Growing Outside the Box: The Modern Concept of Vertical Farming for a Greener Society

Controlled
Environment Agriculture provides farmers the ability to cultivate in greenhouses, warehouses, or
skyscrapers, allowing them
to think in cubic feet (not square),
farm new spaces, increase crop density, decrease actual land space, and secure
larger crops. Traditional
farms
can then revert to a natural state, reducing energy costs needed to transport
foods to consumers, and significantly alleviate land issues.

The EPA
takes special notice of practices like that as they push for a major
sustainability initiative to avert the crisis of depleted land resources.

Sustainability
Principle: Our well-being depends (directly or indirectly) on our natural
environment. Maintaining conditions for humans and nature to exist in
productive harmony fulfills social/economic requirements for present AND future
generations so we will continue to have the water, materials, and resources to
survive.

Sustainability has emerged as a result of significant concerns
about the unintended consequences of rapid population growth, economic changes,
and consumption of our natural resources. The EPA controls pollution and levels
of environmental protection, drawing on scientific advances and promoting green
business practices. Artificial lighting has become of specific interest for the
success of future farming initiatives.

·        
Energy Savings in Growth Chambers

·        
Growing High Density Crops/Leafy Greens in
Warehouses – Decreases heat and amount of land needed

·        
Greenhouse Vegetable Crops – Decreased heat,
allows lights lower in the crop, increasing yield up to 20%

·        
Artificial Lighting of Ornamental Crops – Immediate
energy savings

·        
Vine Crops (Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers) –
Yield improvement

·        
Flower, Strawberry Production – Increased flowering