Tiny but Mighty

Just as its name suggests, microgreens are tiny, but they can be more than just garnish, as Babylon Vertical Farms tells us about these superfoods

- Koyyi Chin

Ever wondered about the delicate sprinkling of green that garnishes your dish? Well, apart from elevating the aesthetics of your plate, you’ll be happy to know that besides being 100 per cent edible, microgreens are actually good for both you and the environment.

Chock-full of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, microgreens pack a nutritious punch to the gut—most contain 40 times more nutrients compared to their mature counterparts. This is because microgreens are usually harvested during their early developmental stages, which is when they actively accumulate fresher nutrients. Additionally, they are also grown in controlled environments that holistically maximises their nutritional uptake without the use of chemicals.

That’s not all—other than its health benefits, these seedlings are also proven to be a more sustainable, eco-friendly option compared to large industrial farms that mass-produce.

For one, microgreens don’t need a lot of water or soil to grow, making them easier to cultivate indoors and can be an ideal solution for urban agriculture. This can reduce the carbon footprint of transportation as well, seeing as it can be grown in urban areas. Indoors, the controlled environment eliminates the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertiliser, making them safer for the environment as well as consumption. And since it has a shorter growth cycle, harvesting is comparatively faster than fully grown plants, taking three weeks and up to a month depending on the variety of microgreen. There will also be less waste as they are usually grown in smaller, manageable batches.