By 2050, the world’s population is expected to grow to close to 10 billion people, and feeding it will be a huge challenge that is for sure! Due to industrial development and urbanisation, we are losing farmable land every day. In 2015, scientists reported that the Earth had lost a third of its farmable lands over the previous 40 years. Impacts such as over farming, soil depleting and other farming practices have made it challenging to grow food in abundance.
Many believe that vertical farming can be an answer to this challenge. There are numerous ways to grow food and these include methods such as hydroponics which transcends into vertical farming.
Vertical farming is the practice of producing food on vertically inclined surfaces using the same principals of Hydroponics and sometimes Aquaponics. Instead of farming vegetables and other foods on a single level, such as in a field or a greenhouse, this method produces foods in vertically stacked layers commonly integrated into other structures to be able to grow up!
Using Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and technology, this modern idea uses indoor farming techniques. The artificial control of temperature, light, humidity and other ways means producing foods and medicine indoor possible. In many ways, vertical farming is similar to greenhouses where metal reflectors and artificial lighting augment natural sunlight. The primary goal of vertical farming is maximise crop output in a limited space.
An uncountable number of vertical farms have become apparent across the world. That means that vertical farming is on the way to becoming a common feature of city landscapes and a means to grow food in urbanised areas with ease.
Vertical farming is a a solution to help combat climate change and help communities grow an abundance of food where farm land might not be available. It also help take the stress off the system and empowered people to grow their own food at home, at school or in areas where there is a lack of space.
There are a number of advantages to vertical farming which include; reliable year-round crop production, not affected by weather conditions or soil health, better use of space, minimal water usage, it's environmentally friendly, no chemicals or pesticides, a reduction in food miles and it's energy efficient if done correctly.
See or shop page for vertical garden towers that make growing food at home easy and fun!
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