[{"id":"24","title":"Story","subCats":[{"id":"53","title":"Sponsored"}]},{"id":"155","title":"Profiles","subCats":[{"id":"27","title":"Users"},{"id":"116","title":"Contributor"}]},{"id":"157","title":"Booms"}]

[{"title":"Issues/Alcohol & Drugs","id":96},{"title":"Issues/All Issues","id":5},{"title":"Issues/Animal Welfare","id":6},{"title":"Issues/Arts & Culture","id":93},{"title":"Issues/Cost of Living","id":94},{"title":"Issues/Disability","id":90},{"title":"Issues/Discrimination","id":108},{"title":"Issues/Employment","id":97},{"title":"Issues/Environment","id":8},{"title":"Issues/First Nations","id":11},{"title":"Issues/Healthcare","id":10},{"title":"Issues/Homelessness","id":91},{"title":"Issues/Housing","id":98},{"title":"Issues/Human Rights","id":95},{"title":"Issues/LGBTQIA+","id":7},{"title":"Issues/Men's Health","id":101},{"title":"Issues/Mental Health","id":13},{"title":"Issues/Multiculturalism","id":100},{"title":"Issues/People of Colour","id":88},{"title":"Issues/Policy","id":99},{"title":"Issues/Refugees","id":86},{"title":"Issues/Senior Citizens","id":12},{"title":"Issues/Sex","id":102},{"title":"Issues/Sustainability","id":9},{"title":"Issues/Technology","id":89},{"title":"Issues/Violence","id":14},{"title":"Issues/Women","id":87},{"title":"Issues/Youth","id":92}]

