The world population is expected to grow rapidly by 2050, reaching about 9 billion. Consequently, the need to increase global food production by up to 70%; however, 50% of habitable land on earth is already being used for agriculture and yields. The remaining are going to decrease according to climate change implications.

Here comes Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) as a technology–based farm that consists of growing food indoors to create an optimal environment for protected crops.

Potential benefits:

• Regulate the temperature, humidity, and potential light, and protect the crops from annoying pest infestations.
• Use resources more efficiently, save water and land.
• Grow plants using hydro- or aeroponics, which replaces used soil with water or acontrolled gaseous environment. All the processes controlled by following nutrientrecipes to obtain optimal health and growth of desired plants.
• Reduce annual loss of approximately $ 300 billion due to 40% od estimated global croplosses to posts and plant deseases.
• Avoid the use of pesticides, clean label food, and preserve biodiversity interferences.

Vertical farms can be placed in the city where the products are in demand. Farmers can use empty warehouses or office buildings to create high-tech farms. The taste of selected crops is guaranteed and not which crops can be survived during the transport routes.
This allows farmers to harvest fresh crops all year round. This also shortens the transport routes.

Overview

In the face of crises or difficult circumstances, such as the COVID -19 pandameic, transitioning to vertical farming can be an effective solution to overcome these challenges. With vertical farming, issues such as drought, extreme weather conditions, and soil depletion do not hinder the ability to produce fresh crops consistently.

The ultra-high-tech farms in San Francisco and Compton serve as examples of how to tackle environmental challenges. Through the use of robots and sensors, these farms are able to precisely control the cultivation process, creating optimal conditions for plant growth that are comparable to those found in traditional crop cultivation.

It should be noted that vertical farming has a very high energy consumption to produce a limited range of crops, such as leafy greens and microgreens, at a competitive price point in the market. However, there is a social aspect to consider in term of potential job loss. It is worth nothing that not all vertical farms use robots for harvesting. As a result, more stable jobs with better harvesting conditions have been created.

The technology of vertical farming, which is combating food insecurity, not only produces higher yields using less water and land but also creates job opportunities for local residents while encouraging education. Additionally, this technology enables the harvesting of fresh and ripe crops.

By developing neighboring vertical farms, we can reduce the need for transportation and ensure that fresh food arrives to consumers within hours. This is crucial for combating climate change, increasing food security, and promoting healthy diets for larger populations.

Hend Al-Jawad

Image Source: Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) – foto: Pixabay

References: https://foodarchitecture.blog/2022/01/22/will-the-future-farm-be-your-neighbour/