What does radioactive salad taste like? How about rice sprinkled with nuclear fallout? Well, if you're truly curious, consider taking your next vacation in Fukushima, where some intrepid farmers have begun the daunting task of farming the region's tainted soil.
Construction just began on a rather futuristic project in the Fukushima prefecture. The so-called Renewable Energy Village is both a farm and a solar park with 120 photovoltaic panels that generate 30 kilowatts of power, which are sold to a local utility company. The "solar sharing" layout means that the crops grow beneath the solar panels. There are plans to add windmills and possibly an astronomical observatory on the land as well.
But the big question remains: Is it really safe to grow crops in Fukushima's radioactive soil? The answer is complicated. Generally speaking, it's not a good idea to grow food in soil that's been contaminated by nuclear fallout. However, if the radiation levels in the soil are low enough, and if farmers pick the right crops-some absorb radiation more than others-consuming the plants can be harmless.
Farming started up in Fukushima last spring for the first time after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Rice was one of the first crops grown, in small quantities at first. Some farmers first treated the soil with minerals like potassium that reduce the amount of cesium and other radioactive materials. Once harvested, the rice also underwent extensive radiation checks before being sold on the open market.
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