“Vertical farming involves stacking crops. It is done in a controlled setting utilizing soil-free aquaponics, hydroponics, and aeroponics.”
In Image: Elevating Urban Agriculture with Vertical Farming
In light of the fact that there is a rising population but a limited amount of farmland that is currently in operation, vertical farming may be used to meet the ever-increasing need for food throughout the globe.
Vertical farming
Dickson Despommier first introduced the concept of vertical farming in 1999. He was the first person to do so. He was a professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University, where he worked for a number of years. He came up with the idea that a vertical farm that was thirty stories tall and grew using hydroponics and artificial light could provide food for approximately fifty thousand people when he challenged his students to determine whether or not it was possible to cultivate food on the roofs of New York skyscrapers. He came up with this idea when he challenged his students to determine whether or not it was possible?
In addition to being a successful idea, the professor’s farm served as a source of inspiration for a significant number of designs that came after it.
Because of this, governments and developers all over the world would take note of vertical farming and implement it in cities such as Abu Dhabi, New York, Los Angeles, Bangalore, Dubai, Beijing, and other locations. Vertical farming would also be implemented in other cities because of this. Between 2014 and November 2020, a total of around $1.8 billion was spent in businesses that were working on the building of vertical farms. Investors funded these investments.
There are several types of vertical farms.
The many different approaches to vertical farming that are now being used are as follows:.
Farms that are vertical and are housed within of structures
There is a chance that buildings that have been abandoned might be repurposed for vertical farming; however, it is not necessary for such structures to be used on a regular basis. It is possible that the development of vertical farms will also include the use of new structures, but this will depend on the requirements that are necessary.
In Image: Vertical Farming’s Sustainable Solution to Urban Agriculture.
Containerized vertical farms that are made out of shipping containers
LED lights, farms that are stacked vertically, temperature controls, and monitoring sensors are installed in shipping containers that have been restored or that are old. These containers are used to transport goods. The use of such farms makes it possible to simultaneously achieve a higher yield while simultaneously preserving the land that is available.
Farming that is carried out vertically and underground
These sorts of vertical farms, which are also referred to as “Deep Farms,” are built in subterranean tunnels, abandoned mine shafts, or any other habitat that is enclosed inside the earth. They are also known as “Deep Farms.” By maintaining a constant temperature and humidity, they use less energy for heating, and in terms of water supply, they may make use of the underground water source. This is because of the consistent temperature and humidity. Additionally, it is conceivable for these farms to produce seven to nine times the amount of food that a regular farm would produce overall.
Techniques and Strategies with Regard to Vertical Farming
Use of hydroponics as a method
The method of hydroponics is a technology that enables plants to be grown without the need of soil, which is the conventional method of plant cultivation. This location allows for the penetration of a variety of elements, including magnesium, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and others, into the roots of the plant. To reduce the amount of water that is required, these treatments provide support to the roots, which enhances the possibility that the plant will produce a higher-quality of product.
Research has shown that, when compared to conventional farms, there has been a thirteen-fold decrease in water use and an eleven-fold increase in output. As a result, hydroponics is the method that is used in vertical farming the majority of the time.
Aquaculture, also known as aquaponics
In comparison to hydroponics, the production method known as aquaponics is considered to be fairly technologically advanced. Through the use of a closed-loop system that is evocative of nature itself, it blends the development of plants with the culture of aquatic organisms.
Use of aeroponics as a method
In Image: The Future of Food Production with Vertical Farming.
According to what its name suggests, aeroponics is a technique that involves the cultivation of plants not through the use of mediums such as solids or liquids but rather through the utilization of air. Through the introduction of a liquid solution into the air in the region where the plants are located, the process of facilitating the plants’ absorption of nutrients is facilitated. The fact that it does not need either water or soil, in addition to the absence of any growing medium, is a significant advantage. This makes it the strategy that is most appropriate.
One must take into consideration both the good and bad elements of vertical farming.
In the following material, both the advantages and disadvantages of vertical farming are discussed in detail from every angle. Many advantages could be gained.
