How the food production system can be transformed

Current modes of food production are unsustainable, using a great amount of resources with negative impacts on the environment.

Furthermore, they are not suitable to feed the world in the future. Automated vertical farming provides a solution to these problems. Vertical farming is a farming method, where crops are grown in controlled environments and all parameters, for instance, temperature, CO2 level and light are controlled to provide optimal growing conditions.

Compared to conventional farming, vertical farming requires up to 95% less water and 90% less land than conventional agriculture. The controlled environment leads to higher yields and crops can be grown without the use of pesticides. This also makes it possible to grow crops all year round, regardless of the season and climate. Fruit and vegetables that are currently imported and transported long distances can thus be produced locally which offers fresher produce and reduces emissions and food waste. However presently, vertical farming systems are only profitable for the cultivation of lettuce, herbs and micro greens. Higher automation can reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Read our next post to find out what we are doing to make vertical farming profitable for a variety of fruit and vegetables.

Sources:

Toyoki Kozai & Genhua Niu (2020) – Chapter 33 – Conclusions: Resource-saving and resource-consuming characteristics of PFALs. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-816691-8.00033-9.