What are the best vertical farming business models for small-scale farmers?

Yes, this sounds good and will assist the farmers in utilizing less space for high profit though there are limitations to the adoption due to the technical expertise needed for optimum crop performance. Rural farmers can look toward economic value crops and produce goods quality produce that can attract a high-paying price.

Why limit vertical farming to either crop cultivation or poultry rearing? Integrating poultry vertical farming with crop vertical farming within a single system offers several advantages. For instance, the CO2 emission by poultry can enhance crop growth, and utilizing poultry litter to produce vermiculture is another benefit.

I strongly agree with the submission here. DIY vertical farming has a lot of advantages to small scale farmers although the disadvantages should not be ignored. Farmers will move at their own space and time in terms of sourcing for finance, building structures, management of resources etc but will take all the business risks alone.

I agree, buying existing vertical farming kits is convenience for startup if access to finance is not a problem. In other words, it facilitates the starting point and process of the business. Notwithstanding, the bottlenecks include nonflexibility of the structure as it will be difficult to grow the business beyond the available structure and space.

I believe that kits are best suited for home owners not commercial farms. The cost would be higher and banks are hesitant to loan on new concepts.

Yes franchise is a good option. It's highly flexible and encourages business expansion by buying more franchises. Farmers can build on the existing marketing channels easily. It however requires access to substantial initial capitals.

The vertical farming cooperative model is the best vertical farming business model for small-scale farmers because one farmer's strength covers another's weakness. This model allows individual farmers to achieve more with less through pooling together funds, experiences, labour, network and technical know-how towards the establishment of a single vertical farm which may have been unlikely to be established by the individuals on their own. It can also be an effective model for rural women with limited access to agricultural land especially in patriarchal societies where women's right to land is highly limited.

Indeed, cooperative business is one of the best business models in the world as it's survival is very high when compared with partnerships and other business types. One can build easily on expansive networks of members but strong legel framework is required for a successful business.

Cooperatives are a great concept. I’ve worked as an agronomy sales manager for the two largest cooperatives in America. In each new coop I was assigned the first thing I did was look at the 120 day list of late pay. Every time all or nearly all of the board of directors was on the list.

Engaging in thorough market research to grasp local demand, pricing dynamics, and potential competition is vital. Adapting the business model to cater to specific market needs is equally crucial. Additionally, utilizing existing training services and certifications for small-scale farmers embracing vertical farming fosters community engagement and knowledge-sharing, elevating market appeal for environmentally conscious consumers.

If we take the Republic of Moldova's Vertical Farming landscape as an example, the majority of the market is dominated by microgreens and Batavia lettuce vertical farms. With microgreens there 0$ fertilizer costs, when it comes to Batavia lettuce, there is stable demand and marketing potential. Both models as mentioned earlier, if there was no investment in produce processing (washing, drying, packaging) have been proven to be highly competitive, with relatively inexpensive OPEX and CAPEX. Farms up to 100 square meters with 6 tiers of 50-70 cm each require only 3 full-time employees. Two farm operators and one delivery operation.