Inside shipping containers and repurposed basements across the nation, would-be farmers are cultivating crops without land by expanding upward. The phenomenon is comparable to construction trends in Hong Kong, the vertical city; confronted with a rapidly growing population and a lack of space, the metropolis has abandoned horizontal housing in favor of building massive, vertical residences.
Vertical farming, or urban farming, involves growing plants in vertically stacked layers. Most indoor farms utilize hydroponics, which is an engineered way of raising crops with enriching nutrient solutions rather than soil. Vertical farmers also often manipulate light emitting diode (LED) lighting to mimic natural sunlight.
According to a recently published report, the global vertical farming market generated $2.23 billion in revenue last year, and is estimated to generate $12.77 billion by 2026. Indeed, the industry is flush with innovation.
Although many experts have suggested boosting vertical farming as a solution for issues such as climate change and the current worldwide food crisis, the industry must first grapple with its sizable economic and environmental drawbacks...
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