The latest video in our Dezeen x MINI Living Initiative series investigates a design for a hydroponic vertical farm nestled among the skyscrapers of Shanghai.

US architecture firm Sasaki Associates has designed the farm to produce food for the inhabitants of China's largest city.

The farm's output will largely consist of leafy greens like kale, spinach and lettuce, which are staples of the local diet.

The crops will be grown along a series of looped rails arranged side by side in a greenhouse, which will rotate to ensure even distribution of natural light from the sawtooth roof.

The project aims to offer a space-saving alternative to traditional land-intensive farming, prompted by high land prices that encourage the development of vertical infrastructure.

It will also features a variety of farming techniques suited to the urban environment, including floating greenhouses, algae farms and a vertical seed library.

Construction of the development is slated to begin in Shanghai in late 2017.

It will form part of a new community-focused, mixed-use development called Sunqiao Urban Agricultural District, designed to celebrate and promote sustainable agriculture.

Sasaki claims the project will provide a centre for education as well as food production, and will feature interactive greenhouses and a museum to encourage visitor participation. Other amenities will include restaurants, markets and a culinary academy.

This movie is part of our Dezeen x MINI Living Initiative, a year-long collaboration with MINI exploring how architecture and design can contribute to a brighter urban future. All images are courtesy of Sasaki Associates.

Watch all the movies as we publish them at: www.dezeen.com/miniliving