Vertical Farming

Vertical farms are multi-storey buildings to grow crops or rearing animals by stimulating the natural ecological systems. By using advance greenhouse technologies such as hydroponics and aeroponics, various horticultural crops- fruits, vegetables and flowers can be grown in multiple layers. Poultry and fish could also be reared in vertical farms. Apiary is also part of the vertical farming. Lighting in vertical farms is provided with either natural light or artificial lighting systems such as LED. Water is provided by supplementing it with required nutrients.

Vertical farming advantages

• Any crop can be grown anytime and anywhere. Crops are grown cyclically throughout the year. Due to controlled conditions crop yield can be increased.
• There is no dependency on sunshine or rain. There are no crop failures due to various weather related activities such as drought, flood, mist etc.
• By using advanced technologies, vertical farms are built to keep out weeds, insects and disease. In such secured environments, there is no need of use of pesticides. Traditional fertilizers are not required as crops are grown by using pure water supplemented with a precise balance of nutrients.
• The amount of water required under vertical faming is far lower than the traditional farming. Vertical farms use less water by depending on hydroponics or aeroponics. In vertical faming there will be no agricultural run-off. Black/grey water is recycled and re-used. Vertical farms could exploit methane digesters to generate electricity.
• As food is grown in urban areas there is no need of transportation of food from rural areas. Vertical farming ensures availability of fresh organic fruits and vegetables at one’s doorstep. There will be less spoilage and urban areas will become self-reliant.
• In vertical faming more crops can be grown in a small land area. As less land is used, existing horizontal farmland can be returned to its natural ecosystem.

Vertical farming disadvantages

The technology to do vertical faming is expensive. Economically it may not be profitable. Urbans areas are costly. The cost required for arranging artificial lighting, heating and powering may negate the other benefits of vertical farming. The varieties of plants that can be grown under vertical farming are limited when compared to traditional farming. All plants and vegetables are not suitable to grow under controlled conditions. It is also difficult to grow crops like wheat, rice, maize in vertical farms.