Vertical Farming: Advantages and Disadvantages

Traditional farming and vertical farming differ significantly from one another in terms of resource consumption, cost, output, and placement options.

The most conventional method that you are probably aware of is a greenhouse, which consists of a single layer of crops planted inside of an enclosed chamber with glass or plastic walls and a ceiling to let in natural light. They are largely regulated ecosystems.

While using trays of typically hydroponic plants piled in floor-to-ceiling towers with LED lights illuminating each tier and climate control constantly regulating the temperature, humidity, and other factors, vertical farms are a considerably more recent idea. They are completely regulated habitats that are based on controlled environment agriculture (CEA).

Advantages of Vertical Farming:?

Location: The largest consumer markets can be found in crowded metropolitan settings since vertical farms are small, closed systems. Places with limited availability of fresh water are also perfect for vertical farms because they consume a lot less fresh water than greenhouses do. Vertical farms can grow greens all year round, locally and pesticide free. Vertical farms focus on microgreens, herbs, and berries that have a strong demand in the fresh markets.

Let's examine the fundamental elements that impact a vertical farm's ecological footprint. These include GMOs, pesticides, soil, and water consumption.

Vertical farms utilize a substantial amount less water (approximately 95% less than traditional farms) when compared to greenhouses and most definitely when compared to traditional farming. The tightly controlled systems that characterize vertical farming result in water savings: Vertical farms can employ either hydroponics, in which plant roots are immersed in water and nutrient solutions (fertilizers), or aeroponics, in which water and nutrients are sprayed directly at the roots, to grow plants rather than in soil. What each plant doesn't absorb falls to the following tray in the stack, and so on. Any water that sinks is recycled throughout the system.

Environment: In contrast to vertical farms, traditional farming frequently uses pesticides. Chemical pest management is not necessary because of the controlled atmosphere. Produce cultivated on vertical farms is now considered "organic" (although hydroponics may not be eligible for some Organic labeling in many countries).

Similar to how vertical farms' controlled environments eliminate the need for pesticides, they also basically eliminate the requirement for genetically modified (GMO) seeds. Genetic engineering is employed, like pesticides, to help plants survive in unfavorable environmental conditions, despite the annoyance of storms, draughts, pests, and other things. By using vertical farms, you may give plants their ideal environment without having to genetically alter them.

Energy use: The overall energy expenses of traditional farming may be just as high, if not higher, despite the fact that vertical farms do require a large input of electricity. So how energy-efficient are vertical farms compared to greenhouses?

One of the main arguments against vertical farming is that using LED lights and climate control instead of natural sunlight uses a lot of electricity. When using non-renewable energy sources, vertical farms have a greater carbon footprint than greenhouses. However, the contrary is also true: if renewable energy sources are accessible, vertical farming can significantly lower the carbon footprint of goods that are typically flown in from abroad or transported over considerable distances by vehicle.?

The issue of fertilizer is another consideration that enters the energy equation. When the emissions from shorter transit distances are added up, the decrease in fertilizer use (fertilizer production is highly carbon-intensive, and Controlled Environment Agriculture uses it much more efficiently than outdoor farms). It is obvious that there are numerous things to take into account when calculating carbon footprint, in addition to the decrease in food waste.

Disadvantages of Vertical Farming:?

Startup Costs: Initial construction costs for vertical farms might be up to 10 times higher than those for greenhouses. While high-tech greenhouses cost between $250 and $ 350 per square meter of cultivation area, vertical farming costs between $2,200 and $2,600 per square meter of cultivation bed space. Therefore, the ROI on vertical farms may be a longer-term proposition depending on the specific economics of your location and market.

However, there are some instances where vertical farms are more cost-effective than conventional farms and greenhouses. One of them is labor cost, which automated vertical farm technologies greatly lower. In some places, labor costs might be very high. Vertical farms also greatly lower logistics costs due to their close proximity to the end customer. A product of superior quality produced in a more regulated setting may likewise command a higher price on the market.

Conclusion:?

In the end, vertical farms have a lot of benefits, some of which depend on the right site to work well. They provide extremely local, high-density production with strict quality control. They use labor more effectively and cut labor and logistics expenses. They do away with the need for pesticides and GMOs and considerably cut water consumption. On the other hand, they may run into a large electric bill and have greater initial costs. However, you have to take into account the whole energy intake and carbon footprint of traditional farming, which is energy-intensive in terms of fertilizer use and transportation to markets.

My proposal:

For my friends in Peru, could you imagine your brand in a Vertical? Farming Container near the supermarket of your customer providing fresh products all year, mitigating your carbon footprint and strengthening the relationship? The world is changing, and the way of doing agriculture too.

Source: https://ifarm.fi/