Vertical Farming follow up....

By Erik Illies

I would like to follow up my previous blog posting with the other side of the coin, b-side of the record, other cheek of information related to vertical farms as urban agriculture. You will recall that my last post touched on some potentially alarming information related to the insecurity of our current food production model. In this post we’ll hypothesize on a few ways we can correct those issues and move toward a more sustainable production process (because the answer, I don’t think, is a static one… so “more sustainable” is the operative phrase assuming it will always be changing). Again, enjoy!

By growing our food skyward it is hypothesized that vast amounts of land, otherwise used for traditional horizontal farming would not be needed and can be returned to its original ecological condition. Also, vertical farming is capable of being implemented regardless of location making it a perfect solution for urban environments that require the most food due to density. Moreover, vertical farms would not be dependent on fossil fuels for food production/ transportation, thus reducing the amount of CO2 emissions that have caused the global climate change in the first place. This paper, as part of a larger body of work, will define the basis of development for a conceptual vertical farm design project.

Urban agriculture is no new idea, but some very new ideas are popping up about how to implement it. Particularly vertical farming, or multiple level buildings dedicated to the production of food within the building. These structures would be carbon neutral and attempt to generate little to no waste by virtue of their operation. Primarily, they would be serving their communities as a supplemental food source to common place supermarkets and large retailers, but they could also serve to benefit our environment, economy, community identity, and overall quality of life.

The vested interest of communities in their urban farms is what would sustain their feasibility, not a profit driven return. Large scale food markets have had a history of pulling out of areas with high crime rates and low income populations. This practice by-passes these economies and leaves a gap in their food procurement. The communal activity of localized urban agriculture secures against this practice of abandonment. Along with economic benefit, there are the health benefits associated with closer localized food production. "Growing food in cities can and does help improve people's diets by providing them with access to fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly to those on low income cities in the UK now recognize " ((Howe, 2001) Viljoen, 2005, p. 60). This helps to create an elevated sense of place and community and it becomes clear that urban agriculture directly influences/ improves its host community’s quality of life.

I hope that was worth the wait for a second helping of the vertifarm dish! These ideas are being served up hot and fresh, at an increasing rate as we move into the future of food production. Please remember that this is not intended to be a replacement for traditional soil grown food, but rather is a supplement to serve our densest populations (cities). Wouldn’t it be neat to someday walk a few blocks from an apartment to a great green tower of living goodness that provided as a literal/ figurative horn of plenty right downtown?! We can dream…