New age of agriculture? How vertical farming is transforming a millennial-old practice.
Vertical farming is an agricultural practice in which food is grown vertically, instead of horizontally on traditional farms. Farms of this type are called "plant factories" and they require considerably less water, soil and space than traditional fields. Vertical farming uses a variety of strategies to grow crops such as hydroponics, aeroponics and aquaponics.
Vertical farming has been around for many years but it is only now starting to gain traction due to the increase in population and the decrease in farmland available.
Advantages of vertical farming
Vertical farming is a more efficient way of growing food and it consumes a lot less resources, providing more sustainable growing methods than traditional agriculture. The environmental impacts of vertical farming include decreased water consumption, decreased ecological footprint and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. It also provides the opportunity to grow crops in the most extreme climates.
Vertical farming is able to improve crop yields by 70% compared to conventional agriculture.
Vertical farms need 40 times less land than normal farms.
Crops grow faster and are able to ripen more evenly.
The plants can be tracked for optimal usage of resources.
Vertical farms can also provide urban residents with access to clean, local produce in urban areas where traditional farmland is difficult to maintain. Another benefit of vertical farming is higher quality crops since they are grown with LED lights, free from contaminants like pesticides and harvested when ripe instead of harvested early for transport which reduces taste and nutritional value. Also, LED lights make it easier for farmers to use selective breeding which can increase nutrient content while reducing pesticide use. In two separate studies, lettuce yields per unit area and wheat yields were significantly higher relative to conventional hydroponics. [1, 2] Researchers also highlighted the impacts of COVID-19 on global food security and the need to adopt more resilient food systems, strengthen local food production and reduce food waste. [3]
Disadvantages
Vertical farming has a number of disadvantages that prevent it from becoming mainstream.
The first disadvantage is the amount of energy needed to power vertical farms. Though early research notes large scale operations may actually adjust their production in response to time-of-use rates set by local energy authorities. [4]
Need for water. Vertical farming requires considerably more water than traditional agriculture.
Cost. Vertical farming is more expensive to set up and operate than traditional agriculture.
In order for vertical farming to be an economically viable option, technological advancements must be made that make it easier and cheaper to build and power vertical farms. Another thing that needs to happen before vertical farming can become mainstream is legislation changes including tax breaks for companies using this technology. The final obstacle that has prevented vertical farm from becoming mainstream is there are no good examples of a functional commercial-scale vertical farm yet. There have been a number of successful pilot projects, but there is no evidence that this method of farming has the potential to be cheap enough to attract investors.
Vertical farming requires a considerable amount of energy in order to keep the light on and equipment running. Vertical farms are also water intensive since they need fresh water for hydroponic systems or rainwater for aquaponic systems. However, vertical farming uses less soil than traditional agriculture which reduces evaporation by up to 90%. Another obstacle is that large-scale commercial vertical farms have not been built yet so all analysis about this technology are based upon pilot projects. The last downside is that many people do not trust food grown in indoor environments since it could potentially be exposed to contaminants during transportation or stored in unsanitary conditions.
Examples of existing vertical farms
There are a number of current examples of existing vertical farms. Gotham Greens in New York City is a commercial-scale vertical farm that grows produce using aeroponics. The farm is able to grow a variety of crops including lettuce, herbs and tomatoes. They recently finished a funding round and raised $87 million to expand their operation towards the west coast.
The Local Food Hub in Charlottesville, Virginia is an example of a community-supported vertical farm. The Local Food Hub is a two-story, 2,200 square foot greenhouse that grows produce for local restaurants and ensures everyone can find healthy, local foods. They even facilitate entry to novel markets that farmers may not be able to access on their own.
Upward Farms are an example of a system that uses aquaponics to grow food indoors in large quantities. In order to support their system, Upward Farms has developed a "closed loop" aquaponic system where the water from the fish tank can be filtered and reused by growing plants. From their website, they share their mission and process.
“We are inspired by nature and believe that by harnessing nature’s brilliance, we can share its abundance.”
Is vertical farming the agriculture of the future?
Vertical farming has been promoted as a possible solution to the growing demand for food. There are a number of experts who believe that vertical farming is the future of agriculture. Dr. Dickson Despommier, a professor of public health and microbiology at Columbia University, is one of the biggest advocates for vertical farming. He has written extensively on the topic and believes that vertical farms could provide an answer to world's food shortages.
NASA has also shown interest in vertical farming due to its potential to provide a sustainable food source in space. In a study funded by NASA, Freight Farms found that crops could be grown in a shipping container using LED lights and without the use of soil. They called it the Self-Sustaining Crop Production Unit (SSCPU) and it could operate with renewable energy and water reclamation systems - zero input required.
How to get started with vertical farming
The best way to get started with vertical farming is to start small. A good way to begin is to set up a simple hydroponic system in your home. You can buy a kit online or at a garden store. Once you are comfortable with the basics, you can expand your operation by adding more plants or by starting an aquaponic system.
Another way to get started with vertical farming is to join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. A CSA is a group of people who come together to buy food from local farmers. Many CSAs offer produce from vertical farms.
If you want to get involved in commercial-scale vertical farming, you need to invest in some land first!
What are some of the emerging technologies?
There are a number of emerging technologies being used in vertical farming. One technology that is becoming increasingly popular is aquaponics. Aquaponics is a system where fish and plants are grown together in a symbiotic relationship. The fish waste provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants filter the water for the fish.
Another emerging technology is LED lighting. LED lights are becoming more popular in vertical farming because they consume less energy than traditional grow lights and they produce less heat. LED lights also produce a narrower spectrum of light, which is ideal for growing plants indoors.
The final emerging technology that is being used in vertical farming is hydroponics. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in water instead of soil. Hydroponics allows farmers to grow plants without having to worry about soil contamination.
Tips for success with vertical farming
• Start small and gradually expand
• Join a CSA to get started with vertical farming
• Invest in some land to start a commercial-scale farm
• Get comfortable with the basics of hydroponics or aquaponics
In conclusion...
Vertical farming is the future of agriculture for a number of reasons. First, it is more efficient than traditional farming methods because it uses less land and water. Second, vertical farming is sustainable because it does not rely on pesticides or herbicides. Third, vertical farms are able to produce food locally, which reduces the need for transportation. Finally, vertical farming is scalable, meaning that it can be adapted to meet the needs of any community.
How will you get involved in vertical farming?
References
Touliatos, Dionysios, Ian C. Dodd, and Martin McAinsh. "Vertical farming increases lettuce yield per unit area compared to conventional horizontal hydroponics." Food and energy security 5.3 (2016): 184-191.
Asseng, Senthold, et al. "Wheat yield potential in controlled-environment vertical farms." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117.32 (2020): 19131-19135.
Lal, Rattan. "Home gardening and urban agriculture for advancing food and nutritional security in response to the COVID-19 pandemic." Food security 12.4 (2020): 871-876.
Avgoustaki, Dafni Despoina, and George Xydis. "How energy innovation in indoor vertical farming can improve food security, sustainability, and food safety?." Advances in Food Security and Sustainability. Vol. 5. Elsevier, 2020. 1-51.