Exploring Vertical Farming

•Vertical farming is a form of indoor farming which allows for the growth of a variety of crops.

•Social scientists have predicted the world population to increase by 9.7 billion by 2025, meaning farming
needs to increase its productivity.

•Food and drink are now easily purchased from a variety of shopping establishments, disconnecting the
public from the importance of farming.

•Farms now have to supply the world with their product, leading to overworked fields with insufficient
nutrient recovery.

•Vertical farming is the only method available to bridge the gap caused by industrial developments,
urbanization and loss of arable land.

•Already in 2015, scientists reported that the globe had lost a third of its arable land in 40 years.
Understanding Vertical Farming

•Vertical farming is an indoor method of food production which allows for the growth of various crops on
vertically inclined surfaces.

•Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology is used to create an environment suitable for
growing crops indoors.

•Vertical farming protects crops from external factors such as natural disasters and pest attacks.

•Physical layout, lighting, humidity, and gas input are key elements in understanding how vertical farming
works.

•Vertical farming also allows for the efficient use of space, as crops can be stacked on top of one another,
maximizing output per square meter.
Benefits of Vertical Farming

•Vertical farming has become a great way to produce more food in a smaller area.

•Physical layout is important, as crops have their own spatial requirements.

•The perfect balance needs to be struck to increase crop yield.

•A combination of natural and artificial light is often used to promote growth.

•Aeroponic, aquaponic, and hydroponic growing mediums are often used instead of soil.

•These mediums bring with them various levels of nutrients for different crops.

•Vertical farming uses various sustainability features that are foreign to field farming.

•Vertical farming uses about 95% less water than field farming.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Vertical Farming

•Vertical farming is a more predictable and controlled method of farming that provides greater preparation
for the future.

•It offers an increased production rate as one acre of indoor space can yield the equivalent of four to six
acres of outdoor area.
•It is more resource efficient, as it uses 70-95% less water than traditional farming methods.

•The financial feasibility and labor/energy costs remain uncertain, as it is relatively new and relies heavily
on technology.

The Rise of Vertical Farming

•In 1969, the global human population was around 3.6 billion and by 2050, it's projected to hit 9 billion,
with 70% living in cities.

•To feed this population without depleting soils, vertical farming is being suggested, where plants are
grown indoors in buildings and hydroponically.

•The first large-scale vertical farm was opened in Singapore in 2011 and the industry has been rapidly
growing since.

•Vertical farming eliminates the need for toxic pesticides, reduces carbon emissions by reducing food
miles, and allows for 24/7 photosynthesis.
Vertical Farming: Reducing Land and Water Use

•Vertical farming reduces land and water use compared to traditional soil farming, with a startup in San
Francisco needing only two acres of land to yield the same produce as traditional farms taking up 720
acres.

•Aeroponics, originally developed by NASA, is gaining traction in the industry and is already being used
by AeroFarms to operate some of the largest vertical farms in the world.

•Other benefits include no seasonality, no compromising flavor or quality, and no labor intensive farming
practices or machinery.

•Challenges include setup costs and energy consumption, although LED lighting efficiency and renewable
technologies have improved significantly.
Exploring Innovations in Vertical Farming

•Yes Health Group and Nordic Harvest jointly run a huge warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark, that is
equipped with 14 shelving levels of aluminium boxes, 20,000 LED lights, robots and algorithms to
optimize crop position, nutrient balance, light availability, and carbon dioxide levels.

•Plenty in San Francisco uses artificial intelligence-based software and robots, and is powered by 100%
renewable energy to supply 430 stores with fresh produce.

•Imaginative pioneers are using hydroponic systems in underground tunnels, vaults and even recycled
shipping containers, as well as LED lighting, hydroponic racking and smart climate control systems.

•Companies like Plenty are also working on including fruit and vegetables into their production to fit more
budgets.

•Aquaponics is one option that combines plant growing with fish farming by filtering and treating
wastewater to become nutrient-rich and purifying the water for the fish tanks.

•This option could represent a potential solution for the future as we move away from our reliance on land
and water intensive red meat and poultry for protein.
Vertical Farming: A Solution for Food Scarcity and Soil Degradation?

•Vertical farming is being explored as a potential solution to food scarcity and soil degradation, and has
been shown to be viable for growing cereal crops such as wheat, maize and rice.

•A study published in August 2020 found that a 10-layer vertical farm could yield 1940 metric tons of
wheat per hectare of land per year, significantly more than traditional wheat farming.

•Investors are needed to take the financial risk of making the theoretical simulation work commercially in
practice.

•Vertical farming is becoming increasingly commonplace in urban centers, particularly as people move
away from relying on meat and towards plant-based diets.
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