Can Farms Grow Upward?

Vertical farming involves growing crops indoors in stacked layers, often inside warehouses in or near cities. Plants grow under LED lights, and their roots receive water and nutrients without soil. Because conditions are carefully controlled, crops can be harvested all year round, regardless of the weather.

Supporters point to several advantages. Vertical farms use far less water than traditional agriculture, because water is recycled within the system. They need no pesticides, and because they are located close to consumers, vegetables can reach stores within hours of being picked, reducing transport costs and waste.

However, the industry has struggled. Running powerful lights and climate control systems requires a great deal of electricity, which becomes very expensive when energy prices rise. As a result, several well-funded vertical farming companies have gone out of business. Most vertical farms also grow only leafy greens and herbs, because staple crops such as rice and wheat are not profitable to grow this way.

Vertical farming, therefore, is unlikely to replace traditional agriculture. It may, however, play a useful role in supplying fresh vegetables to cities, especially if cheaper renewable energy becomes available. Its future depends less on whether the technology works than on whether the economics make sense.