The global population is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, of which 70% will be living in cities. Over the past 40 years, however, 30% of the world's arable land has become unproductive. Given the scarcity of land and rising demand for food, there is an urgent need for solutions that require less land and labour yet produce higher yields. Vertical farming uses three-dimensional space to achieve more than a hundred-fold increase in crop production over traditional agriculture. However, such farms involve extremely high capital and operating costs. The case study reviews the the technologies on which vertical farms depend and the conditions under which they can become economically viable.
. To discuss the challenge of feeding the fast-growing world population. . To review the technologies involved in the vertical farming ecosystem. . To assess conditions under which such technologies become viable.
- Farming
- Sustainability
- Vertical Farms
- Urban Farms
- Agriculture
- Q31819
