Farming techniques have been changing and developing since the dawn of agriculture; however, a recent development is vertical farming. Rather than having to spread out crops across fields, we are now able to stack and rack them up in vertical layers indoors. With mobile racking, one aisle can serve multiple mobile bases, increasing growing capacity, volume utilization, and overall operating efficiency. Vertical farming with mobile racking is a viable solution to ending global food insecurity.
Benefits
- Space Saving – Vertical farms use less space than traditional ones. We can grow more in a smaller footprint area by using vertical growing systems. This is great for areas where there is not much land for farming, or for businesses who wish to consolidate their growing activities. Here the volumes are not increased by 80% but by multiples, i.e. if you go 3 high you increase theoretical production by a factor of 3 over growing in the field.
- Growing Year-Roud: As opposed to regular farms, vertical farms can grow crops throughout the year. As Vertical farms are typically indoor, they do not rely on weather or seasons, thus we can farm fresh food whenever we need it as we can create ideal growing conditions for specific produce.
- Less Water Wastage: Vertical Farming techniques incorporate hydroponic techniques, thus Vertical Farms do not need as much water, as they make use of use of intelligent growing systems which give plants just what they need.
- Man-made and controlled climate: For example no possibility of hail damage.
Challenges
Vertical farming is not perfect and has its own set of challenges. Initially, it can be costly to set up and requires more energy to establish and maintain. Additionally, growing plants indoors is not a simple task and will require skilled technicians to run and maintain.
The Future
Vertical farming with mobile racking is an innovative solution to achieving a greener future. The concept in essence is growing food smarter, more sustainably, and where it is needed.
Through more innovation and research, vertical growing with mobile racking could be the answer to global food security, ensuring that anyone, anywhere in the world can grow fresh, healthy produce.
Source of images: Vertical Farming – Bruynzeel (bruynzeel-storage.com)