5 Ways Vertical Farming Technology Will Revolutionize Agriculture

The world is in the midst of several converging resource crises, many of which are

exacerbated by the currently outdated state of industrial agriculture. Arable

land is currently in steep decline worldwide, with over 65% of all agricultural land

on Earth currently being dedicated to growing feeding stock for industrial cattle

farming. Crops often require intensive irrigation, which requires farmers to

drain ancient groundwater reservoirs that can take thousands of years to replenish,

putting an ever-growing strain on our global water supply. However, the most advanced

vertical farming techniques are projected to turn the world of agriculture on its head.

Here are five ways vertical farming technology will fundamentally change how we grow our

food.

1. Vertical farms use much less water when compared to traditional farming methods

With large U.S. states like Texas and California experiencing unprecedented droughts,

and many metropolitan areas imposing strict water restrictions, the need to find more

water-efficient methods of growing crops is becoming increasingly apparent,

particularly during the sweltering summer months. Vertical farming technology consumes

on average 95% less water than conventional farming techniques. They accomplish this

with the use of cutting edge hydroponic and aeroponic technology. The hydroponic

installation cuts down dramatically on water usage by recycling the same nutrient rich

mineral water in a technique known as continuous-flow nutrient culture. The roots of

the plant absorb only the amount of water they need at any given time, allowing the rest

of the water to continue circulating throughout the culture, whereas with a conventional

soil-based medium, the unused water either sinks too deep into the soil base to be

useful or is simply evaporated into the surrounding air. The aeroponic technology is

even more advanced. In this setup, the water is continuously sprayed with a thin mist

of nutrient solution. This technique has no substrate at all, instead having the plant

roots suspended in a large chamber with the air saturated with nutrient solution.

These cutting edge cultivation techniques save tremendously on water resources.

2. Vertical farms are perfectly suited for our modern, hyper-urbanized way of life

As modern societies become more and more densely populated and cities begin to buckle

under the pressure of ever-more urbanized metropolitan areas, the need to grow crops

in a more space conserving arrangement becomes increasingly apparent. Currently, there

are almost 500 cities around the world with populations in excess of 1 million people.

With vertical farming technology, crops can be grown on an industrial scale, in the very

heart of any metropolitan area while at the same time, saving in terms of energy costs.

It may seem counter-intuitive to suggest that an agricultural installation that uses

artificial lighting could actually save on energy costs, but in reality, the ability to

grow crops in a far more confined space means that logistical costs are reduced considerably.

In our current agricultural paradigm, crops are often shipped across long distances,

sometimes even across oceans to make it to market. One particularly egregious case

involves the arid, barren nation of Saudi Arabia buying up thousands of acres of farmland

in the United States for use in alfalfa cultivation, which is then shipped back across

the Atlantic ocean, at a tremendous cost. The ability to grow foods in the very same

area where people live and work means that the costs associated with transporting produce

over long distances may soon be a thing of the past.

3. Vertical farms save space

With a vertical farm installation, up to 16 acres of food can be cultivated on just 1/8

of an acre of space. This represents an exponential increase in the efficiency of

agricultural space requirements. We live in a time where agricultural operations already

constitute almost 50% of all the Earth's land. Fertile land is becoming increasing scarce,

as arable land is currently being lost to desertification at a rate of 12 million hectares

per year. The need to grow crops in smaller spaces is becoming increasingly important.

4. Vertical farming does not require a soil-based medium

Global demands on agriculture have grown so high that farmers are now required to grow

crops on their land all year round, which depletes the soil of its nutrient base over time.

In addition, harsh chemicals, which are not only harmful to the environment but also to

people's health, are commonly used to combat weeds and insects. Vertically farmed crops,

on the other hand, can be grown entirely without the use of toxic herbicides and pesticides.

5. Vertically farmed crops are protected from the elements

With conventional agricultural technology, farmers are severely limited in terms of the

kinds of crops they can grow. Having crops exposed to the elements also means that a

single weather disaster, such as a hurricane or tropical storm can completely wipe out

a farmer's entire yield. Plants are also exposed to a host of damaging pests and weeds,

often forcing crop growers to resort to harsh industrial chemicals in order to mitigate

these external threats to their crops. With indoor vertical farming technology, however,

crops are grown within a climate-controlled environment that allows crops to be protected

from harsh weather conditions, while also shielding them from destructive insects and

weeds. Vertical farmers can more closely monitor each individual plant for damage or

deformities, resulting in a far higher quality product when it finally arrives on you dinner

table.

In many ways, traditional farming methods threaten our modern way of life. Advanced

vertical farming technology seeks to solve many of the problems that are inherent to

conventional farming methods. It saves considerably on water and land, which is

essential, as both of these resources are growing increasingly scarce all around the

globe. It protects vulverable crops from harsh weather, and can even be situated in

dense urban areas. In many ways, the implementation of a vertical farming infrastructure

is the perfect way to revitalize our outdated agricultural sector.