PAIGNTON Zoo was today unveiling a ground-breaking project which could help feed not only its animals but ease food shortages around the world.

The zoo is making high-tech horticultural history with the installation of the first of a new generation of innovative plant growing systems.

Hydroponics equipment, previously used in illegal cannabis production and passed on to the zoo by Devon and Cornwall police, played a role in the development of the project.

Today the zoo and its partners, a Cornish company at the forefront of efforts to find new ways of growing plants to help resolve the world's food crisis, are unveiling the system to the horticultural press.

Next week the BBC will be filming the innovative project which could enable food to be grown in relatively small spaces, cities and deserts, could reduce demand for agricultural land and so protect wildlife, increase by 20 times the amount of crop produced in any equivalent field space while using only five per cent of the water normally needed. It could also be used to grow biofuels.

The Verticrop system, developed with Valcent Products, based in Launceston, is the first of its kind in Europe and the first in a zoo or botanic garden anywhere in the world.

It will enable the zoo to grow its own animal feed at a time when they get through 800 lettuces a week, about 800 carrots a day and approximately £8,000-worth of fruit per month.

Paignton Zoo curator of plants and gardens Kevin Frediani explained: "We are making history here.

"We can grow more plants in less room using less water and less energy. It will help to reduce food miles and bring down our annual bill for animal feed, currently in excess of £200,000 a year."

He explained he had been investigating how plants could be used to further the aims of the zoo.

"We were approached by the police who had a load of hydroponics equipment following a raid.

"That sowed the germ of an idea. We then came across the company at a sustainable business fair at the zoo.

"They showed a model of the system. They were planning to build a system at Launceston and we suggested they build it at the zoo, we could pay to run it, we could use the produce, we have 500,000 visitor a year to see it and they can bring their customers to see it running."

The zoo will hold an official opening next Wednesday.