As the world becomes more industrialized and urbanized, the demand for locally grown food is increasing. Vertical farming is a type of urban farming where crops are grown in vertically stacked layers in a controlled environment.
This type of farming has many benefits over traditional farming methods, including a smaller footprint, less water, and pesticide use, and year-round production. In 2019, the vertical farming industry was valued at $1.02 billion, and is expected to grow over 25% year over year between now and 2027.
What Goes Into a Vertical Farm?
A vertical farm is an agricultural technology that grows plants in vertically stacked layers in a controlled environment. Vertical farms can be used to grow a variety of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and grains.
One of the main advantages of vertical farming is that it allows for year-round crop production, regardless of the weather conditions outside. Additionally, vertical farms can be located in urban areas, where land for traditional farming is scarce.
To create a vertical farm, growers first need to select a suitable location. Once a site has been chosen, growers will need to install a vertical grow rack system. This system consists of shelves or racks that are stacked on top of each other.
Each shelf contains a growing medium, such as soil or hydroponic solution, and is illuminated by artificial lights. The plants are then placed on the shelves and watered as needed. The vertical farm can be automated to control the environment, or it can be manually operated.
The Environmental Benefits of Vertical Farming
As the world population continues to grow, the demand for food will only increase. Unfortunately, traditional farming methods are not always able to meet this demand, and they can also have a negative impact on the environment. Vertical farming is a sustainable food production method that could help to solve this problem.
Vertical Farms Are More Space-Efficient
One of the main advantages of vertical farming is that it is much more space-efficient than traditional farming. In a vertical farm, crops are grown in vertically stacked layers, which means that a smaller footprint is needed. This is critical because as the world population grows, there will be less land available for traditional farming.
Additionally, vertical farms can be located in urban areas, where land is even more scarce. This is beneficial because it allows people to have access to fresh, locally grown food, without the need for large tracts of land.
Vertical Farms Use Less Water
Another advantage of vertical farming is that it uses less water than traditional farming methods. In a vertical farm, the growing medium is constantly reused, and only a small amount of water is needed to maintain the moisture levels.
This is important because water is a precious resource, and traditional farming methods can use a large amount of water. In fact, it takes about 127 gallons of water to grow one pound of corn. Since so much water is used in traditional farming, we need sustainable farming methods that can help us preserve it.
Vertical Farms Use Fewer Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals that are used to kill pests, such as insects, rodents, and fungi. Unfortunately, these pesticides can also be harmful to the environment. They can contaminate water supplies and harm wildlife. They are also harmful to humans and can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer. Vertical farms use fewer pesticides because the controlled environment minimizes the need for them.
Author bio:
Habib-Ur-Rehman is well-known writer for tech, business, food and multiple topic writers with updated info for the audience, believe in the researched based content writing with outstanding writing style.
Leave a Reply