Growing food in urban environments on a large scale is made possible through vertical farming methods. Although traditional farming will likely remain the primary growing method for most food groups, innovations such as vertical farming offer alternative solutions to some of the challenges traditional farming faces. Agriculture experts examine the drawbacks of vertical farming while also recognizing the benefits and potential for unprecedented food production in urban areas. Some may wonder if exploring vertical farming is worth the expense, time and energy. It is reported that two out of every three people will live in Urban areas by 2050, which highlights one of the reasons why the industry is pursuing breakthroughs in vertical farming.
What is Vertical Farming?
Growing food indoors utilizing controlled temperatures and specialty lighting as energy sources is the main staple of vertical farms. This can take many shapes and forms including warehouses, old shipping containers and abandoned buildings. Vertical farms grow crops and plants in stacked layers and use soilless growing methods such as hydroponics or aeroponic systems.
What are the Benefits?
Vertical farms offer benefits to consumers and farmers as well as sustainability solutions. The United States Department of Agriculture reports in a study on vertical farming that some of the benefits include less water usage, no pesticides, year round availability and higher yields for certain crops. Agribusiness have their eyes on vertical farming and how these methods of growing can solve challenges and remain profitable for the industry.
What Technology is Used?
The technology utilized in vertical farming is specific to many factors including the space and resources available to the particular growing facility. Aeroponics, hydroponics and aquaponics are all instrumental in vertical farming. Key staples to hydroponic and aeroponic systems is the ability to grow crops without soil and provide nutrients to the plants directly, which reduces waste. Aquaponic systems combine fish farming and growing plants where the fish waste provides the plants with nutrients and the plants clean the water for the fish. Other agricultural technologies such as automation and machine learning are integrated into vertical farms, which further improves efficiency and sustainability. These technologies are cutting edge and are continuing to improve through research and development by agriculture experts.
Future Expansion
Technologies used in vertical farms and the agri-tech industry are breaking through barriers and implementing technologies that would not have seemed possible just a few decades ago. As agriculture experts look at the market for vertical farms, they see a glimpse of the growth to come. The vertical farming market is projected to grow from $6.92 billion in 2024 to $50 billion by 2032. Vertical farming can require a large startup cost, so making the systems more cost effective and sustainable will be paramount in expanding operations. Investors and agribusiness must weigh pros and cons of vertical farming and its impact on the industry as a whole, but vertical farming will continue to grow and evolve in the years to come.