[{"issue":"Animal Welfare","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/501\/501.jpg","title":"Protecting Pets and Families","id":"501"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/483\/483.png","title":"Kosciusko National Park is worth fighting for","id":"483"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/12\/12_thumb.jpg","title":"Empty The Tanks: A Movement To End Marine Mammal Captivity","id":"12"}]},{"issue":"LGBTQIA+","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/542\/posts\/ep001_thumb.jpg","title":"The QUO Podcast: Ep 1 - JellyFilledGirls on demystifying lesbian porn","id":"675"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-02 14.31.30.png","title":"Local drag queens\u2019 identities are being continuously challenged in Tasmania","id":"666"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/540\/posts\/492\/492.png","title":"Queer Muslims, Islamophobia and mental health in the wake of Christchurch","id":"492"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/491\/491.png","title":"Becoming female: Chaye's transition","id":"491"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/381\/posts\/481\/481.jpg","title":"Supporting Minority Voices: Sydney theatre to watch in 2019","id":"481"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/361\/361_thumb.jpg","title":"Queer festival Fambo celebrates all kinds of families","id":"361"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/300\/300_thumb.jpg","title":"Read the Vibe: the fight to keep Newtown weird, safe and unapologetically queer","id":"300"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/252\/252_thumb.jpg","title":"It was a win, but at what cost?","id":"252"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/239\/239_thumb.jpg","title":"TJ's story on Transgender Day of Remembrance","id":"239"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/142\/142_thumb.jpg","title":"What would Fred Nile's gay-only nation state look like?","id":"142"}]},{"issue":"Environment","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/infullbloomjellyfish.png","title":"In full bloom: What jellyfish tell us about our oceans ","id":"670"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-19 15.36.50.png","title":"Climate Act Now ","id":"657"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-02-28 17.35.42.png","title":"Green New What? ","id":"654"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/539\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-03 16.56.04.png","title":"Climate action is moving at a glacial pace ","id":"589"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/438\/posts\/504\/504.jpg","title":"A Brief History of Climate Terminology","id":"504"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/379\/posts\/498\/498.png","title":"Sewing the way to a plastic-free NSW","id":"498"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/457\/posts\/490\/490.png","title":"Indigenous Elders ask what it will take to stop the NT fracking industry ","id":"490"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/379\/posts\/488\/488.jpg","title":"Reduce, Reuse, Reground","id":"488"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/483\/483.png","title":"Kosciusko National Park is worth fighting for","id":"483"}]},{"issue":"Sustainability","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/499\/499.png","title":"Thyme for change: Schools plant local bush food gardens","id":"499"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/379\/posts\/498\/498.png","title":"Sewing the way to a plastic-free NSW","id":"498"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/379\/posts\/488\/488.jpg","title":"Reduce, Reuse, Reground","id":"488"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/483\/483.png","title":"Kosciusko National Park is worth fighting for","id":"483"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/454\/posts\/480\/480.jpg","title":"Urban farming creates solutions for sustainable produce","id":"480"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/476\/476.jpg","title":"Going against the flow: Making sustainable period products the norm","id":"476"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/366\/366_thumb.jpg","title":"Championing children to reduce food waste","id":"366"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/363\/363_thumb.jpg","title":"Conversations to save the planet","id":"363"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/333\/333_thumb.jpg","title":"The V-word","id":"333"}]},{"issue":"Healthcare","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/democracypendemic.png","title":"What does it mean to be a democracy during a pandemic?","id":"736"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-10 15.08.59.png","title":"I go to the store to buy milk ","id":"668"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-16 17.41.14.png","title":"Nathan Filer on why we must reimagine mental healthcare ","id":"593"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-09-25 17.27.51.png","title":"Denying Asylum Seekers Medical Treatment \u2013 the Medevac law","id":"586"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/502\/502.jpg","title":"Multicultural Care","id":"502"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/500\/500.jpg","title":"The culture of women and pain in Australia ","id":"500"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/496\/496.jpg","title":"Homeless Period","id":"496"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/458\/posts\/478\/478.jpg","title":"Born a girl during China's One Child Policy","id":"478"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/477\/477.jpg","title":"Feeling lonely? You're not alone","id":"477"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/473\/473.png","title":"Surviving meningococcal septicaemia: Ripu\u2019s story ","id":"473"}]},{"issue":"First Nations","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-17 11.41.34.png","title":"Telling her story: the podcast challenging stereotypes of female imprisonment","id":"673"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-27 15.58.44.png","title":"Yerrabingin: Bringing Indigenous thinking to food and design ","id":"663"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-11-21 11.03.53.png","title":"#JusticeForWalker cannot be divorced from Australia\u2019s colonial legacy ","id":"618"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/499\/499.png","title":"Thyme