The future of farming is becoming problematic, and we need to make changes. People are growing in number all around the world by about 1% each year, but some places are seeing even faster growth. As time passes, it’s going to get harder to feed all these extra people, so we’re starting to use fancier farming methods, like growing crops in tall buildings called vertical farming.
The way we’ve been farming, both now and in the past, is really bad for the planet, which makes everything even worse. Farming is linked to massive problems like climate change, cutting down forests, and ruining the soil. This has hit so bad that in the last 40 years, we’ve lost a third of the land where we can grow crops. According to Extrapolate, the global vertical farming market is projected to reach a valuation of $25.49 billion by 2030. Let’s delve in and learn more about this billion-dollar industry.
What is Vertical Farming?
Vertical farming is a method where crops are grown upwards instead of across flat land like in traditional farming. By stacking layers of plants on top of each other, farmers can produce a lot more food in the same space, or even less.
These stacked layers can be found in tall buildings like skyscrapers, kept in storage places like warehouses or shipping containers, or set up in places where farming wouldn’t normally work.
But vertical farming isn’t as simple as just stacking plants. It requires careful control of things like humidity, light, water, and temperature. If these factors aren’t just right, farmers could lose their entire crop, similar to how a regular farm might suffer during a drought or flood.
Decoding the History of Vertical Farming
Tracing the roots of vertical farming reveals its ancient origins, despite the modern, high-tech twist it’s taken today. The concept may seem new, but its foundations stretch back centuries.
The earliest known example of vertical farming dates from approximately 2,500 years ago, with the Babylonian Hanging Gardens. These stunning gardens showcased the practice of growing plants vertically.
Even vertical hydroponic farming gardening, a method of growing plants without soil, has ancient roots. Around a thousand years ago, the Aztecs pioneered a similar technique called chinampas, where they grew crops on rafts floating on water.
In the 1600s, farmers in France and the Netherlands pioneered innovative farming techniques. They cleverly created microclimates by growing heat-loving fruits next to stone walls that retained warmth, showcasing an early form of controlled-environment agriculture.
Types of Vertical Farms
Various types of vertical farms are gaining popularity, each with its unique features and advantages.
- Vertical Farms Within Structures: This cutting-edge approach to farming involves cultivating crops in stacked layers within buildings, often in urban areas or controlled indoor environments. By maximizing space efficiency, this method allows for the production of crops in vertically stacked layers, making it ideal for densely populated urban regions with limited land available for farming.
- Container-Based Vertical Farms: Utilizing old or recycled shipping containers, these farms are equipped with climate control sensors, vertically stacked growing beds, monitoring systems, and LED lights. They make efficient use of minimal space while increasing productivity, offering an innovative solution for urban agriculture.
- Subterranean Vertical Farms: Also known as ‘deep farms’, these vertical farming facilities are constructed in mine shafts, tunnels, or other underground spaces. The consistent temperature and humidity underground require less energy for heating, and underground water sources can be tapped for irrigation. These farms have the potential to produce 7–9 times more food than conventional farms, making them highly efficient and sustainable alternatives.
3 Best Advantages of Vertical Farms
Here are the top three advantages of vertical farms:
- Efficiency: Vertical farming utilizes only a small fraction of the land and water required by traditional farming methods while still yielding more produce per acre. It also allows for year-round agricultural production, maximizing efficiency. With each crop having its own designated space, multiple crops can even be harvested simultaneously, further boosting productivity.
- Climate adaptability: Unlike traditional farming, which is susceptible to unpredictable weather patterns and natural disasters like floods, droughts, and wildfires, vertical farming operates in a controlled environment. This reduces the risk of disruptions in the supply chain caused by climate-related events, ensuring a more stable and reliable food production system.
- Environmental Protection: Vertical farming contributes to environmental conservation by mitigating the need for deforestation associated with traditional agriculture. By growing food indoors, vertical farms reduce or eliminate the use of conventional farm machinery for tasks such as plowing, planting, and harvesting. This helps conserve soil quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable ecosystem.
How Does Vertical Farming Affect the Environment?
The environmental impact of vertical farms is an ongoing subject of debate and study. While they offer potential solutions to certain environmental issues, they also come with their own set of challenges and considerations. Here are some important points to keep in mind:
- Energy Consumption: Vertical farms often rely on artificial lighting, which can use up a lot of electricity. However, using renewable energy sources like solar or wind power can help lessen their carbon footprint and minimize environmental harm.
- Water Usage: Vertical farms typically use hydroponic or aeroponic systems that require less water compared to traditional farming. However, it’s crucial to manage water usage carefully to prevent waste and ensure sustainability.
- Soil and Land Preservation: Vertical farms don’t need soil, which means they can help protect fertile land and prevent soil degradation. This is especially important in areas where usable land is limited or at risk of being damaged.
- Chemical Inputs: Vertical farms can reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides, which lowers the risk of chemical runoff and contamination. However, managing nutrient solutions in hydroponic systems is important to avoid nutrient pollution.
- Carbon Footprint: The environmental impact of vertical farms depends on factors like energy sources and transportation. Using sustainable practices such as renewable energy and efficient supply chains can help minimize their carbon footprint.
While vertical farming can play a part in sustainable food production, it’s not a complete solution on its own. A holistic approach that combines different sustainable practices, like agroecology and responsible land management, is necessary to effectively address environmental concerns in agriculture.
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