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Vertical farming is an innovative method of growing crops in stacked layers, often inside controlled indoor environments like warehouses. Unlike traditional horizontal farming, this technique uses hydroponics—growing plants in nutrient-rich water without soil—to maximize space and efficiency.
This approach is particularly well-suited to urban environments and tall industrial buildings where space is limited but vertical capacity is abundant.
Vertical farming wouldn’t be possible without the advent of LED lighting. Before LEDs, high-pressure sodium lamps were commonly used in indoor agriculture. However, these lights produced excessive heat, making it dangerous—and inefficient—to stack growing layers. LEDs, which became commercially viable around 2015, solved this problem by offering energy efficiency with minimal heat output.
While the industry often uses the term “controlled environment agriculture” (CEA), it’s more accurate to call it controlled environment horticulture (CEH). That’s because vertical farms primarily grow horticultural crops—leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens—not agricultural staples like cereals or potatoes.
Vertical farming excels at producing:
These crops have short growth cycles, are lightweight, and don’t require large root systems, making them ideal for high-turnover vertical systems.
Larger, long-lived crops like tomatoes or maize present significant challenges in terms of space, light, and economics, and are rarely grown commercially in vertical setups.
Automation plays a key role in vertical farming. Systems are often fully integrated to manage lighting, irrigation, and harvesting. This automation also supports pest and disease control—a major benefit of vertical systems.
Since crops are grown in a sealed indoor environment, human pathogens (like Salmonella or E. coli) are easier to avoid. This is particularly crucial for crops like lettuce that are eaten raw and often unwashed.
However, pests like spider mites and powdery mildew can still be a threat. Once introduced, these can spread quickly in the confined vertical setup. Many vertical farms operate pesticide-free, relying instead on environmental control and prevention.
While vertical farming has seen significant investment—especially from venture capital firms in the U.S. and U.K.—many early startups have faced financial difficulties. Yet, others are thriving. Notable examples include:
Still, many traditional outdoor growers remain skeptical. They argue that one strip of open field can produce more vegetables in a year than an entire vertical farm, making the economics hard to justify without a clear niche.
Innovation continues in vertical farming. During a recent visit to Stockbridge Technology Centre, I saw promising developments like nitric acid generators that pull nitrogen from the air to create fertilizer on-site—cutting costs and environmental impact.
Despite its challenges, vertical farming is carving out a place in the global food system. While it’s not likely to replace traditional farming soon, it’s well-positioned for urban agriculture, sustainable herb production, and pesticide-free leafy greens.
Final Thoughts
Vertical farming may not be the silver bullet for global food security, but it’s an important piece of the puzzle. Its success will depend on continued innovation, smarter automation, and identifying the right crops and markets.
As we look toward 2025 and beyond, keep an eye on this space—it’s growing fast, in every direction.
And if you are looking for an excellent fertilizer to help out in vertical farming, check out Liquid Gold
Article by Dr Russell Sharp
If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to both our podcasts! Links can be found bellow:
Hydroponics Daily Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/207T7p7fw9sPjINfSjVXW2
Cereal Killers Podcast: https://t.co/eSEbBkTVHl