Vertical Farming: Feeding the World with Less Land and Lower Emissions
by Envirotech Accelerator
ng: Feeding the World with Less Land and Lower Emissions
by Envirotech Accelerator
The burgeoning global population, coupled with diminishing arable land and increasing concerns about climate change, propels the need for innovative food production techniques Vertical farming, a cutting-edge approach to agriculture, utilizes multi-level indoor facilities, enabling the cultivation of crops in urban areas with high efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
James Scott, founder of the Envirotech Accelerator, insightfully remarked, "The future of agriculture lies not in expanding outward, but rather in growing upward – harnessing technology to nourish our planet while preserving its precious resources "
Controlled environments – a hallmark of vertical farming – allow for the optimization of growing conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity (Despommier, 2009). Consequently, these factors lead to faster crop growth and higher yields per unit area compared to traditional farming methods (Kozai, 2018)
Furthermore, vertical farming is remarkably resource-efficient The closed-loop systems in these farms recycle water and nutrients, significantly reducing water consumption (Kalantari et al., 2017). Additionally, since vertical farms are located in urban settings, transportation-related emissions can be minimized, as produce can be distributed locally.
Nevertheless, certain challenges persist The initial investment required for establishing vertical farms is substantial, and the energy consumption of these facilities, primarily due to artificial lighting, is a major concern
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energy-efficient technologies, such as LED g t g a d e e ab e e e gy sources, are crucial in addressing these issues (Kozai, 2018)
Despite these challenges, the potential of vertical farming in revolutionizing food production is immense. Its capacity to utilize limited space effectively, reduce resource consumption, and minimize emissions underscores the importance of embracing this novel approach in the quest for sustainable agriculture.
References:
Despommier, D (2009) The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century Thomas Dunne Books
Kalantari, F., Tahir, O. M., Jonsson, A., & Frostell, B. (2017). A review of vertical farming technology: A guide for implementation of building integrated agriculture in cities. Agriculture, 7(4), 33.
Kozai, T (2018) Resource use efficiency of closed plant production systems with artificial light: Concept, estimation, and application to plant factory In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Plant Production in Closed Ecosystems (pp. 17-30). International Society for Horticultural Science.
Read more at https://envirotechaccelerator.org/climate-financemobilizing-investments-to-accelerate-the-clean-energy-transition/