Vertical farming...our food future is more sustainable

Vertical agriculture...our food future is more sustainable

The increase in population numbers is matched by an increase in the demand for food, which burdens the agricultural system with many burdens. Among these burdens is the productivity gap between agricultural crops and population numbers. Because the crops produced by humans using traditional agricultural methods have become powerless in the face of this imbalance that has affected the relationship between population numbers and food abundance. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss with you an innovative method that can help us address this food problem: vertical agriculture. So, be with us in this article to learn about its meaning, and to look at its role in achieving sustainable development.

What is thevertical farming technique?

Vertical agriculture is a sustainable concept, and it has received great attention in recent years, and according to data from the research company Statista, its market value reached 5.6 billion US dollars in 2022, and it is expected that this value will rise to 35 billion US dollars by 2032.

Apart from traditional agriculture, which takes place in large horizontal areas, vertical agriculture involves planting seeds in layers on top of each other vertically, as we no longer need a large area or an entire garden to provide our food, in addition to the fact that we will grow various crops at the same time.

This method is not just stacking layers of seeds on top of each other, but rather it is a very intelligent system, with which we can artificially control humidity, temperature, gases, and light, which is called “Controlled Agriculture - CEA.” With this ecosystem, we can monitor the internal conditions of these agricultural classes. So users of vertical farming, for example, provide artificial lighting and metal reflectors, so they can simulate sunlight.

This technology-based approach offers users of this new method a promising opportunity to produce food in a controlled environment by maintaining crop growth conditions inside closed structures. Thus increasing agricultural productivity, especially since in this way we can control the rates of carbon and nutrients that the plant receives.

How does vertical farming work?

The above was a general definition of vertical farming, and now we must - in some detail - explain to you the truth about this agricultural technique, which is based on four pillars, which are:

Planning: In vertical farming, farmers sow seeds inside structures such as towers. To maximize crop production; That is, it is a method that preserves the lands consumed by traditional agriculture. These structures may be in glass houses, or similar buildings that do not require a large horizontal space.

Light: We previously hinted that vertical farming allows us to control light, in addition to the fact that we can use technologies that help in implementing this, such as the technology of rotating structures that guarantee us the efficiency of lighting, as we can adjust the intensity and frequency of the lights in accordance with the needs of the plant, which was confirmed by Dr. Kevin M. Volta, a professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida, saw this photomodulation as an opportunity to biologically modify the plant. So that its cultivation becomes sustainable. Likewise, remote sensors and smart cameras can collect precise data about a plant and then analyze it to improve its health, enhance its growth, and increase its productivity.

Sustainability: AtEarth Guards, we spare no effort in shedding light on everything that is sustainable and innovative, and this is the secret of our interest in the vertical farming method; Because it is able to reduce human depletion of environmental resources, as it is a method that uses little water.

This new agricultural method - in addition to the above - is useful in terms of reducing the cost of transporting its agricultural products, because it is located in urban locations that become easy to transport. Therefore, its carbon footprint is reduced, and it is an agricultural method that does not use chemicals. As we mentioned earlier, it is a method subject to environmental control. That is, harmful substances are prevented from entering it.

Then you can add to the above other benefits to this modern technology, such as maintaining energy efficiency. Because the structures and places of implementation contain power generation units built into them, they are also able to reduce the occupational hazards that we see in traditional agriculture, where heavy agricultural equipment and dangerous chemicals are present.

Growth environment: You may have noticed in the above how this new method does not need soil in the traditional sense, as we mentioned it is a method based on growth environments in the form of layers on top of each other inside glass houses.

Challenges:

Low pollination

Vertical farming is based on controlled environmental conditions, and this environmental control prevents the entry of unwanted pests, and this hinders natural pollination by bees - for example - or butterflies. This is why farmers need to adopt manual pollination, which is expensive and annoying.

Technological Dependence

This type of agriculture depends largely on technology. That is, vertical farming requires farmers to invest heavily in various technologies and equipment, and this may be - in addition to the above - a factor in dispensing with human hands.

Cost of vertical farming

Although vertical farming is an innovative approach and an advanced way to address the problems of traditional agriculture; It requires large investments when starting the project, and the size of the investment varies depending on several factors such as the area of the project, as well as its techniques, which include preparing specialized infrastructure and providing advanced lighting, irrigation and climate control systems, in addition to workers’ wages and product marketing expenses.

Despite these challenges, vertical agriculture remains beneficial for countries with high populations, as well as countries suffering from drought and desertification. If we compare the benefits of this method and its challenges, we find that it has a promising future that can address all challenges. Especially since it is still a new technology for the age of scientific research, which changes everything with the succession of scientific discoveries and breakthroughs.

Thus, the benefits of vertical agriculture are sustainable and promising, and it can provide humans with their food without causing exhaustion to their environment, and without consuming its resources. Therefore, reducing resource consumption reduces the carbon footprint, and the result is an increase in our ability to combat the effects of climate change. Therefore, Earth Guards believe that this innovative method is a good step towards implementing sustainable development strategies.