for change: Schools plant local bush food gardens","id":"499"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/457\/posts\/490\/490.png","title":"Indigenous Elders ask what it will take to stop the NT fracking industry ","id":"490"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/538\/posts\/484\/484.png","title":"Is the actor an agent of colonisation who we are neglecting to address?","id":"484"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/381\/posts\/481\/481.jpg","title":"Supporting Minority Voices: Sydney theatre to watch in 2019","id":"481"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/175\/175_thumb.jpg","title":"5 young people on why Australia needs to do better","id":"175"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/220\/220_thumb.jpg","title":"Blak Markets fight against the fake Aboriginal art trade","id":"220"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/258\/258_thumb.jpg","title":"Indigenous disadvantage hits home","id":"258"}]},{"issue":"Senior Citizens","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/77\/77_thumb.jpg","title":"Embracing death as a part of life: Palliative care volunteering","id":"77"}]},{"issue":"Mental Health","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-10 15.08.59.png","title":"I go to the store to buy milk ","id":"668"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-26 17.53.30.png","title":"Video games have the power to improve your mental health during lockdown","id":"664"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-16 17.41.14.png","title":"Nathan Filer on why we must reimagine mental healthcare ","id":"593"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/491\/491.png","title":"Becoming female: Chaye's transition","id":"491"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/382\/posts\/487\/487.jpg","title":"Boys don't cry: Talking mental health in the barbershop","id":"487"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/479\/479.jpg","title":"Breaking the taboo: Mental health in immigrant communities ","id":"479"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/477\/477.jpg","title":"Feeling lonely? You're not alone","id":"477"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/475\/475.jpg","title":"The challenges of mental health services for Chinese-Australians","id":"475"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/382\/posts\/385\/quino-al-225747-unsplash.jpg","title":"Mental health in professional women's sport deserves a seat at the podium","id":"468"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/302\/302_thumb.jpg","title":"Addressing social isolation with community yoga","id":"302"}]},{"issue":"Violence","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/501\/501.jpg","title":"Protecting Pets and Families","id":"501"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/540\/posts\/492\/492.png","title":"Queer Muslims, Islamophobia and mental health in the wake of Christchurch","id":"492"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/539\/posts\/489\/489.png","title":"Three Australian Muslims talk solidarity after the Christchurch shooting","id":"489"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/535\/posts\/474\/474.jpg","title":"Project Coffee gives Chinese international students a safe space to say #MeToo","id":"474"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/340\/340_thumb.jpg","title":"'Me too.'","id":"340"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/312\/312_thumb.jpg","title":"No short-term solution for domestic violence","id":"312"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/245\/245_thumb.jpg","title":"Keeping the bastards honest: Why every university campus needs a Women\u2019s Collective","id":"245"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/159\/159_thumb.jpg","title":"Changing the space of gender inequality","id":"159"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/261\/261_thumb.jpg","title":"Why representation in the #MeToo movement matters","id":"261"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/13\/13_thumb.jpg","title":"The Queen of Hearts: Q&A with Michelle Ellery","id":"13"}]},{"issue":"Refugees","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/377\/377_thumb.jpg","title":"Your Tradie Has A Story: Hedayat Osyan's Social Enterprise","id":"377"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/371\/371_thumb.jpg","title":"Rural Australians for refugees: an enduring model of support?","id":"371"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/345\/345_thumb.jpg","title":"Grandmothers Against the Detention of Refugee Children","id":"345"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/342\/342_thumb.jpg","title":"Crocheting Dissent","id":"342"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/293\/293_thumb.jpg","title":"Waters skills are a universal life saver","id":"293"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/270\/270_thumb.jpg","title":"House of Welcome","id":"270"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/241\/241_thumb.jpg","title":"GROW: A mental health initiative for Australia's refugees","id":"241"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/243\/243_thumb.jpg","title":"All We Can't See: Humanising the untold stories of Nauru","id":"243"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/178\/178_thumb.jpg","title":"Benita de Wit's Manus Island Project","id":"178"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/155\/155_thumb.jpg","title":"For some refugees, art can make all the difference","id":"155"}]},{"issue":"Women","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-17 11.41.34.png","title":"Telling her story: the podcast challenging stereotypes of female imprisonment","id":"673"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-24 13.38.14.png","title":"Revolutionising period education with Bright Girl Health ","id":"661"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/501\/501.jpg","title":"Protecting Pets and Families","id":"501"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/500\/500.jpg","title":"The culture of women and pain in Australia ","id":"500"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/496\/496.jpg","title":"Homeless Period","id":"496"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/485\/485.png","title":"Female voices of colour are making a groove on the nation's literary