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== Advantages ==
== Advantages ==
Vertical farms have a number of advantages over previous methods of [[agriculture]] including
Weather related crop failures cannot occur. Continuous production of food occurs without regard to seasons. Minimal land use can reduce or prevent further [[deforestation]], [[desertification]], and other consequences of agricultural encroachment on natural [[biome]]s. [[Transport]]ation energy use and [[pollution]] are reduced, because the food is produced near the place it is used. [[Indoor plant cultivation|Producing food indoors]] reduces or eliminates conventional plowing, planting, and harvesting by farm machinery, though [[automation]] might be used. The controlled growing environment and recycling reduces the need for [[pesticide]]s, [[herbicide]]s, and [[fertilizer]]s.
: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
Combinations of [[hydroponic]], [[aeroponic]], and related growing methods allow most crops to be produced indoors in large quantities. Current building designs plan to use energy from wind power, solar power, and incineration of raw sewage and the inedible portion of harvested crops.
:All VF food is grown organically: no herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers

:VF virtually eliminates agricultural runoff by recycling black water
Today, over 70% of the liquid fresh water on Earth is used for conventional agriculture. The agriculture often pollutes the water with fertilizers and pesticides. Vertical farms will use less water, and recycle it. The recycling condenses water [[transpiration|transpired]] from the plants. This recycled water is pure, and can be used for crops or drinking.
: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 may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps
: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.
:VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water
and land for agriculture


== Plans ==
== Plans ==

Revision as of 14:20, 6 September 2008

Vertical farming is a proposal to perform agriculture in urban high-rises. These building have been called "farmscrapers."[1] Using greenhouse methods and recycled resources, these building would produce fruit, vegetables, fish, and livestock year-round in cities. This proposal might allow cities to become self-sufficient.

Dickson Despommier has promoted most recent research. Despommier is a professor of environmental health sciences and microbiology at Columbia University in New York City, New York.

There have been architectural designs by Andrew Kranis, Columbia University; Gordon Graff [2][3][4], University of Waterloo; Chris Jacobs[5][6] (Creative Director of United Future) of Los Angeles, California; and SOA Architects in Paris, France (Augustine Rosenstiehl and Pierre Sartoux).

Mass media attention began with an article by Lisa Chamberlin in New York magazine[7]. Since 2007, articles have appeared in The New York Times[8], U.S. News & World Report[9], Popular Science[10] and Maxim, among others, as well as radio and television features.

Advantages

Vertical farms have a number of advantages over previous methods of agriculture including

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 may prove to be useful for integrating into refugee camps 
: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. 

:VF could reduce the incidence of armed conflict over natural resources, such as water

and land for agriculture

Plans

Professor Despommier argues that the technology to construct vertical farms currently exists. He also believes that the system can be profitable and effective, a claim evidenced by some preliminary research posted on the project's website. Developers and local governments in the following cities have expressed serious interest in establishing a vertical farm: Inchon (South Korea), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), and Dongtan (China).[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Urbanism and the environment | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist
  2. ^ Whyte, Murray (2008-07-27). "Is highrise farming in Toronto's future?". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-08-12. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ http://www.sky-farm.com
  4. ^ Sky Farm Proposed for Downtown Toronto : TreeHugger
  5. ^ Chris Jacobs Vertical Farm
  6. ^ http://verticalfarm.com/images/design/chris/chris_jacobs_dark.jpg
  7. ^ Chamberlin, Lisa (2007-04-02). "Skyfarming". New York Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Venkataraman, Bina (2008-07-15). "Country, the City Version: Farms in the Sky Gain New Interest". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Shute, Nancy (2007-05-20). "Farm of the Future? Someday food may grow in skyscrapers". U.S. News & World Report. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ Feldman, Amy (2007-07-11). "Skyscraper Farms". Popular Science. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ McConnell, Kathryn (2008-07-01). "Vertical Farms Grow Food by Growing Up, Not Out". Bureau of International Information Programs. United States Department of State. Retrieved 2008-08-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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