facing intensified hurricanes, cyclones, and rising sea levels. Nations such as Haiti, Fiji, the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Bahamas have experienced devastating impacts, with extreme weather events causing billions in infrastructure damage and long-term economic setbacks.

A stark example is Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane that struck the Bahamas in September 2019. Dorian was the strongest hurricane on record to hit the country, with sustained winds of 185 mph, destroying over 75% of structures in some areas and causing an estimated $3.4 billion in damages. The storm also had catastrophic effects on the nation’s agriculture and food supply, with saltwater intrusion and severe flooding wiping out crops, leaving many communities reliant on food aid.

These events highlight the urgent need for climate resilience strategies in SIDS to safeguard food security, infrastructure, and economic stability in the face of worsening climate threats.

Serious repercussions to island life

As a result of these limiting factors–space, population, climate, and weather–many islands rely on food imports. Unfortunately, this causes a lot of stress on island food systems as communities have abandoned their local production in favor of importing. This creates a negative food trade balance and high dependency. Climate change and natural disasters have only made the problem worse as local options become less and less dependable.

Hawaii endures the stresses of an import-based food system. With a booming tourism industry, Hawaii imports 6 million pounds of food by ship to feed the 1.4 million residents and 8 million annual visitors (this doesn’t even include perishables that are delivered by airplane!). As the world’s most isolated island chain, Hawaii imports almost 90% of its food for $3 billion a year. This dependence on imports is highly vulnerable: if Hawaii is subjected to any severe weather, food stores would last less than a week and leave residents and visitors stranded without access to food.

A side-effect of the high import island food systems has also been a rise in diet-related health issues in many island nations. With the majority of imported foods being highly processed packaged goods, island communities are seeing drastic increases in obesity rates. In fact, nine of the most obese territories in the world–American Samoa, Nauru, the Cook Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Samoa, Palau, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands– are all islands located in the South Pacific. Sadly, this is also tied to a decrease in the industries and diets that have been part of islands’ identities for centuries. As fishing and local food production decreases, much of the rich food culture is being replaced with an imported Western diet.

Hydroponic Container Farming: A Scalable Solution for Small Spaces

Maximize Yield with a Small Footprint

The Greenery™ container farm is designed for growers with limited space who want to produce fresh, local food year-round. At just 320 square feet, this vertical hydroponic farm enables commercial-scale food production in a compact footprint.

By utilizing small-space agriculture and dense vertical growing technology, Freight Farms makes it possible to grow large amounts of fresh produce—even in urban environments or food deserts. Plus, the farm’s modular, stackable design allows for even greater scalability, optimizing food production per square foot.

Protection from the Elements: Grow Year-Round in Any Climate

The Greenery also creates a fully climate controlled and protected environment for plants to grow. Thanks to Freight Farms’ farmhand® automation software, every component in the farm is automated, with the farmer able to monitor and control the farm remotely. This means full control over water and nutrient dosing, light intensity, indoor temperature and humidity, and CO2 levels. Not only does this create a consistent climate regardless of high or low outdoor temperatures, but it also keeps plants protected during droughts, storms, or floods. The 8-ton container was built to withstand all types of extreme weather on the high seas, and is equally impenetrable on land.

Freight Farms For Self-Efficient Islands-3.png

Freight Farms For Self-Efficient Islands-4.png

Grow Nutrient-Rich, Healthy Food Year-Round

The Greenery container farm is designed to optimize the growth of leafy greens, lettuces, herbs, flowers, and small root vegetables—all essential components of a healthy, nutrient-dense diet. These crops are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, while remaining low in calories, making them ideal for promoting overall wellness.

With precision climate control, the Greenery enables farmers to cultivate fresh, healthy produce year-round, regardless of location. Grow cold-weather crops like kale, spinach, and romaine lettuce in tropical climates, or bring warm-weather favorites such as basil and arugula to colder regions. This versatility ensures access to fresh, locally grown, and highly nutritious food, no matter the season.