Ever since we started growing food instead of chasing down our dinner with sticks and spears, we have gone horizontal. It was the big leap forward in civilisation that defined us as a species for thousands of years. But now we are taking another leap, not forward but up. We are going vertical.
Vertical farming is an agriculture technique that involves growing crops on vertically stacked shelves. It is a type of indoor farming that allows crops to be grown year-round in a controlled environment.
One massive advantage in a world where water reserves are draining perilously low is that vertical farming uses less water and, it is claimed, higher yields without destroying wild life’s natural habitats. The farmers can leave out the DDT and leave us the birds and bees. The controlled environment give greater consistency than pesticide-controlled cultivation.
Harnessing solar energy, indoor farms, stacked vertically, can produce all year round, unlinking farming from seasonal limitations. The tired old earth can give a huge sigh of relief instead of having to give up the goods to feed an ever voracious human race.
Vertical farming has one disadvantage : it is techno-intensive and you can’t just plough and sow. This requires start up money. Although in theory you could vertically farm in your loft – and illegal stash growers have been doing this hydroponically for years – in reality, the economies of scale only make this economically viable in large warehouses, even converted Victorian factories long abandoned in inner cities.
One big plus is that vertical farming can be carried out closer to population centres – this means less transport pollution until the electric truck fleet comes on line. Water is reused as much as thirty times as there are no pesticides to filter out.
The challenge is to balance efficiency with electricity to achieve net zero in the vertical farming sector. This requires considerable investment in renewables at a local level. Cost efficiency can be further achieved by the use of robot pickers operating 24 hours.
The vestiges of industrialisation are being repurposed: shipping containers, deep farms in mine shafts, meatpacking facilities, even abandoned cart plants. This farming revolution will regenerate forgotten areas and the money will follow. And it is estimated that in ten years, vertical farming will be the norm for new agricultural start ups, even in traditional farms.
Investors are getting excited at this prospect of the Next Big Thing. With a sound business plan, funds are there and can be accessed with the help of a good advisor. The only way is up.
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