No other species besides humanity has radically altered the surface of the planet to grow food. Some ant species raise and harvest fungi, but most creatures survive on naturally occurring plants and animals. The development of farming techniques allowed mankind to spread into every habitable corner of the world, but at a very high price environmentally. Vertical farming systems are an increasingly realistic alternative to current production practices.
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 idealized vision of a peaceful family farm has disappeared in real life. To be profitable, big agriculture must rely on industrial practices that stress heavy pesticide use and practice mono-culture with genetically engineered plants. Even though few people would sensibly or realistically argue for scaling down agribusiness, current practices have resulted in fragmented natural ecosystems and disappearing habitats.
Vertical agriculture is similar in principle to back-yard container gardening utilizing several tiered levels, rather than one large growing area. Many plants considered ideal for large outdoor plots actually thrive when planted in specially designed upright structures. When applied to large-scale crop production, high-rise farming gets comparable results using less soil and fertilizer, making it ideal for urban life.
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.
The advantages of this type of growing system are numerous. As long as the power supply remains consistent, there is little or no weather-related crop damage. Pesticide runoff that currently plagues agricultural areas becomes practically non-existent, as does reliance on fossil fuels to power machinery or make field fertilizers. Water can easily be reclaimed and reused, and there are fewer opportunities for plant and animal disease transmission.
Most crop field waste would be reduced, and the remaining vegetable materials recycled. Big agriculture produces large quantities of methane, a gas that can be scrubbed and burned for electrical generation in a high-rise production facility. Unused power could be fed to the grid, much like solar panels do today. Urban workers with grim employment prospects could find rewarding jobs raising crops on a year-round schedule.
The biggest winner would be the environment. If human farm production outdoors were to be cut back significantly, many ecologically and environmentally stressed areas would immediately begin to recover, as has happened before with older, collapsed civilizations that have been reclaimed by nature. While this concept will probably never completely eliminate traditional methods of farming, it is a concept that is becoming increasingly practical.
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 idealized vision of a peaceful family farm has disappeared in real life. To be profitable, big agriculture must rely on industrial practices that stress heavy pesticide use and practice mono-culture with genetically engineered plants. Even though few people would sensibly or realistically argue for scaling down agribusiness, current practices have resulted in fragmented natural ecosystems and disappearing habitats.
Vertical agriculture is similar in principle to back-yard container gardening utilizing several tiered levels, rather than one large growing area. Many plants considered ideal for large outdoor plots actually thrive when planted in specially designed upright structures. When applied to large-scale crop production, high-rise farming gets comparable results using less soil and fertilizer, making it ideal for urban life.
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.
The advantages of this type of growing system are numerous. As long as the power supply remains consistent, there is little or no weather-related crop damage. Pesticide runoff that currently plagues agricultural areas becomes practically non-existent, as does reliance on fossil fuels to power machinery or make field fertilizers. Water can easily be reclaimed and reused, and there are fewer opportunities for plant and animal disease transmission.
Most crop field waste would be reduced, and the remaining vegetable materials recycled. Big agriculture produces large quantities of methane, a gas that can be scrubbed and burned for electrical generation in a high-rise production facility. Unused power could be fed to the grid, much like solar panels do today. Urban workers with grim employment prospects could find rewarding jobs raising crops on a year-round schedule.
The biggest winner would be the environment. If human farm production outdoors were to be cut back significantly, many ecologically and environmentally stressed areas would immediately begin to recover, as has happened before with older, collapsed civilizations that have been reclaimed by nature. While this concept will probably never completely eliminate traditional methods of farming, it is a concept that is becoming increasingly practical.
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