landscape","id":"485"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/458\/posts\/478\/478.jpg","title":"Born a girl during China's One Child Policy","id":"478"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/476\/476.jpg","title":"Going against the flow: Making sustainable period products the norm","id":"476"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/535\/posts\/474\/474.jpg","title":"Project Coffee gives Chinese international students a safe space to say #MeToo","id":"474"}]},{"issue":"People of Colour","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/497\/497.png","title":"Bankstown Poetry Slam: A powerhouse of performance poetry ","id":"497"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/539\/posts\/489\/489.png","title":"Three Australian Muslims talk solidarity after the Christchurch shooting","id":"489"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/485\/485.png","title":"Female voices of colour are making a groove on the nation's literary landscape","id":"485"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/538\/posts\/484\/484.png","title":"Is the actor an agent of colonisation who we are neglecting to address?","id":"484"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/381\/posts\/481\/481.jpg","title":"Supporting Minority Voices: Sydney theatre to watch in 2019","id":"481"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/479\/479.jpg","title":"Breaking the taboo: Mental health in immigrant communities ","id":"479"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/458\/posts\/478\/478.jpg","title":"Born a girl during China's One Child Policy","id":"478"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/475\/475.jpg","title":"The challenges of mental health services for Chinese-Australians","id":"475"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/535\/posts\/474\/474.jpg","title":"Project Coffee gives Chinese international students a safe space to say #MeToo","id":"474"}]},{"issue":"Technology","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-21 10.45.25.png","title":"Experts offer unexpected solutions on how to increase public compliance and prevent a second wave of COVID-19","id":"674"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/454\/posts\/480\/480.jpg","title":"Urban farming creates solutions for sustainable produce","id":"480"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/368\/368_thumb.jpg","title":"Blockchain: A new era of trust?","id":"368"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/364\/364_thumb.jpg","title":"Asian Australian art goes online","id":"364"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/344\/344_thumb.jpg","title":"The Facebook group delivering a hug in a box to struggling farmers","id":"344"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/167\/167_thumb.jpg","title":"Minerva uses data science to increase social impact","id":"167"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/264\/264_thumb.jpg","title":"Homelessness and digital inclusion","id":"264"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/112\/112_thumb.jpg","title":"A Woman Reimagining the Limits of Science: Kelly Wong","id":"112"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/125\/125_thumb.jpg","title":"Access to water should be democratic","id":"125"}]},{"issue":"Disability","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/495\/495.png","title":"Rehearsal for revolution: How theatre can improve disability healthcare ","id":"495"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/473\/473.png","title":"Surviving meningococcal septicaemia: Ripu\u2019s story ","id":"473"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/376\/376_thumb.jpg","title":"Does NDIS address the needs of traumatic brain injury thrivers?","id":"376"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/127\/127_thumb.jpg","title":"Skeletons and Self-Portraits: Emily Dash challenges representations of gender and disability","id":"127"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/100\/100_thumb.jpg","title":"Reading By Ear: 2RPH brings print media to life","id":"100"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/90\/90_thumb.jpg","title":"The Many Faces of Ableism","id":"90"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/229\/229_thumb.jpg","title":"Voices from the Fringes to the Heart of Advocacy: Centring lived experience","id":"229"}]},{"issue":"Homelessness","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-05-07 11.04.47.png","title":"How are Australian charities adapting to pandemic conditions? ","id":"734"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/536\/posts\/496\/496.jpg","title":"Homeless Period","id":"496"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/469\/469.jpg","title":"A home for girls without a home ","id":"469"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/360\/360_thumb.jpg","title":"On My Feet: A unique approach to homelessness","id":"360"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/253\/253_thumb.jpg","title":"A conversation with Orange Sky Laundry founders Nick Marchesi and Lucas Patchett","id":"253"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/227\/227_thumb.jpg","title":"Community gardening as therapy with Street Growth","id":"227"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/258\/258_thumb.jpg","title":"Indigenous disadvantage hits home","id":"258"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/264\/264_thumb.jpg","title":"Homelessness and digital inclusion","id":"264"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/236\/236_thumb.jpg","title":"Humanising Homelessness with Sydney's Safe Space Kitchen","id":"236"}]},{"issue":"Youth","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/456\/posts\/499\/499.png","title":"Thyme for change: Schools plant local bush food gardens","id":"499"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/469\/469.jpg","title":"A home for girls without a home ","id":"469"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/366\/366_thumb.jpg","title":"Championing children to reduce food waste","id":"366"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/361\/361_thumb.jpg","title":"Queer festival Fambo celebrates all kinds of families","id":"361"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/345\/345_thumb.jpg","title":"Grandmothers Against the Detention of Refugee Children","id":"345"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/335\/335_thumb.jpg","title":"The