Taking a quick break from the alternative energies discussed in the past few weeks, I wanted to talk about a possible solution to another problem we are facing today (pertaining to both humanity and the environment) that will only continue to get worse in the coming years: food scarcity. Now, it's no secret that the human population is increasing, and with that comes the need for more food in order to support such an increase. As it stands now, traditional farming takes up a lot of land, and while it may be providing enough for some people it isn't very accessible for many. And, as the human population continues to increase, we may find traditional farming methods will not be able to keep up. But, there's a new way of farming that may be able to help us solve this problem, and it's called vertical farming.
What is vertical farming?
Side Note: Thanks to Andrew for suggesting this idea. Your feedback is appreciated!
Vertical farming is just as it sounds: it's farming that extends upwards rather than horizontally. Now, the term vertical farming covers a wide variety of different ideas: there isn't just one type of vertical farm. Some incorporate hydroponics, while others completely climate-control the building the plants are in. Some use conveyor belts to move plants so that each gets the proper amount of sunlight, and some rely on people to hand pollinate each individual plant. There are many, many different types of vertical farms, each with their own differences and benefits. However, there are two goals that all vertical farms share: to save space, and to make farming more efficient.
Obviously, the methods in which they do this differ from each other a lot. Many of the concepts one would see with a Google search (or an Ecosia search!) are futuristic, outlandish sci-fi concepts that we wouldn't expect to see for another hundred years. But take a closer look, and there are many realistic ideas already in use today. Take, for instance, Sky Greens in Singapore. It's a multi story, vertical farming operation that really does work! And this is just one example of the many different operations being run around the world today.
How does it work?
Even though they differ so much, I thought it would be best to provide at least one example of how a vertical farm works to give a better idea of the concept. To touch on Sky Greens again, it works by stacking trays of plants in an elongated "ferris wheel like" fashion. This "elongated ferris wheel" rotates slowly so that every plant gets the amount of sunlight it needs at the top. Watering systems can be integrated into the structure, but it can also be done manually as each tray reaches the bottom of the loop. Again, this is just one of the many designs for vertical farming out there in the world today, but it accomplishes the same goal as the others: saving space, and being more efficient.
Pros of vertical farming
Lessens Pests- because most vertical farms are built indoors, there is a high amount of control when it comes to what is let in and out. This means that less bugs and pests will be able to enter and affect crops, increasing yield and health of plants being grown.
Saves Space- this is arguably the most important benefit of vertical farming. Current agricultural methods take up acres of land, and eventually we will run out of land to use. Vertical farming, on the other hand, takes up very little space, which means that it could even be used as a method of producing food in cities.
Lowers Pollution- transportation of produce from farms to cities and towns releases quite a large amount of harmful emissions. Having local, vertical farms would reduce the need for so much transportation, thereby reducing our pollution.
Saves Water- about 70% of the world's drinking water is used in agriculture. This is mainly for irrigation, and on top of that most of the water used is poisoned by pesticides and insecticides. Vertical Farming, however, can actually use what is known as black water (water that has come into contact with human feces). While it may not sound that great, it actually provides good nutrients for the plants, and will help us to recycle.
Cons of vertical farming
Pollination- most vertical farming operations, being on small scales, used pre-purchased seeds to grow new plants. However, if it were to be adopted on a scale as large as current agricultural methods, there would need to be a way to generate new seeds within the farm itself. And, if bugs are being shut out of the operation, there is no real way to spread pollen around unless it is done manually. Scientists and engineers have dabbled in creating mechanical pollinators, but it remains to be seen if such an endeavor can upkeep the amount of seeds needed.
Cost- because Vertical Farms would likely be climate controlled (and possibly hand-pollinated) the cost for produce generated through this process may go up. It all depends on how widely the system is adopted, and what progress is made in new designs in the coming years. Ultimately, vertical farming is somewhat of a risk.
Should it be used? My thoughts
When I first heard about vertical farming, my immediate inclination was that it wasn't natural, therefore it shouldn't be used. But, upon doing more research, a transition to vertical farming seems to be not only a beneficial change, but a necessary one. If the human population continues to increase, we simply won't have enough room to grow food with our current methods. And, along with hydroponics and aquaponics, vertical farming seems to be one of the best ways to upkeep food production while saving space. And, in terms of it being unnatural, our current method of agriculture, with all its pesticide usage and industrialization, isn't exactly natural either. And, maybe, if vertical farming is adopted, we could give that farming land back to the environment!
Conclusion
So, it seems that vertical farming is a promising option for the future. It can upkeep and even improve our current amount of food being produced, all while remaining environmentally friendly and saving space. The only downsides are that it could lead to higher costs and be cut short by pollination problems, but with new designs for vertical farming being made every month the future for it looks promising. I definitely think it should be used more often, and based on its increase in popularity over the past decade, it seems that many others think the same as well. So, I would keep my eye on vertical farming, it may very well be our main source of food in the coming years.
All credit for information used in this post goes to:
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/vertical-farming.html#.WpqrJOjwYdU
http://www.verticalfarm.com/
http://archive.onearth.org/blog/what-is-vertical-farming
https://vertical-farming.net/
https://www.ecowatch.com/5-examples-of-creative-urban-agriculture-from-around-the-world-1881802016.html
Images:
https://agfundernews.com/association-vertical-farming-reveal-sustainability-certification-scheme-summit.html
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/686804.html
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/vertical-farming/
http://verticalfarm.altervista.org/the-future-of-agriculture-in-the-chinese-language-vertical-farm-video/?doing_wp_cron=1520185050.5446751117706298828125
https://newbiescience.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/vertical-farming-the-only-way-is-up/
https://pestcontroldurban.wordpress.com/tag/pest/
http://keyword-searches.net/gallery/826621.html
https://lookfordiagnosis.com/mesh_info.php?term=pollination&lang=1
https://wallpapercave.com/stacks-of-money-wallpaper
http://kuow.org/post/sky-high-vegetables-vertical-farming-sprouts-singapore
https://theurbanprospector.wordpress.com/2015/04/05/vertical-farming-a-great-idea-goes-too-far/
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