The world’s 8.2 billion people use land equal in size to South America to grow food and raise livestock—creating an astonishing global footprint. With the population predicted to rise to 9.2 billion in 2050 and with humans requiring 1500 calories per day, civilisation will need to cultivate 2.1 billion acres, or another Brazil, if farming continues to be done the way it is now done. This solution is impossible, given the already apparent struggle for space. There is also the added aspect of the fact that agricultural products can only grow in some conditions, which further limits the amount of space available. So what’s the solution?
One of the most commonly considered solutions to the agricultural space issue is vertical farming. The practice is exactly as it sounds: farming on vertical surfaces instead of the traditional horizontal farming. By using stacked farming methods, farmers can produce a larger quantity of food on the same amount of land (or less). These layers are frequently incorporated into structures like skyscrapers, greenhouses, or warehouses. However, vertical farming is much more than merely stacking plants and crossing your fingers. It’s a massive boost in sustainable agriculture in multiple areas.
Lack of Land Degradation
Traditional agriculture causes about 80% of worldwide deforestation. By doing so, it also destroys the habitat of many species. Meanwhile, vertical farming removes the need for arable land and large spaces, which mitigates two main issues: deforestation and loss of biodiversity. By switching to this method of farming, we could be giving degraded farmlands the breathing room they need to regenerate and eventually return to their natural state.
Forests are one of the biggest contributors to reducing concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere. Stacking large parts of the world’s agriculture indoors will free up large amounts of land that can become forests.
Recycling of Freshwater
When approximately 2 billion people in the world live with a shortage of freshwater, it is more important than ever that the agricultural sector reduce its water consumption. Many vertical farms use hydroponic and aquaponic systems, which means the water flows through a closed system. This means that there is no runoff, and plants can use 100% of it. They also utilise a dehumidification system that purifies and recycles the water released through the plants transpiration. This ensures that the only water that actually leaves the market is in the plants being sent to the market. The rest of the water is recycled and reused. This system has reduced freshwater consumption in vertical farming by an average of 95%.
Minimal Food Transportation
Vertical farming is also based on trying to reduce food transport. A common reason for food transportation is that product growth usually takes place far away from customer location. Vertical farms are frequently situated near clientele. This is due to the fact that vertical farms can be established almost anywhere. This is a key component of their business plan and a major advantage. Where there is appropriate need, vertical farms provide plant growth. Because food has a longer shelf life when it reaches the shop, shorter distances between production sites and the shelves also translate into reduced food waste.
Farming of the Future
Many have referred to vertical farming as “future farming," and for good reason. This is especially true considering that most people on the planet will have settled in cities by the year 2050. With the population growing and the environment becoming more and more populated, there will be a greater demand for natural and organic food.
Crops can better prepare for this impending problem by using water and soil more efficiently. It’s a sustainable farming system that yields consistent crop rings without compromising quality, which is important because, according to a recent UN assessment, 40% of the world’s land has already been destroyed. If we want to aid the environment, we must make changes everywhere. And vertical farming is one of those changes.
Citations
Eden Green Technology (2020). What You Should Know About Vertical Farming. [online] Eden Green Technology. Available at: https://www.edengreen.com/blog-collection/what-is-vertical-farming.
Irfan, S. (2022). How vertical farming reduces environmental impact - Avisomo. [online] Avisomo. Available at: https://avisomo.com/vertical-farming-reduce-climate-emissions.
Nguyen, L. (2022). Ways in Which Vertical Farming Can Benefit Our Environment. [online] Earth.org. Available at: https://earth.org/ways-in-which-vertical-farming-can-benefit-our-environment/.
Scientific American. (n.d.). Growing Skyscrapers: The Rise of Vertical Farms. [online] Available at: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-rise-of-vertical-farms/.
United Nations (2017). World population projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050, and 11.2 billion in 2100. [online] United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/desa/world-population-projected-reach-98-billion-2050-and-112-billion-2100#:~:text=Calendar-.
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