Lean times hit the vertical farming business

Vertical farming, once touted as the future of agriculture, is currently facing a lean period. Challenges in scalability and energy consumption have cast a shadow on this innovative farming method. 

Mark Lefsrud, a professor of Bioresource Engineering at McGill University, explains that while vertical farming offers ten times the crop yield per acre than traditional methods, it also requires strong, direct overhead light. This need for LED lights makes high-density vertical farming energy-intensive. Despite these hurdles, proponents advocate for its sustainability benefits, including less land usage and year-round crop production in non-tropical areas.

However, recent developments have raised questions about the sector's future. Infarm, a major player in the vertical farming industry, has shifted focus from Europe to regions with lower energy costs. This shift signifies the challenges in maintaining profitability while keeping sustainability promises. Vertical farming stands at a critical juncture, with its promise and potential weighed against the realities of implementation.

Read the full article on BBC news.