Vertical farming enables multi-level crop production. Technology makes it possible to achieve healthy and lush crops even in the middle of winter. What is this farming method and how does vertical farming work?
The concept of vertical farming was popularized at the beginning of the 21st century thanks to Dr. Dickson Despommier of Columbia University in the United States. The idea, born within the walls of an American university, is today revolutionizing agriculture worldwide. The current way of vertical farming is radically different from the original concept. The use of LED lights and advanced automation to control environment systems is now the industry standard.
| Global population growth According to the United Nations estimates, there are currently approximately 8 billion people living in the world[1]. By 2050, the population is projected to increase to 9.7 billion. Vertical farms are environmentally friendly and are expected to provide food for a larger population in the future. |
The basic principle of vertical farming is to arrange plants vertically rather than horizontally. That solution saves lots of space without reducing productivity. Vertical crop production is mostly indoors. A controlled environment system creates an optimal atmosphere for plants.
Vertical farming does not require soil. Depending on the farming method, water is supplied directly to the roots. That helps to save lots of water. The substrate is replaced by expanded clay, coconut fibers, hemp fibers, or rock wool. The cultivation area is cut off from external conditions by special hygienic sluices, so they are additionally protected from possible threats.
Many vertical farming solutions are compatible with RES. They increase the energy efficiency of the solution and allow for faster returns on investment while reducing the carbon footprint.
Currently, the most popular solutions for vertical farming are either shipping container farms or an indoor farming system. Regardless of the place of cultivation, certain elements are common to each of these solutions.
Farming plants in vertically stacked layers, on specially designed structures (e.g., towers, growing shelves). The type of construction is chosen based on the building’s cubic area and the type of plant being cultivated. In Hydropolis technology, these can include multi-story racks, vertical carts or NFT channels.
Controls the growth rate and flowering period of plants. However, this type of lighting differs from ordinary fluorescent lamps we use at home. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the parameters of the lamps are selected depending on the plant. The wavelengths of light, the intensity – all these factors influence the growth of the plant.
Farming conditions, such as temperature, humidity, gas concentration, nutrient conditions, hydration, and light intensity, are controlled and secure for optimal plant growth. A key aspect is ensuring uniform and optimal conditions throughout the cultivation area. This guarantees that each plant receives ideal conditions for healthy and rapid growth.
Place of incubation and maturation of young seedlings. From there, they are transferred to vertically inclined surfaces. This production stage takes place in two forms: in cultivation cabinets or in specially separated rooms for larger crops. The plant spends the following days/weeks there until it reaches the appropriate weight and height, allowing it to be transferred to the main system.
Soilless irrigation systems for plants during the growth cycle. It supplies water rich with nutrients directly to the plant’s root. These systems are designed in a closed circuit, thus reducing water waste.
The irrigation process in vertical farming in our two systems, SMART CROP and Plantainer, is fully automated. Automation ensures that each plant maintains the appropriate irrigation, nutrient levels, oxygenation, temperature, pH, and EC. The water level is maintained at a constant level within a closed-loop system. However, the composition of the water changes depending on the plant’s growth stage, with varying amounts of micro and macro elements.
Automation – automatic systems control entire farming process. Often use artificial intelligence or robots to assist in harvesting.
In Hydropolis vertical farming, cultivation automation ensures that all parameters are set at the appropriate level, providing the best conditions for plant growth.
The automation present in the cultivation is connected to software used for remote farm management. The Grow Wizard program allows for:
• Continuous monitoring of the growth conditions.
• Management of successive production stages.
• Planning for future cultivations.
Controlled agriculture combines sustainable resource utilization with production maximization. It minimizes human factors to a minimum. With modern solutions, it enables the delivery of healthy food in a faster time frame.
Controlled Environment Agriculture is an integral part of vertical farming. It combines various technologies to achieve optimal conditions for plant growth.
The temperature is automatically adjusted depending on the plant species. That helps create good conditions for growth. Airflow in vertical systems directs air through filtration systems, reduces humidity, removes heat, and circulates CO2.
An important part of controlled cultivation is CO2 concentration. It is an essential compound for plant photosynthesis. For this reason, even the slightest disturbance in the amount of the element supplied can adversely affect the entire cycle of plant development.
In vertical cultivation, natural light is replaced by artificial lighting. This is the only source of illumination for the plants. The color, intensity, and duration of light affect plant growth and yield. In vertical farming, it is very important to choose the right light source, as each stage of plant development has different lighting requirements.
For most plants, humidity levels should remain between 40 and 50%. Controlled cultivation technologies make it possible to achieve ideal parameters for the species grown. When levels rise or fall, the system automatically returns them to target levels.
Proper nutrition is a key element in plant development. An automated nutrient solution dosing system monitors nutrient concentration levels in the tank: pH level, EC, and water temperature. In most cases, the dosing system is connected to the nutrient source via peristaltic pumps, which take the required nutrient dose and transport them to the tank.
| Indoor Pesticide Free-Farms Vertical agriculture focuses on producing healthy food with a low water footprint. In vertical farms, there is no need for plant protection products such as pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. |
Vertical farmers successfully grow lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, flowers, mushrooms, or even algae. Some major players in the market are already testing opportunities to grow grains, rice, or even animal feed. When analyzing the possibilities of a crop, it’s worth considering the potential market. Check which products are most desirable, their prices, available throughout the year, etc.
Hydropolis’ current solutions allow for the cultivation of low-growing leafy plants, such as:
• Lettuce: butterhead, romaine, batavia, curly, arugula
• Herbs: basil, mint, thyme
• Microgreens
In Hydropolis, work is underway to develop cultivation algorithms for fruiting plant such as strawberries.
• It supports sustainable development by maximizing food production while minimizing the use of natural resources.
• No seasonality – thanks to controlled conditions, the lettuce and other plants can be grown all year round. The farm operates independently of external weather conditions.
• Reduction of the water footprint – agriculture is responsible for up to 70% of water resource consumption[2]. In vertical farming, using Hydropolis solutions, up to 95% less water is consumed compared to conventional cultivation methods.
• Minimization of air pollution – the agricultural sector accounts for 23% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions[3].
Lots of reasons speak in favor of vertical farming. Contact us if you want to discuss how it can benefit your business. Our specialists will advise you on the best solution and help you to pick the right technology!
[1] United Nations, Global Issue, Population, https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/population, [access: 11.07.2023]
[2] Distribution of the environmental impacts of food production worldwide, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1176527/environmental-impacts-of-food-production-worldwide/ [access: 06.07.2023]
[3] Anaïs Marechal, How much greenhouse gases are emitted by agriculture?, https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/braincamps/planet/agriculture-can-we-lower-emissions-whilst-feeding-the-world/how-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-agriculture/ [access: 06.07.2023]
