Vertical farming involves growing crops in stacked layers, using techniques like hydroponics and aeroponics. This allows year-round crop production in urban areas, using less water and resources than traditional farming. Vertical farms address issues with population growth and urbanization by producing more food with fewer environmental impacts. However, large-scale vertical farming also faces challenges like high energy needs and a lack of experienced farmers familiar with the technology.

1. Vertical
Farming
By Ahad Imran
(BS Biotechnology)

2. Background
 Human overpopulation = Over 9 Billion by 2050
 Rapid Urbanization
 10,000 years ago, move from hunting and
gathering to agriculture
 Green Revolution
1960’s
Technological advancements  Mass
agricultural production

3. Problems with Traditional
Agriculture
 Solution to increase food production to
cater to the growing population:
 Expansion and Intensification
Expansion: Intensification:
• land degradation
• destruction of natural
habitats
• deforestation
• genetically modified crops
• increasing irrigation
• increasing fertilization

4. Problems with Putting Traditional Farms
in Urban Areas
 Obstacles
Difficulty acquiring large amounts of land
Insecurity of land tenure
Difficulty installing proper farming
infrastructure such as hoop houses, storage
sheds, and irrigation systems
Difficulty finding enough sunlight/quality soil in
urban areas

5. Vertical Agriculture; The cultivation of
crops using hydroponic and aeroponic
technologies, organized in vertically stacked
layers such as a skyscraper or multiple story
building.

6. Hydroponics

7. Aeroponics

8. Environmental Benefits
(1)Irrigation Systems
-uses 8% of the water used on
conventional farms
-water is recycled in vertical farms

9. Environmental Benefits
(2) Reduce Pollution
-Fertilizers would remain inside the
building
-Prevents water pollution of pesticides,
herbicides, and silt
-Reduces amount of CO2 and Nitrous
Oxide in the atmosphere

10. Environmental Benefits
(4) Increased Production
-Year-round farming allows for maximum
production
-Controlled environment eliminates factors
such as unpredictable weather, pests,
weeds, and diseases

11. Why No Large Scale Farms?
Obstacles:
-Lack of experienced farmers familiar with this
technology
-Economic viability of providing enough water
and energy to a large scale farm.
-Requires a collective effort of indoor
agronomists, businessmen, engineers,
architects, politicians, etc.

12. Vertical Farm in Singapore.

13. Design for Vertical Farm in NYC.

14. Works Cited
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