The Efficiency of the operating process
The amount of land and water that is necessary for vertical farming is far less than what is required for traditional farming; nonetheless, vertical farming produces a greater crop per acre than conventional farming does. There is an additional benefit associated with vertical farming, which is the ability to cultivate crops at any time of the year. More than one crop may be harvested at the same time since each of them has their own land and plots. This makes it feasible for them to harvest many crops at the same time.
Being able to withstand the weather
When it comes to conventional farming, it is impossible to accurately predict the weather patterns and natural disasters that may occur. These include natural disasters such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and other similar catastrophes. Vertical farming, which takes place in an environment that is under your control, minimizes the influence of such factors, which in turn makes the process of supply chain management less susceptible to interruptions that are connected with variations.
The preservation of the unspoiled natural environment
Because vertical farming allows for the avoidance of the deforestation that is connected with traditional farming, this approach contributes to the preservation of the environment and helps save money that would otherwise be spent on conventional farming.
The benefits of vertical farming
Decrease in Transportation Expenses and Carbon Emissions
The capacity of vertical farming to save transportation costs and the related carbon footprint is one of its main benefits. In traditional agriculture, product are often transported across great distances from rural to urban regions, increasing transportation costs and carbon emissions. Vertical farms, situated in or close to urban areas, provide prompt and effective delivery of fresh food to customers, therefore reducing the need for lengthy transit and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
More Effective Space Use
Crops are stacked vertically in numerous layers to make the most use of the available area in vertical farming. This makes it possible to utilize land more effectively, especially in cities with limited space. These farms can yield more per square foot by using vertical space than they do with conventional horizontal farming techniques. This is particularly helpful in places with high population densities when there is a shortage or high cost of agricultural land.
Decrease in the Use of Pesticides
Many vertical farms are located in controlled areas with less need for pesticides and herbicides. Relying less on chemical treatments, the closed structure of vertical farming helps protect crops from pests and diseases. By reducing soil and water source pollution, this not only produces better food but also makes the environment cleaner and safer.
Enhanced Food Safety
Vertical farming improves food security by bringing food production closer to customers, especially in urban settings. This farming technique may help lessen reliance on outside food sources and provide a consistent supply of fresh produce all year, especially in areas where the environment makes conventional cultivation difficult. When faced with emergencies like natural catastrophes or pandemics, vertical farming may be very helpful in ensuring the supply of food.
The drawbacks of vertical farming
High Initial Outlay
Vertical farms have a number of drawbacks, one of which is their potentially expensive initial setup costs. Large sums of money must be set aside for the building of buildings and the installation of cutting-edge equipment like LED lighting, temperature control systems, and automated procedures. For many small-scale farmers or businesses, the high upfront expenditures might be a barrier to entry, even if they can be mitigated by long-term savings and increased yields.
Usage of Energy
Vertical farming might be energy-intensive, but it also saves on land and water. A significant quantity of power is used by automated systems, artificial lighting, and temperature control to ensure ideal growth conditions. Some of the environmental advantages of vertical farming may be lost if the energy is not obtained from renewable resources. Vertical farms are susceptible to power outages because to their dependency on energy-intensive technologies, which may cause output disruptions.
Technical Proficiency is needed.
High levels of technical proficiency and understanding in a variety of disciplines, such as environmental science, engineering, and agriculture, are necessary to operate a vertical farm. It may be difficult to manage the intricate systems used in vertical farming, including as temperature control, hydroponics, and aeroponics. The general adoption of vertical farming may be hampered by this requirement for specialist skills, particularly in areas where such knowledge is hard to come by.
Strict Variety of Crops
Right now, producing certain crops—mostly leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens—is better suited to vertical farming since these crops have shorter growth seasons and need less space. There are still restrictions on the variety of crops that may be grown vertically, despite attempts to increase the range being made. It is less probable that staple crops like wheat, maize, and rice will be grown well in vertical farms since they need wide spaces and distinct growth environments.
“A cutting-edge method of producing food, vertical farming has several benefits, such as improved food security, less water use, and effective land utilization. However, in order to make vertical farming a workable and sustainable option on a broader scale, the issues of high initial prices, energy consumption, and technological demands need to be resolved. Vertical farming is expected to become more and more significant in providing for the food demands of the world’s expanding population as research and technology develop, especially in urban places where conventional farming is impractical.”