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You can find the shownotes through this link.

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Are you interested in vertical farming as a future food production system?

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Our summary today works with the article titled Future food-production systems: Vertical farming and controlled-environment agriculture from 2017 by Kurt Benke and Bruce Tomkins, published in the Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy journal.

This is a great preparation to our next interview with Nadun Hennayaka in episode 278 talking about urban food production systems and vertical farming.

Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how we can produce food in cities with growing populations. This article presents the opportunities and challenges of the vertical farm strategy.

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Welcome to today’s What is The Future For Cities podcast and its Research episode; my name is Fanni, and today I will introduce a research paper by summarising it. The episode really is just a short summary of the original paper, and, in case it is interesting enough, I would encourage everyone to check out the whole paper. Stay tuned until because I will give you the 3 most important things and some questions which would be interesting to discuss.

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As the world’s population continues to surge, with projections reaching nearly 10 billion by 2050, the strain on traditional agricultural systems becomes increasingly evident. Urbanization, climate change, and the depletion of natural resources are further exacerbating the challenges of food production. Arable land, once abundant, is becoming scarce due to overuse, urban sprawl, and environmental degradation. Simultaneously, the demand for food is intensifying, particularly in densely populated urban areas. The question of how to sustainably feed the world’s growing population has led to the exploration of innovative agricultural practices, one of the most promising being vertical farming.

Vertical farming represents a significant shift in agricultural practices by utilizing high-rise buildings or indoor factory setups to grow crops in vertically stacked layers. This method is rooted in the principles of controlled-environment agriculture, which involves regulating factors such as temperature, humidity, and light to create optimal growing conditions year-round. The concept gained traction after the publication of Despommier’s book in 2010, which envisioned urban skyscrapers dedicated to agriculture. Countries like Singapore, Japan, and Israel have since adopted vertical farming to address challenges such as limited land, pollution, and climate-related issues.

At the core of vertical farming is the use of advanced technologies, including LED lighting systems that can be finely tuned to provide the exact spectrum of light needed for photosynthesis. This technology, combined with hydroponic or aeroponic systems, allows crops to grow without soil, using nutrient-rich solutions. The potential of vertical farming lies not only in increasing crop yields but also in reducing water usage by recycling and minimizing evaporation, making it particularly attractive for regions facing water scarcity.

Commercially, vertical farming has seen success in various parts of the world. In Singapore, the Sky Greens system utilizes A-shaped towers with rotating tiers to ensure even sunlight distribution, producing significant quantities of vegetables on a minimal footprint. Meanwhile, companies like Valcent in North America and Mirai in Japan have developed multi-level indoor farms capable of producing thousands of plants daily, demonstrating the scalability and efficiency of vertical farming models.

Vertical farming offers numerous advantages over traditional agriculture. It enables year-round crop production, significantly higher yields, and reduced reliance on pesticides and herbicides due to the controlled environment. Additionally, by locating farms closer to urban centres, transportation costs and associated carbon emissions are drastically reduced. This method also allows for the recycling of water and nutrients, contributing to more sustainable and efficient food production.

Despite its potential, vertical farming faces several challenges. High startup costs, particularly in urban areas with expensive real estate, can be a significant barrier to entry. The energy requirements for artificial lighting and climate control are also substantial, although advances in solar and battery technologies are helping to mitigate this issue. Furthermore, the range of crops that can be efficiently grown in vertical farms is currently limited, which may restrict its broader application.

Vertical farming is poised to play a crucial role in the future of global food production, particularly as the world grapples with the challenges of feeding a rapidly growing population in the face of shrinking arable land and increasing environmental pressures. By reimagining agricultural practices and leveraging cutting-edge technologies, vertical farming offers a sustainable solution that can be integrated into urban environments, bringing food production closer to consumers and reducing the environmental impact of traditional farming.

While the concept is still in its early stages, with challenges such as high startup costs and energy demands to overcome, the potential benefits are significant. Vertical farming not only promises higher yields and reduced resource usage but also offers the flexibility to grow a wide variety of crops in controlled environments, making it resilient to climate change and other external factors. As technology continues to advance, and as more investments are made in this innovative approach, vertical farming could become a cornerstone of sustainable food production, helping to secure the future of global food security in a rapidly changing world.

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What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Do you have any follow up question? Let me know on Twitter at WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the transcripts and show notes are available! Additionally, I will highly appreciate if you consider subscribing to the podcast or on the website. I hope this was an interesting paper for you as well, and thanks for tuning in!

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Finally, as the most important things, I would like to highlight 3 aspects:

1. Vertical farming maximizes land use by growing crops in vertically stacked layers within controlled environments, addressing the challenges of urbanization and resource scarcity.
2. This method enhances food security by enabling year-round production, reducing water usage, and minimizing environmental impact through technologies like LED lighting and hydroponics.
3. Despite high startup costs, vertical farming offers a sustainable solution for feeding a growing global population while mitigating the effects of climate change.

Additionally, it would be great to talk about the following questions:

1. In what ways can technology further enhance the efficiency and sustainability of vertical farming?
2. Could vertical farming be the key to addressing food security in regions facing severe climate challenges? How?
3. How do you think vertical farming could transform the way we produce and consume food in urban areas?

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