Vertical farming is an agricultural method through which crops are grown in vertically stacked layers. It is done in a controlled environment using techniques such as aquaponics, hydroponics and aeroponics, that does not make use of soil.

With a growing population and not much operational farmland to go around, vertical farming may be used to fulfill the growing food demands of the world.

Origins of Vertical Farming

In 1915, Gilbert Ellis Bailey coined the term vertical farming and he went on to write a namesake book. The modern concept was first proposed in 1999 by professor Dickson Despommier. His concept centered on the idea that urban areas should grow their own food which can save time and resources required for transportation.  Dickson Despommier was a professor ofPublic and Environmental Health at Columbia University. Challenging his students on whether food could be grown on the rooftops of New York skyscrapers, a concept was created in which a 30-story vertical farm grown by hydroponics and artificial light could feed about 50,000 people.

Although the professor’s farm was not built, the idea did take off, inspiring many later designs.

As a result, governments and developers around the world would take note of vertical farming and implement it in cities such as Abu Dhabi, New York, Los Angeles, Bangalore, Dubai, Beijing etc. Between 2014 and November 2020 about $1.8 billion were invested into startups working on creating vertical farms.

Types of Vertical Farms

The following are the known types of Vertical Farming

1. Vertical Farms in buildings

Abandoned buildings are repurposed for vertical farming, but it’s not necessary that such buildings be used often. Depending on the requirements new buildings are also used to construct vertical farms.

1. Shipping-Container Vertical Farms

Old or recycled shipping containers are equipped with LED lighting, vertically stacked farms, climate controls and monitoring sensors. Such types of farms can save space and get a higher yield in the process.

1. Underground Vertical Farms

Also known as ‘Deep Farms’, these types of vertical farms are built in underground tunnels, abandoned mine shafts or any subterranean environment. The constant temperature and humidity means that they require less energy for heating and as for water supply, the underground water source can be used. Such farms can also produce 7 to 9 times more food than a conventional farm.

Techniques of Vertical Farming

Hydroponics

Hydroponics is the method of growing plants without the involvement of soil. Here, plant roots are submerged in magnesium, nitrogen, potassium calcium etc. These solutions support roots, improving chances of higher yield and reducing dependence on water.

Studies have shown that there have been 11 times yield compared to conventional farms at a cost of 13 times less water. Thus hydroponics is the most widely used method in Vertical Farming.

Aquaponics

A slightly advanced method that Hydroponics, Aquaponics integrated production of plants with that of aquatic organisms in a closed loop system resembling nature itself.

Aeroponics

Like the name suggests, Aeroponics does not use mediums like solid or liquid, instead it uses air to grow plants. A liquid solution is used in air where the plants are located, through which the plants absorb nutrients. It is the most suited method as it requires neither water nor soil and requires no growing medium.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Vertical Farming

The following are the advantages and disadvantages of vertical farming

Advantages

1. Efficiency

Conventional farms require too much land and water, while vertical farming requires a fraction of it with more yield per acre. Another additional benefit is that vertical farming can produce crops throughout the year. Even more that one crop can be harvested at once due to their individual land and plots.

1. Weather resistant

Traditional farming is subjected to unpredictable weather patterns and natural disasters such floods, droughts, wildfires, etc. In a controlled environment of vertical farming such factors are negated and thus less susceptible to disruption in the supply chain process.

1. Environmental Conservation

Vertical farming helps in environmental conservation as deforestation that accompanies traditional farming can be negated, thus saving resources in the long run.

Producing food indoors reduces or eliminates conventional plowing, planting, and harvesting by farm machinery, protecting soil, and reducing emissions.

Vertical Farming

Disadvantages

1. Huge costs

Vertical farming is quite costly and some use urban settings where the real estate prices are high, thus, its maintenance costs are even higher as compared to traditional farming.

1. High Energy Consumption

During the growing season, the sun shines on a vertical surface at an extreme angle such that much less light is available to crops than when they are planted on flat land.

Road ahead

• Encouraging Soilless Techniques for Food Security: Strengthening food production and distribution systems is key to fighting hunger and tackling the burden of malnutrition.
• The development of aquaponics and hydroponics embrace all dimensions of food security.
• The government shall consider these methods as viable alternatives for traditional farming and provide assistance in making these techniques affordable to a larger number of farmers.
• Providing Knowledge and Skills: While these alternative techniques can be utilized by a variety of stakeholders, from household farmers and small- to large-scale farmers, specific knowledge and skills must be developed for safe, successful and sustainable implementation.
• Facilitating Sustainable Farming: In a country like India, there is a constant pressure on agricultural land and its conversion to other uses.
• With Aeroponics and Hydroponics, the discussions around farming can move away from land constraints to focussing more on sustainable farming techniques.
• Way Ahead for Schools: Such systems are difficult but not impossible to maintain, the prerequisite is to have at least basic understandings of these systems.
• Schools might also encourage students to install Aquaponic systems at schools as their practical task for core STEM subjects like Maths, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering.