Pros and Cons of Vertical Farming Systems: What You Need to Know
As urban areas become more populated, cities need to turn to vertical farming methods as the primary way of growing food. Vertical farming systems allow cities to grow microgreens, vegetables, and fruits in small contained spaces.
When you live in the city, there isn’t room for fields and fields of farmland. So, vertical farming systems allow for urban areas to organically grow their own food without taking up too much space.
But, what are the pros and cons of vertical farming? We’ll cover everything you need to know in this article.
What are the advantages of vertical farming systems?
There are plenty of advantages to vertical farming. Some of the main advantages include:
Year-Round Yields: When you grow crops with vertical farming methods, you will have year-round grows. Since the crops are grown in a controlled environment, they are able to keep growing throughout every season.
Weather Resistant: Crops grown indoors aren’t susceptible to damage by flooding, droughts, or pests! One of the main reasons as to why vertical farming works is that farmers can have full control of the environment.
Produces Organic Foods: Vertical farming systems promote the growth of organic, healthy foods. You don’t have to use pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers to grow plants.
Leaves a Smaller Footprint: Vertical farming uses upward growth methods to harvest crops in small settings. These methods use less land to grow foods, which allows farmlands to their natural habitat.
What are the disadvantages of vertical farming?
While there are many advantages to vertical farming, we still have to understand the disadvantages. There are a few cons that come with these intricate systems.
They're Pricey: To start, vertical farming can be expensive in urban areas because of the construction and technology costs. This is why developers are reluctant to invest in vertical farming.
Requires Large Amounts of Electricity: In order to grow foods like grains, vegetables, or fruits, a lot of electricity is needed. We’ll have to rely on artificial lights to encourage growth, which can be expensive.
Can Lead to Potential Job Loss: As a new agricultural industry, vertical farming could replace a lot of traditional farming jobs. Food demands will be met by urban vertical farming, and the demand for traditional farmers could go down. This can result in a loss of jobs. But, it will also create new jobs within the city.