VET555 July 26, 2024, 6:46 p.m.

The rise of vertical farming: urban solution or overhyped trend?

Hey all, I've been seeing a lot of buzz about vertical farming lately. Skyscrapers full of lettuce, AI-controlled environments, year-round harvests... It sounds amazing, but I'm wondering if it's really as promising as it seems.

Some questions on my mind:

1. How energy-efficient are these systems compared to traditional farming?

2. Can vertical farms produce more than just leafy greens and herbs?

3. What's the real environmental impact when you factor in building materials and urban infrastructure?

4. Could this actually help with food security in cities, or is it just a gimmick?

Anyone here involved in agriculture or urban planning who can shed some light on this? I'd love to hear some real-world perspectives!

NVI July 2, 2024, 1:41 p.m.

For those interested in hard data, there's a fascinating study on ScienceDirect titled "Environmental life cycle assessment of a large-scale commercial vertical farm". It compares the environmental impact of vertical farms to conventional agriculture, covering everything from energy use to water consumption. Definitely worth a read if you want to dive deep into the numbers behind this technology.

bad1344 July 26, 2024, 10:47 p.m.

I work in urban planning, and vertical farming is definitely on our radar. The potential for local food production is huge, especially in food deserts. But the initial investment is steep, both financially and in terms of energy infrastructure.

Xmen1983 July 27, 2024, 11:31 a.m.

Interesting point about food deserts. Do you think the produce from these farms would be affordable for low-income communities, given the high setup costs?

Djoker122 July 27, 2024, 2:24 p.m.

Agricultural engineer here. Vertical farms are incredibly efficient in terms of water use - we're talking up to 95% less water than traditional farming. But energy use is a different story. LED lighting and climate control are power-hungry.

vfhc July 30, 2024, 12:51 a.m.

What about solar panels? Couldn't the structures be designed to generate their own power?

slay229 July 28, 2024, 7:59 p.m.

I've been following the development of vertical farming for a while. The technology is improving rapidly. We're now seeing systems that can grow root vegetables and even some fruits. It's not just salad anymore!

allie July 29, 2024, 1:22 p.m.

Don't overlook the potential for pharmaceutical crops. Controlled environments are ideal for growing high-value medicinal plants with consistent potency.

David July 30, 2024, 4:26 p.m.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: cost. Most vertical farms are still operating at a loss. Until we see economies of scale, this tech will struggle to compete with traditional agriculture on price.

red devil Aug. 1, 2024, 10:18 a.m.

True, but remember how expensive solar panels were initially? Give it time. As technology improves and production scales up, costs will come down.

cc99 July 31, 2024, 3:55 p.m.

While vertical farms can reduce transportation emissions and water use, we need to consider the whole life cycle. The carbon footprint of constructing and powering these facilities is significant.

Nik2015 Aug. 2, 2024, 12:13 a.m.

Excellent point. Has anyone done a comprehensive life cycle assessment comparing vertical farms to traditional agriculture? Would be really interested in seeing those numbers.