Sydney Story Factory teaches marginalised youth the art of storytelling","id":"335"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/312\/312_thumb.jpg","title":"No short-term solution for domestic violence","id":"312"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/116\/116_thumb.jpg","title":"Beyond Adelaide's Fringe Festival: Girl Space and Sanaa","id":"116"}]},{"issue":"Arts & Culture","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/388\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-09-16 13.36.30.png","title":"Australian reading hour: Rediscovering the joys of reading ","id":"584"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/497\/497.png","title":"Bankstown Poetry Slam: A powerhouse of performance poetry ","id":"497"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/495\/495.png","title":"Rehearsal for revolution: How theatre can improve disability healthcare ","id":"495"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/432\/posts\/494\/494.jpg","title":"Injecting Intersectionality into Art Practices ","id":"494"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/485\/485.png","title":"Female voices of colour are making a groove on the nation's literary landscape","id":"485"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/538\/posts\/484\/484.png","title":"Is the actor an agent of colonisation who we are neglecting to address?","id":"484"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/381\/posts\/481\/481.jpg","title":"Supporting Minority Voices: Sydney theatre to watch in 2019","id":"481"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/364\/364_thumb.jpg","title":"Asian Australian art goes online","id":"364"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/361\/361_thumb.jpg","title":"Queer festival Fambo celebrates all kinds of families","id":"361"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/343\/343_thumb.jpg","title":"Natasha's Remedy for Healing: Creativity, plants and Ayurveda","id":"343"}]},{"issue":"Cost of Living","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-10 15.08.59.png","title":"I go to the store to buy milk ","id":"668"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/378\/posts\/471\/471.png","title":"Lentil As Anything","id":"471"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/248\/248_thumb.jpg","title":"Holiday gifts that actually give","id":"248"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/236\/236_thumb.jpg","title":"Humanising Homelessness with Sydney's Safe Space Kitchen","id":"236"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/29\/29_thumb.jpg","title":"#WeLiveHere2017: Fighting for the Towers One Post at a Time","id":"29"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/28\/28_thumb.jpg","title":"A Violent Solution To The Housing Crisis","id":"28"}]},{"issue":"Human Rights","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-05-15 13.47.59.png","title":"'Now is the time for empathy\u2019: new virtual museum to explore the UN\u2019s Human Rights declaration","id":"737"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/democracypendemic.png","title":"What does it mean to be a democracy during a pandemic?","id":"736"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-17 11.41.34.png","title":"Telling her story: the podcast challenging stereotypes of female imprisonment","id":"673"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-20 11.07.15.png","title":"Experts weigh in on what makes an effective protest ","id":"659"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-09-25 17.27.51.png","title":"Denying Asylum Seekers Medical Treatment \u2013 the Medevac law","id":"586"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/486\/486.jpg","title":"Fighting to end slavery in the 21st century ","id":"486"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/537\/posts\/482\/482.png","title":"An inside look at the Vixen Collective: the only peer-run sex worker organisation in Victoria","id":"482"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/345\/345_thumb.jpg","title":"Grandmothers Against the Detention of Refugee Children","id":"345"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/292\/292_thumb.jpg","title":"Why the Criminal Justice System is Failing Incarcerated Women","id":"292"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/218\/218_thumb.jpg","title":"Justice, but not as we know it","id":"218"}]},{"issue":"Alcohol & Drugs","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/300\/300_thumb.jpg","title":"Read the Vibe: the fight to keep Newtown weird, safe and unapologetically queer","id":"300"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/296\/296_thumb.jpg","title":"Court for Cannabis: The fight for a chronic cure","id":"296"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/269\/269_thumb.jpg","title":"What would drug decriminalisation do to Australia?","id":"269"}]},{"issue":"Employment","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/359\/posts\/pod_thumb_2.jpg","title":"The QUO Podcast: Ep 2 \u2013 Tilly Lawless, Gala Vanting on sex work during the pandemic","id":"741"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/453\/posts\/493\/493.jpg","title":"Australia's Seaweed Warrior ","id":"493"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/377\/377_thumb.jpg","title":"Your Tradie Has A Story: Hedayat Osyan's Social Enterprise","id":"377"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/371\/371_thumb.jpg","title":"Rural Australians for refugees: an enduring model of support?","id":"371"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/360\/360_thumb.jpg","title":"On My Feet: A unique approach to homelessness","id":"360"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/241\/241_thumb.jpg","title":"GROW: A mental health initiative for Australia's refugees","id":"241"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/109\/109_thumb.jpg","title":"Online vs. Campus: Which degree is getting us further in the career ladder?","id":"109"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/131\/131_thumb.jpg","title":"Female garment workers have their voices heard in new documentary","id":"131"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/238\/238_thumb.jpg","title":"Travelling the world on Addison Road","id":"238"}]},{"issue":"Housing","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/265\/265_thumb.jpg","title":"Deciding To Make A