Vertical Farming

Over the years, the vertical farming market has picked up significant momentum. The rising awareness of its benefits is a key factor driving this growth, the market size is expected to reach $27 billion by 2030.

Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. It often incorporates controlled environment agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth, and soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics.

When did vertical farming start?

The Babylonians are the innovators behind the most well-known example of early advanced agriculture systems. Built nearly 2,600 years ago, their hanging gardens are thought to be the earliest prototype of a vertical farm.

Approximately one thousand years ago, the Aztecs pioneered a form of hydroponics known as chinampas, that can still be seen in Mexico today.

Advantages

The cultivation of crops in vertical farming can offer many advantages. By growing crops in layers above one another, sustainable, efficient and fully-controlled cultivation can be achieved. This can mean no pesticide use, no nutrient emissions, less use of water per kilogram of vegetables, and far less amount of land required.

Automation is the key to this efficiency. Software, robotics and data science are some of the technologies used in vertical farms to monitor crops and create optimum growing conditions. This includes controlling temperature, humidity, CO2 and light.

Why isn’t vertical farming already a global solution?

Cost is a big hurdle for vertical farming. Sun and rain are free. Facilities, powering LED lights, software and sophisticated growing systems isn’t.

Profitability remains the main challenge for the biggest and most innovative farms globally, many of which have gone bankrupt in the recent years.