Emily Yang (10) | STAFF REPORTER
In a society where liberty prevails in politics, technology, economy, etc., a more pressing concern becomes disregarded: the freedom from hunger and thirst. Food insecurity has always been a defining challenge of developing countries, but the span of both food shortages and climate challenges in agriculture has slowly expanded in the past decades to developed countries as well. One possible solution to global food security would be the rising practice of vertical farming.
Current practices, such as tillage, abuse of pesticides and fertilizers, and overgrazing, all contribute to agricultural instability, such as soil degradation, deforestation and climate change. Not only do these practices fail to preserve the remainder of our arable land, but they struggle to support the fast growth and demand of the population.
Vertical farming, the practice of cultivating crops on vertical levels in a regulated indoor environment, is a solution that many producers have chosen to rely on. Although the first displays of vertical farming have dated back 2500 years ago, the practice became more well known in recent decades with the advancements of modern technology.
Vertical farming exceeds current and past farming practices in several crucial aspects: space utilization, crop production and demand, environmental control and health standards. Most prominently, the compact configuration of the vertical farm allows for more crop production on smaller pieces of land in proportion to conventional farming practices.
Regulating the conditions of the farm allows farmers not only to control the water, light and temperature levels of the indoor environment, but also the output, guaranteeing seasonal goods year long. The farm protects crops from wildlife and effectively prevents toxic chemicals and diseases, such as malaria, from infecting the produce.
Furthermore, not only does vertical farming solve food insecurity but it also shifts agriculture towards a greener future. The farm guarantees an efficiency of at least 98% less water and 99% less land use compared to modern farms (Edengreen, N.A), assuring that communities with a lack of these resources can still access steady crop production. Additionally, by supporting growth year long, vertical farms provide both local and fresh produce whilst reducing emissions released from grocers in transportation.
In conclusion, vertical farming is an innovative, modern practice of sustainability that guarantees crop yield stability and environmental well-being. Although the practice currently supports a smaller range of vegetation, the future of vertical farming holds many prospects in both global food security and environmental innovation.
