The rise of vertical farming

In the contemporary agricultural landscape, interest in vertical farming is surging. This alternative to conventional methods can allow farmer's to cultivate crops in compact spaces, maximizing output without expanding horizontally by instead cultivating crops in vertically stacked layers or inclined surfaces. Increasing land use efficiency is critical as the world grapples with limited arable land, especially in urban areas.

Water scarcity is another pressing concern globally, and vertical farming can consume significantly less water—the controlled environment enables precise irrigation, minimizing wastage and optimizing resource utilization.

A key feature of vertical farming is its ability to facilitate year-round crop production. By eliminating the dependency on seasonality, vertical farms ensure a consistent and reliable supply of fresh produce. This not only benefits consumers but also mitigates the impact of unpredictable weather patterns and climate change on traditional farming practices.

However, it’s not all good news: in July, McGill Department of Bioresource Engineering Professor Mark Lefsrud noted headwinds facing the sector in a BBC article titled “Lean times hit the vertical farming business.”

The article noted vertical farms that have hit stumbling blocks, such as U.S.-based AeroFarms, which filed for bankruptcy protection this summer. One French company has gone into receivership, BBC reported, while other U.S. companies have laid off staff. BBC described the decision of European vertical farming company Infarm to shift its focus from Europe to “regions with lower energy costs,” signifying the challenges in maintaining profitability while keeping sustainability promises.

That said, Professor Lefsrud told BBC that the vertical farming businesses falling by the wayside do not represent a death knell but rather a sign that the industry is maturing.

A new article from Alberta Farmer Express explores the potential of vertical farming, including how the lessons learned from early startups can be helpful for today’s entrepreneurs as the industry matures.