Difference","id":"265"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/236\/236_thumb.jpg","title":"Humanising Homelessness with Sydney's Safe Space Kitchen","id":"236"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/29\/29_thumb.jpg","title":"#WeLiveHere2017: Fighting for the Towers One Post at a Time","id":"29"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/28\/28_thumb.jpg","title":"A Violent Solution To The Housing Crisis","id":"28"}]},{"issue":"Policy","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/359\/posts\/pod_thumb_2.jpg","title":"The QUO Podcast: Ep 2 \u2013 Tilly Lawless, Gala Vanting on sex work during the pandemic","id":"741"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-04-21 10.45.25.png","title":"Experts offer unexpected solutions on how to increase public compliance and prevent a second wave of COVID-19","id":"674"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-20 11.07.15.png","title":"Experts weigh in on what makes an effective protest ","id":"659"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2020-03-19 15.36.50.png","title":"Climate Act Now ","id":"657"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/438\/posts\/504\/504.jpg","title":"A Brief History of Climate Terminology","id":"504"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/503\/503.jpg","title":"Jews for Palestine: In conversation with Naama Carlin","id":"503"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/486\/486.jpg","title":"Fighting to end slavery in the 21st century ","id":"486"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/537\/posts\/482\/482.png","title":"An inside look at the Vixen Collective: the only peer-run sex worker organisation in Victoria","id":"482"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/458\/posts\/478\/478.jpg","title":"Born a girl during China's One Child Policy","id":"478"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/534\/posts\/470\/470.jpg","title":"How de-funding of environment departments divides concerned citizens and government ","id":"470"}]},{"issue":"Multiculturalism","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/503\/503.jpg","title":"Jews for Palestine: In conversation with Naama Carlin","id":"503"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/532\/posts\/502\/502.jpg","title":"Multicultural Care","id":"502"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/388\/posts\/497\/497.png","title":"Bankstown Poetry Slam: A powerhouse of performance poetry ","id":"497"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/540\/posts\/492\/492.png","title":"Queer Muslims, Islamophobia and mental health in the wake of Christchurch","id":"492"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/539\/posts\/489\/489.png","title":"Three Australian Muslims talk solidarity after the Christchurch shooting","id":"489"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/538\/posts\/484\/484.png","title":"Is the actor an agent of colonisation who we are neglecting to address?","id":"484"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/533\/posts\/479\/479.jpg","title":"Breaking the taboo: Mental health in immigrant communities ","id":"479"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/535\/posts\/474\/474.jpg","title":"Project Coffee gives Chinese international students a safe space to say #MeToo","id":"474"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/341\/341_thumb.jpg","title":"What inter-Korean peace means to Korean-Australians and South Koreans","id":"341"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/337\/337_thumb.jpg","title":"Michael Mohammed Ahmad talks Sweatshop, fiction, and \u201cLeb\u201d identity.","id":"337"}]},{"issue":"Men's Health","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/382\/posts\/487\/487.jpg","title":"Boys don't cry: Talking mental health in the barbershop","id":"487"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/369\/369_thumb.jpg","title":"The power of the mo: How Movember is saving men's lives","id":"369"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/367\/367_thumb.jpg","title":"#YesAllMen must take responsibility for the darker side of masculinity","id":"367"}]},{"issue":"Sex","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/359\/posts\/pod_thumb_2.jpg","title":"The QUO Podcast: Ep 2 \u2013 Tilly Lawless, Gala Vanting on sex work during the pandemic","id":"741"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/542\/posts\/ep001_thumb.jpg","title":"The QUO Podcast: Ep 1 - JellyFilledGirls on demystifying lesbian porn","id":"675"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/537\/posts\/482\/482.png","title":"An inside look at the Vixen Collective: the only peer-run sex worker organisation in Victoria","id":"482"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/390_ethomas\/sexdiscrimination_thumb.jpeg","title":"Sex workers face financial discrimination","id":"250"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/95\/95_thumb.jpg","title":"Sex workers speaking for themselves","id":"95"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/31\/31_thumb.jpg","title":"Is This Real Life Project","id":"31"}]},{"issue":"Discrimination","articles":[{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/users\/359\/posts\/Screenshot 2019-10-28 18.59.39.png","title":"Strategic white tears: An interview with Ruby Hamad","id":"602"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/539\/posts\/489\/489.png","title":"Three Australian Muslims talk solidarity after the Christchurch shooting","id":"489"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/219\/219_thumb.jpg","title":"What is sexual racism?","id":"219"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.auimages\/users\/390_ethomas\/sexdiscrimination_thumb.jpeg","title":"Sex workers face financial discrimination","id":"250"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/268\/268_thumb.jpg","title":"The pay gap bowl-out in women's sports","id":"268"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/123\/123_thumb.jpg","title":"Sexual racism: Why do you swipe right?","id":"123"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/130\/130_thumb.jpg","title":"No to 'not all...'","id":"130"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/14\/14_thumb.jpg","title":"Quote me, baby!","id":"14"},{"thumb":"https:\/\/thequo.com.au\/images\/stories\/90\/90_thumb.jpg","title":"The Many Faces of Ableism","id":"90"}]}]

