A green roof is a rooftop where plants can be grown, which can help utilize the space for vegetation that was lost when the building was constructed.

Green roofs offer a number of environmental benefits, which include reducing pollution and stormwater runoff, moderating temperatures, serving as a habitat for insects and wildlife and providing a place to grow produce in an urban environment.

Horticulture professor Brad Rowe oversees green roof research at MSU and will be hosting the tour, discussing how MSU green roofs help reduce the impact of development.

Although green roofs aren’t as popular in the United States as they are in Europe, the amount of green roof space in North America has been expanding, Rowe said in a statement.

“Most of these systems are on government and commercial buildings, but it’s a growing business and there is a lot of interest,” Rowe said.

MSU has eight green roofs on buildings throughout campus, including Plant and Soil Sciences, Communication Arts and Sciences, Molecular Plant Sciences, Brody Hall, Bailey Hall, Wells Hall, the Children’s Garden Outdoor Classroom and the Horticulture Teaching and Research Center.

The newest green roof atop Bailey Hall contains a vegetable garden that was planted in 2013 and maintained by students in the Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment, or RISE program.

“The Bailey green roof is unique in that we are experimenting with various soils, containers and crops to grow food on the roof rather than the typical sedum material that’s used in green roof installations,” said RISE Program Director Laurie Thorp.

So far, they’ve grown tomatoes, cucumbers, melon, strawberries, basil, carrots, kale, chard and various herbs, Thorp said.

“With over 50 percent of the world population living in urban centers, and many (in) food deserts, this is work is important as we re-think our food system to include growing food in an urban setting,” Thorp said. “Our rooftops are spaces where a vast amount of food can be grown.”