sister
27th January 2011, 18:56
Vertical Farming provides a sustainable solution to the problem of sufficient crop production primarily in areas where high land costs, volatile climates, poor soils, water restrictions or insect damage require the development of alternative farming techniques. These conditions are rapidly increasing globally. Large scale greenhouses, several stories high, can maximize the yield in each harvest in a smaller lot of land. Controlled, indoor farming will ensure proper use of recycled water, will require minimal pest control, and will promote the movement for locally grown organic produce.
Other Advantages of Vertical Farming:
Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre = 30 outdoor acres)
No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests
All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers
VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water
VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services
VF greatly reduces the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the
agricultural interface
VF converts black and gray water into potable water by collecting the water of
evapotranspiration
VF adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants and animals
VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.)
VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers
VF creates sustainable environments for urban centers
VF creates new employment opportunities
We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm indoors on earth
VF offers the promise of measurable economic improvement for tropical and subtropical LDCs*. If this should prove to be the case, then VF may be a catalyst in helping to reduce or even reverse the population growth of *LDCs as they adopt urban agriculture as a strategy for sustainable food production. (*I think this means Least Developed Countries --sister.)
VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water and land for agriculture.
Please see this excellent website for further information and a cool vid:
http://www.verticalfarm.com/
Other Advantages of Vertical Farming:
Year-round crop production; 1 indoor acre is equivalent to 4-6 outdoor acres or more, depending upon the crop (e.g., strawberries: 1 indoor acre = 30 outdoor acres)
No weather-related crop failures due to droughts, floods, pests
All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers
VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water
VF returns farmland to nature, restoring ecosystem functions and services
VF greatly reduces the incidence of many infectious diseases that are acquired at the
agricultural interface
VF converts black and gray water into potable water by collecting the water of
evapotranspiration
VF adds energy back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants and animals
VF dramatically reduces fossil fuel use (no tractors, plows, shipping.)
VF converts abandoned urban properties into food production centers
VF creates sustainable environments for urban centers
VF creates new employment opportunities
We cannot go to the moon, Mars, or beyond without first learning to farm indoors on earth
VF offers the promise of measurable economic improvement for tropical and subtropical LDCs*. If this should prove to be the case, then VF may be a catalyst in helping to reduce or even reverse the population growth of *LDCs as they adopt urban agriculture as a strategy for sustainable food production. (*I think this means Least Developed Countries --sister.)
VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water and land for agriculture.
Please see this excellent website for further information and a cool vid:
http://www.verticalfarm.com/