;

Story

Urban farming creates solutions for sustainable produce

by Rebecca Hu

Stories/480 , Issues/Technology , Issues/Sustainability

Sydney NSW, Australia

31st Jan 2019

Want to know how to turn discarded shipping containers into growing units for an urban farm? Ask SproutStack.

Tucked away between mechanics shops and suburban homes in Chatswood is an old industrial warehouse. The building's massive doors are open on a sunny day in January and tools, metal trays, and bags of soil are stacked in the corners. It's a far cry from endless expanses and rolling hills that you imagine when you think of most of the farms that grow Australia's produce.

But a single shipping container in this Chatswood warehouse is responsible for growing 8 tonnes of lettuce a year. The warehouse is home to SproutStack, a young agriculture technology company co-founded by Mick Harder. SproutStack is on a mission to establish new methods of growing produce for restaurants and grocery stores, and is an innovative example of the efficiency and quality of produce in urban farming systems.

Pictured: Sprout Stack urban farm. — Pictured: SproutStack urban farm.

SproutStack takes discarded shipping containers and turns them into growing units. As you enter their growing containers from the end, long rows down the length are stacked floor to ceiling with growing trays. On either side, trays packed full of individually potted plants are also stacked from the floor to the ceiling, arranged to optimally accommodate the height of growing a lettuce plant. These shipping containers are readily available and optimal for transportation. They are also spacious and come already insulated which make them ideal for converting to growing environments.

Mick Harder, co-founder and Head of Manufacturing at SproutStack cites a number of benefits of producing in urban environments as a way to combat the challenges of traditional farming.

"Space efficiency, there's next to no water use, no herbicides and no pesticides, and there's no seasonality. Just a completely controlled environment not exposed to any pollutants. So it's quite a clean way to grow." The produce, mainly lettuce and micro-greens, all gets tested for contaminants and doesn't even need to be washed before eating.

Australia has a strong agricultural sector, with a $3.5 billion dollar industry in vegetables alone. However, feeding fresh produce to urban populations is fraught with challenges. Almost 50% of fruit and vegetable produce goes to waste, largely because of inefficiency in the production and distribution supply chain.

SproutStack can install units to grow where their customers live and eat, so the inefficiency of transporting produce across the country is eliminated, as well as the carbon emissions byproducts of shipping. In addition to being environmentally friendly, this is also a competitive advantage for SproutStack because it allows them to provide products their traditional farming competitors cannot. Harder explains that for example, "cut micro-greens have quite a short life so they [traditional farms] are taking quite a while from the time they harvest to the time they get into the store. We're harvesting and the next morning its in the shop. So we can afford to use the more perishable greens and still provide a higher quality product."

The SproutStack production process in itself is incredibly resource efficient - the plants are watered by flooding each tier of trays one by one. This frequency is controlled based on the needs of the plant - and the water is recycled through the different tiers, meaning that only the water system is 100% efficient and the only water loss is the water consumed by the plant it needs to grow. The largest resource demand in the containers is not from water but from energy demand needed to keep the containers cool in the hot summer months. Keeping the containers at a healthy growing temperature requires cool air to circulate through the containers.

This contained style of growing is also notably drought-resistant and independent of the local climate, allowing for optimal production for any plant in any region. Stable food production that is not tied to weather events will be an important technological advance for securing food production on a warming planet, and SproutStack seems uniquely positioned to solve this challenge.

As with many technological advances, there are unintended side effects that need to be addressed. Harder speaks about their current biggest challenge: pollination. "There's no bees in the containers so pollination is a challenge. we're currently doing it by hand with a brush."

Other critics of urban farming cite loss of business for Australia's farmers but Mick explains why this is not the case at all. "It [urban farming] is never going to replace outdoor agriculture." The size and space restrictions of urban growing, especially in the shipping container method that SproutStack has created, cannot keep up with the size of the land needed to grow certain crops. For example, given current capabilities, wheat could not be grown at scale in a container. Nor could apples, which grow on taller trees.

But despite focusing solely on lettuce and micro-greens, Harder has seen an incredible demand for SproutStack's most popular product, a local medley salad mix. SproutStack partnered with local market Harris Farms to distribute their product; and they can't keep up with the current demand in their current warehouse. This bodes well for business at SproutStack, but also highlights the desire among local customers for fresh and sustainably produced veggies in urban areas. As SproutStack's business continues to grow, so too will the efficiency and quality of our food supply.

See the bigger picture

What you're saying Issues Nearby

Become part of the QUOmmunity

Join Now

By signing up, you agree to The QUO’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

{"lat":"-33.8688197","lng":"151.20929550000005"}

There are currently no ${type} listed. Start promoting your ${type} with us by signing up to one of our subscription plans!