When the price of land started to skyrocket in the 1880s, we started building skyscrapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Was using sky instead of groundspace a perfect solution? It was better than overcrowded slums. But with the social problems and safety issues, it\u2019s a controversial subject big enough for another article. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It portends that going up instead of out may not be a magic bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics are the practices of growing crops without any soil. They require a tiny fraction of the land used in traditional methods, and vastly less water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of growing crops in long rows that can be kilometres long, vertical farmers stack their plants on top of each other in tall towers. These towers can be indoors or outdoors, but they’re typically located in warehouses or other large buildings with controlled climates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victoria\u2019s Urban Green Farms estimates<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 acre of an indoor area offers equivalent production to at least 4-6 acres of outdoor capacity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Vertical farms are extremely agile, able to switch up their produce in days rather than on yearly cycles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s one big problem with VF. When you\u2019re operating indoors, how do you replace the sun?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Food demand will continue to rise as arable land decreases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia has almost reached ‘peak acreage’<\/a> \u2013 the maximum amount of arable land that can be used for farming. The world\u2019s population in 2050 is going to require around 56% more food<\/a> than we’re currently producing. In tandem, water demand is going to increase by 55% by 2050<\/a>. Over 70% of freshwater is guzzled up by traditional agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As vertical farming can feed us with a fraction of the land and and 70-95% less water, that\u2019s hitting two criss-averting birds with one stone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Australian weather has grown warmer and drier<\/a> in recent years, making crop yields inconsistent and volatile. Vertical farms have controlled temperature, humidity, and natural light, and they’re safe from the elements, so they can provide a more stable food supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus: <\/p>\n\n\n\n And of course, humans aren’t the only ones benefiting from this innovative farming method \u2013 so are animals. We’ll be giving land back to nature and restoring natural ecosystems that have been lost to traditional farming methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia already leads the world in AgTech. Several homegrown startups are indicating vertical farming could be another string to that bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stacked Farm plans to inject their latest $56 million funding round<\/a> into a brand-new 5000 to 7000 square metre facility to provide ‘lettuce to all’ in the face of severe shortages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result of our wetter than average year, leading to flood-destroyed crops, the humble iceberg lettuce reached $12 apiece<\/a> in some areas. KFC resorted to replacing the lettuce on its burgers with cabbage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vertical farms are particularly well-equipped to grow lettuce, Asian greens, and other leafy vegetables. Traditional farming uses 250l of water<\/a> per kg of lettuce, while vertical farming uses just one<\/a>. It\u2019s expected the farm will break records for the largest output of leafy greens per square metre worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nestled just 3km from the business suits and bankers of Sydney\u2019s CBD are vertical farmers InvertiGro<\/a>, who propose hand-in-hand partnerships<\/a> with land farmers to sustainability and reliably supply them with livestock feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also Sydney-based are Sprout Stack<\/a>, who are able to get packaged salads onto shelves within 16 hours of harvest. VF has a huge opportunity to reduce transport emissions, capable of reducing the 2000 food miles<\/a> travelled by traditional methods to just 43<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s all very encouraging for the people, the planet, and the Australian AgTech market. But let\u2019s go back to that one big problem: the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the initial energy used by transporting and planting, outdoor crops grow naturally under our benevolent sun god just like they have for millennia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vertically farmed plants still need light and energy to grow, but how can you replace or replicate a 1.4km wide fiery ball of gas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The answer is: with a lot of energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vertical farming uses 30 – 176 more kilowatts of electricity<\/a> per kg of produce than simple greenhouses. That\u2019s a huge hidden footprint that often goes overlooked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Naturally, there are ways to combat this, like integrating a low-carbon electricity source such as solar or wind power. But the global energy grid is not quite there yet, and running warming bulbs round the clock is a pollutive energy cost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s also the monetary cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In urban Victoria, a 10-level vertical farm would \u2018cost over 850 times<\/a> more per square metre of arable land than a traditional farm in rural Victoria\u2019. And we all know how rarely prices in Victoria go downwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\nA looming crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Australian innovation <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What about the sun?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n