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Location: Environment
Discussion: Vertical Farming
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pyno pyno |
Vertical Farming
Mar 3 2008, 4:10 AM EST How about we explore the concept of vertical farming? The name really says it all. Instead of having a 30 hectare plot for a farm, for example, we could have a half hectare plot 60 stories tall. The advantages are numerous: - The same volume of product can be produced in a much smaller space - All the land that was once cleared for farming can return to native vegetation - With solar power the v. farms will be a net carbon sink - The enclosed green house environment will mean no herbicides or pesticides will be needed - As a by-product of the above point this could improve the health of the community - All the farm-boys (and girls) coming city bound will feel useful again - The farm can purify the city’s grey waste water (drought proofing the country??) - It can help decentralise the economy - A v. farm could sit right above a super-market (fresh food straight to the consumers) - A vertical farm would look freaking awesome! So the advantages are pretty clear and that's just the start. And we wouldn’t need any major technological breakthroughs to accomplish this. The only problem I can really think of is cost and profitability. Although, I’d say, in the long term these things could really turn a profit for major supermarkets what with $0pa in freight costs and carbon credits, etc… 24 out of 38 found this valuable. Do you? |
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pyno pyno |
RE: Vertical Farming
Mar 3 2008, 4:51 AM EST It looks as though my vertical farm idea has been thought of already, and Las Vegas is set to open the first 30-story v. farm by 2010... "...the $200 million dollar project would produce food for 72,000 people." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_farming 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
 dra_red |
RE: Vertical Farming
Mar 6 2008, 8:11 PM EST I don't see the benefit considering the plants would need to get their light from artificial sources. If solar was used then this would take up as much,probably more, land than just a standard farm. If the structure was thin, ie a thick wall like structure, then I imagine it would work. Not sure what the benefits would be though. It would be better for plants that don't like too much light maybe. Another alternative farming method would be to grow plants in the sea. Containers protecting the plants from the salt water could be hooked together to form large 'sea farms'. It would make processing easier as well, the plants could be dragged to the pickers rather than the other way around. cheers, Dale Do you find this valuable? |
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Anonymous |
RE: Vertical Farming
Mar 8 2008, 7:57 PM EST I don't see this as a role for government at all... If vertical farming is economically viable and is cheaper, etc - then it needs no government intervention, since it will be profitable. And if isn't, then government shouldn't be wasting their money on it. Do you find this valuable? |
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dra_red |
RE: Vertical Farming
Mar 8 2008, 9:34 PM EST "I don't see this as a role for government at all...Largely I agree that that is true for this topic. However, I agree with this approach across the board. When Australia would benefit from a new technology or method but the new technology is not economically visable, the government needs to play a role to bring the new technoloy in. A current example is voltaic cells. It is not attractive economically but as Australia has recognised the importance of reducing CO2 emissions, it has become worth while for the government to offer rebates on solar powered infrastructure. The same might be true for a verticle farm if Australia wanted to reduce the demand on land at some point. Obviously that is not a concern for most Australians at this point, though I think a lot of environmentalists would think that it should be. cheers, Dale 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |