Aside from humanity, no other species has intentionally and radically altered the surface of the planet to produce food. Insects such as ants grow and harvest fungi, but most wild creatures rely on the established natural food chain. Agriculture has permitted people to inhabit nearly every livable spot on earth, but that mobility comes with a steep price tag for the environment. Indoor vertical farming systems provide an alternative to traditional food production.
As the amount of water and arable land suited to agriculture continues to decline as a result of increasing demand and climate change, this concept is no longer relegated to the science-fiction shelf. The idea of creating sustainable farms that are housed in specially built skyscrapers has existed for several decades, but has not been considered a serious solution until the 21st century.
The bucolic vision of a small family farm is disappearing. Modern practices suited to a world population in the multiple billions rely on industrial-style production methods and heavy pesticide use in order to make a profit. While no one realistically argues that food production should be cut, growing methods that dominate the world today are responsible for lost habitats and fragmented ecosystems.
Large-scale upright agriculture uses the same principles as back-yard plant containers having built-in tiers or growing levels. Plants that normally require a comparatively large plot of ground if planted horizontally often thrive in an upright configuration. When the same principles are applied to crops raised in high-rises, comparable harvests are produced using consistently less land area, allowing agriculture to thrive in urban areas.
High-rise food production builds on the proven success of greenhouses, which have existed in some form for many centuries. Theoretically, vertical growers could sustain an entire urban population without importing any basic products. Most of the centers in current operation do not include animals, but smaller creatures such as chickens or even pigs are already being successfully grown in small spaces.
There are numerous advantages to high-rise agriculture. Crop failure due to storm damage is reduced or eliminated as long as electrical power is available. Toxic runoff from pesticides is a proven hazard in some regions, but would be far easier to control using vertical systems. Fossil fuels used to power farm machinery would not be needed, and there would be practically no water waste. Animal and plant diseases could be more easily controlled.
Many currently wasted field products could be used, or simply recycled. Big agriculture today is a major producer of methane, a gas that can be captured and cleaned for electrical generation inside a closed system. Excess power could be added to the existing grid. Able residents with few prospects for employment could find greater opportunities in urban farming, and could produce local products year-round.
The environment itself would see the greatest benefits. When seemingly invincible civilizations have collapsed in the past, nature has reclaimed the land very quickly. Cutting back on destructive farming would encourage the same kind of resurgence in many regions currently experiencing environmental and ecological stress. Traditional practices will always be used, but high-rise food production is becoming a practical alternative.
As the amount of water and arable land suited to agriculture continues to decline as a result of increasing demand and climate change, this concept is no longer relegated to the science-fiction shelf. The idea of creating sustainable farms that are housed in specially built skyscrapers has existed for several decades, but has not been considered a serious solution until the 21st century.
The bucolic vision of a small family farm is disappearing. Modern practices suited to a world population in the multiple billions rely on industrial-style production methods and heavy pesticide use in order to make a profit. While no one realistically argues that food production should be cut, growing methods that dominate the world today are responsible for lost habitats and fragmented ecosystems.
Large-scale upright agriculture uses the same principles as back-yard plant containers having built-in tiers or growing levels. Plants that normally require a comparatively large plot of ground if planted horizontally often thrive in an upright configuration. When the same principles are applied to crops raised in high-rises, comparable harvests are produced using consistently less land area, allowing agriculture to thrive in urban areas.
High-rise food production builds on the proven success of greenhouses, which have existed in some form for many centuries. Theoretically, vertical growers could sustain an entire urban population without importing any basic products. Most of the centers in current operation do not include animals, but smaller creatures such as chickens or even pigs are already being successfully grown in small spaces.
There are numerous advantages to high-rise agriculture. Crop failure due to storm damage is reduced or eliminated as long as electrical power is available. Toxic runoff from pesticides is a proven hazard in some regions, but would be far easier to control using vertical systems. Fossil fuels used to power farm machinery would not be needed, and there would be practically no water waste. Animal and plant diseases could be more easily controlled.
Many currently wasted field products could be used, or simply recycled. Big agriculture today is a major producer of methane, a gas that can be captured and cleaned for electrical generation inside a closed system. Excess power could be added to the existing grid. Able residents with few prospects for employment could find greater opportunities in urban farming, and could produce local products year-round.
The environment itself would see the greatest benefits. When seemingly invincible civilizations have collapsed in the past, nature has reclaimed the land very quickly. Cutting back on destructive farming would encourage the same kind of resurgence in many regions currently experiencing environmental and ecological stress. Traditional practices will always be used, but high-rise food production is becoming a practical alternative.
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