How Vertical Farming Is Taking Root Around the World
Vertical farming is a method of growing crops stacked high in trays or on towers. It offers a great number of benefits over traditional farming methods. At Eden Green Technology, we have a vertical farming system that can grow 11-13 harvests, or 500 tons of leafy greens, per year. Our hydroponic greenhouses use 99% less land, 98% less water, and 90% less light energy than other farming options. And we can boast zero food waste while creating 30 full-time jobs per greenhouse.
With stats like that, it’s easy to see why vertical farming startups are popping up all over the country, but did you know that they’re also taking hold internationally? Explore vertical farming around the world and learn about how it’s feeding people everywhere.
China
Like the US, China has a growing urban population and faces challenges in feeding its citizens into the future. As city populations become denser and denser, traditional agriculture will struggle to keep up. And any food produced traditionally has to be trucked in, sometimes from distant regions. To deal with the problem, China is now leading the world in indoor and vertical farms.
Vertical farms are a fantastic way to feed urban populations because they can be built in less space than the average big-box store. And since they don’t require good soil or weather conditions, they can fit into almost any urban area with as little as an acre and a half to spare. And from this small footprint, vertical farming startups can produce leafy greens and other nutritious crops to feed urban populations, regardless of the season.
Denmark
Farmers in Denmark are seeking a more sustainable food system, too. To that end, they’re establishing one of Europe’s biggest vertical farms. They’re working hard to reduce CO2 emissions per unit of agricultural crop produced, and vertical farming lends itself well to this pursuit. Since these farms can be grown closer to the populations they feed, fewer fossil fuels are used to transport goods to the market. There’s also far less (or no) food waste and a greater ability to feed urban populations sustainably in a vertical farming system.
France
Vertical farming startups like Jungle are taking France by storm. These hydroponic systems produce the aromatic herbs, micro-sprouts, and fresh flowers that French citizens love. In addition to feeding local populations, hydroponic vertical greenhouses are being used to create the ingredients for French perfumes and other luxury products.
Germany
German growers have also caught the vertical farming bug. With single plant cultivation systems and automated research platforms, the Germans are taking vertical farming high tech. They aim to create ways to produce more crops with lower production costs, allowing growers to optimize their operations and feed more people.
Japan
Much like China, Japan has a growing urban population and dwindling usable farmland to feed them. Exasperating the problem, the average age of a Japanese farmer now sits at 67, with many aging out. Younger generations in the country aren’t taking their places, leading to a struggling agricultural sector that can’t keep up with population growth. Instead of relying on imports, the Japanese are upgrading their farms to vertical farming solutions, creating a more efficient, high-tech industry that young people are proud to join.
Kuwait
The Middle East is a difficult place for farmers. Dry and arid conditions, political upheavals, and dangerous conflicts make traditional farms more challenging in the region, and food transport is similarly affected. But there are still people to feed. While the tiny country of Kuwait has traditionally relied on foods imported from Europe, it’s now turning to vertical farming to grow food locally instead. This method is not only beneficial financially and environmentally, but it also allows Kuwaitis to access more nutritious food and cuts down on food spoilage.
Netherlands
As the second-largest vegetable exporter in the world, the Dutch have a long and proud tradition of agriculture, but they’re not afraid of innovation. While the country still plays home to fields of brightly colored tulips and traditional windmills, low-lying farmland is likely to suffer greatly from climate change. In the 1940s Dutch farmers welcomed greenhouses as an ideal way to stave off the type of famine that decimated the Netherlands during the German occupation. Today, they’ve moved a step further, incorporating vertical farming techniques into their greenhouses and allowing farmers to produce far more food in far less time and using far fewer chemicals.
Singapore
Singapore’s population of five million people is crammed into a little more than 280 square miles. That doesn’t leave a whole lot of room for crops and farms. Fortunately, growers, there are now learning that vertical farms can produce at least five times as many vegetables as traditional methods. They’re using a Ferris wheel-like mechanism to grow plants stacked 38 tiers high. This will allow farmers to grow the vegetables needed to feed such a densely populated country without relying as heavily on imports. When you stack these farms on rooftops, even skyscrapers can become agricultural centers.
South Korea
South Korea has embraced technology and has a thriving economy to show for it. Their agriculture is no exception as smart vertical farms are popping up in Seoul and other South Korean population centers. These densely populated cities have been struggling to supply fresh, nutritious foods to their inhabitants, but that concern will soon be a thing of the past. Koreans are using every available location to create vertical farms, including an abandoned mountain tunnel and even inside subway stations.
Taiwan
If there’s anything Taiwan is known for, it’s likely production and industry. It’s no surprise that this tiny Asian country is applying smart technology to agriculture to allow for greater and faster food production. Taiwan’s vertical farming movement is quickly becoming a major part of its economy. Some sources even predict that Taiwan may soon become the world’s largest food producer, despite its diminutive size.
Thailand
Ask industry insiders about vertical farming around the world, and you’ll likely hear mentions of Thailand. While the country was slower to catch onto the technology than some others in Asia, it has since begun to make up for its lost time. Today, no less than three major vertical farming startups call Thailand home, and many more are sure to come. Today, Taiwanese entrepreneurs are improving the vertical farming business model and exporting their technology to neighboring countries and far-flung regions alike.
United Arab Emirates
When you think of the UAE, you probably picture futuristic skyscrapers, luxury resorts, fortunes made in oil, and lots of sand. But today’s UAE is big into AgTech with a $100 million investment for indoor farming initiatives. Since the country doesn’t have a lot of usable farmland, it’s no wonder that controlled environments and vertical farms appeal. This investment into agriculture will allow Abu Dhabi to feed its population well into the future, in spite of climate and geographical restraints.
United Kingdom
The UK has always had a large agricultural sector, with farming roots dating as far back as the Mesolithic period. Yet today’s farming push would likely be unrecognizable to those distant relations. Vertical farms allow UK growers to produce healthy greens year-round — a huge plus for a country whose climate does not lend itself to four growing seasons. High-tech vertical farms also offer city-dwellers the opportunity to get in on the agricultural scene, with farms featuring cutting-edge technology and literally going underground in London.
Turnkey Vertical Farming in the US
If you’re here in the United States and looking for a way to get in on the vertical farming love, there are excellent opportunities to do so. RSVP for a virtual tour of a vertical greenhouse from Eden Green Technology to see our turnkey solution. It’s the perfect way to get in on the ground floor and become part of an exciting movement.
