By Simeon Shodimu
The ever bourgeoning global population and the ever increasing population in urban areas, and with UN projections, which indicate that if the current trends continue, the number can increase to as much as 68% by 2050. Feeding such a number of people can become a challenge. Naturally, a growing urban population means higher demand for fresh food. It is a major challenge to the capacity of conventional agriculture, which may not be efficient enough, and can be increasingly unreliable while climate change progress.
Limited space and a warming climate are among the serious problems that cities face, the need for such innovative Farming Practice. The quantity and quality of crops depend heavily on weather and other uncontrollable environmental factors. Unexpected drought, excessive rainfall, or pest infestation can cause significant damage to crops. That, in turn, cause economic losses for farmers and disruptions in food supply chains. Also, monoculture crops contribute to the degradation of soil and water systems. With agricultural land already starting to become scarce, this is another problem that could affect farmers and consumers, who often must rely on imports.
Transforming the way cities and buildings are planned is necessary to adapt to climate change and create a more livable infrastructure. An important part of this transformation is increasing green spaces and urban farms that can serve local communities. Technological advances are already enabling alternative production methods that can serve to diversify the urban food supply chain and increase urban consumers’ access to fresh and local food.
Benefits of Urban Farming to citizens:-
Creating local, urban farms can have a positive impact on increasing well-being of city residents and reducing the carbon footprint. Close access to fresh food reduces the need for imports, thereby significantly minimizing transport emissions. Additionaly, by using renewable energy sources, urban farming can be fully climate-neutral. Urban food production centers designed in this way create a resilient and reliable food system that contributes to building self-sufficient urban communities.
Another important element of urban agriculture is the positive impact it can have on local communities. In addition to the practical element of growing crops, residents can usefully spend time and raise awareness about healthy eating and conscious lifestyles. Urban agriculture brings food production to the heart of cities, allowing closer contact between people and their food, but also between producers and consumers.
Vertical Farming as integral part of Urban Farming:
There exists many benefits to Vertical farming, often beyond those offered by urban agriculture. This is mainly due to greater crop efficiency. Vertical farming requires less space because crops are built vertically rather than horizontally. Using columns, towers, and shelves, growing areas can be significantly reduced without sacrificing production efficiency. This technique makes it possible to build farms in warehouses, vacant buildings, hotels, or supermarkets – even in the middle of the city center! This allows city residents to enjoy a product produced in close proximity to their place of residence. Vertical farming doesn’t use plant protection, which means the food is not only fresh but also pesticide-free.
Depending on the location of the vertical farm and its consumers, the carbon footprint of production can be drastically reduced. It is measured based on how far food travels between its production and end consumers, and by the emissions produced by transportation.
Vertical farming technology therefore ensures:
1. Reduction in the amount of land required for food production, which means that land can be used in a better way for people and the planet.
2. Utilize brownfields, marginal spaces and urban areas currently underutilized or neglected.
3. Increase yields from an area, using fewer resources compared to other forms of urban agriculture.
4. Significantly increases the yield of plants per unit area compared to horizontal(?) hydroponic culture.
5. Reduce pressure on food supply chains and help address the huge infrastructure shortage for growing cities.
6. Make food production independent of seasonal changes and insulate it from extreme weather events caused by global warming.
How readily available is Vertical Farming activities:
Vertical farming activities are becoming increasingly available and accessible. This innovative agricultural practice involves growing crops indoors in vertically stacked layers, often in urban environments, using techniques like hydroponics and aeroponics. These methods allow plants to thrive in controlled environments with precise temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions.
Vertical farming offers several benefits, including increased crop yields, water conservation, reduced land use, and improved food safety. Crops can be grown using up to 95% less water than traditional farming methods, and the controlled environment minimizes pest exposure and contamination risks. Additionally, vertical farming maximizes space efficiency, making it ideal for urban areas.
The global vertical farming market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing demand for sustainable and locally sourced produce. Companies like AeroFarms, Urban Crop Solutions, and Intelligent Growth Solutions are leading the way in vertical farming technology, utilizing advanced systems for efficient crop production.
Available References include:
¹ Vertical Farming Technology | What Equipment & Systems for You?
² Vertical farming technology: IoT, AI & robotics
³ Vertical Farming Technology iFarm
