“You are what you eat,” as the saying goes, is very relevant for the Scenic Eclipse, where the innovative Urban Cultivator provides a constant supply of fresh herbs and micro vegetables to the ships four main kitchens.

The Urban Cultivator provides a self-contained growing environment for herbs and greens. Lights imitate the sun’s rays and an irrigation system delivers water and nutrients from the reservoir to the plants, according to a company release.

The automated system provides everything for the plants at the correct times and measures so that herbs and greens grow all year around providing a continuous supply of fresh produce while at sea.

“We are able to regulate the temperature of the growing levels, and the hours of sunlight our plants receive,” said Bert van Gennip, Executive Sous Chef at the Scenic Eclipse. “Our plants normally get 12 to 18 hours of sunlight and six to 12 hours of darkness depending on the variety and time we have to grow them. The system uses no soil, instead the herbs are grown on sterile hemp fiber sheets which eliminates any kind of pesticides which soil may contain.”