There are 4 main benefits of vertical farming:
- Space savings
- Sustainable production
- Food security
- More diversity and efficiency than regular agriculture
Urban vertical farms require less space
More greens can grow on less land. By stacking on top of one another, crops can flourish at a far higher density than they would in traditional farming.
This efficient use of land makes vertical agriculture well suited to urban areas, where space comes at a premium.
Local agriculture is more sustainable and ecological
In the city-state of Singapore, a large majority of food is imported. Producers such as Sustenir Agriculture offer vegetables grown in repurposed office spaces. They calculate their product results in 92% lower carbon emissions compared to imported greens.
In China, the world’s largest agricultural producer and consumer, the city of Shanghai is also striving to be more self-sufficient in its food production. In 2017, the city commissioned a 100-hectare project to turn a whole neighborhood into an urban farming area, including vertical farms.
Moreover, in a context of global warming, growing food in vertical farms means that crops will not be subject to droughts, storms, or sudden temperature changes, ensuring better production in a much smaller space.
The use of controlled environments in vertical farming can also eliminate the use for pesticides, yielding high-quality fruits and vegetables. Finally, by automating irrigation and recycling water, some systems claim to use 95% less water compared to conventional agriculture.
Vertical agriculture is safer
In a context of global warming, growing food in vertical farms means that crops will not be subject to droughts, storms, or sudden temperature changes, ensuring better production in a much smaller space.
The use of controlled environments in vertical farming can also eliminate the use for pesticides, yielding high-quality fruits and vegetables.
Controlled Environment Agriculture is more efficient
CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) is a type of agriculture that can be controlled and manipulated to adapt and meet the specific needs of certain plants. Smart vertical farms make it possible to grow multiple type of plants in the same environment by:
- Regulating the temperature
- Varying humidity
- Varying lighting needs
