UPDATE: THE LINK TO THE ARTICLE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

A recent article seeks to dispute the recent negative press that vertical farming has received. Written by Arama Kukutai, the CEO of a company called Plenty, the article explores the headlines that might have you believe vertical farming is on life support, and provides a closer look that reveals a different story. While climate change, population growth, and soil erosion threaten our global food security, vertical farming offers a beacon of hope. This innovative approach to indoor agriculture boasts significantly higher yields than traditional methods, all while using less land and precious water.

Climate change, severe weather, natural disasters, conflict and many more issues are disrupting global food supply and reducing food security. The need to produce 70% more food by 2050 to feed the growing global population adds to the pressure. Yet, we’ll have far less farmland to produce that food – at the current erosion rates, only 10% of all farmable soil will be left by 2050.

A recent shakeout in the industry has fueled negative press. Kukutai argues these struggles are a natural part of any emerging technology’s “maturity cycle.”  Companies are transitioning from startups to large-scale operations, and not all will succeed. This doesn’t signify the demise of vertical farming; it’s simply the weeding out of less efficient models. The key differentiator, according to Kukutai, lies in the underlying architecture. Many companies utilize a “stacked-tray vertical” approach, where plants grow horizontally on trays stacked high. While this maximizes floor space compared to greenhouses, it has limitations. Heat from lights gets trapped, restricting light intensity – a crucial factor for plant growth. Furthermore, this method struggles with bulkier crops beyond leafy greens, limiting its impact on diversifying our food system.

Kukutai states that the winning approach is a  true vertical design. Plants grow on massive, uninterrupted vertical planes, maximizing density and allowing for efficient air circulation. This enables the use of ultra-intense lights for superior yields and fosters a wider variety of crops. But innovation alone won’t secure vertical farming’s future.  The industry faces a significant hurdle: scaling infrastructure requires substantial capital. Kukutai proposes a shift from venture capital dependence to “asset-level financing.” This involves treating vertical farms as assets themselves, attracting investment from real estate trusts (REITs) and public-private partnerships. Public incentives and tax breaks can further entice farms to specific regions, creating local jobs and boosting food security.

Ultimately, vertical farming’s success hinges on profitability and consistent returns. Companies like Plenty, with their focus on diverse crops and partnerships with major retailers, are demonstrating this potential. As Kukutai argues, agriculture remains the only industry clinging to outdoor manufacturing.  With the ever-present threat of climate change, vertical farming offers a compelling solution – controlled, efficient food production that can be scaled rapidly. By embracing innovation and securing efficient funding, vertical farming can revolutionize our food system, ensuring a secure and sustainable future for generations to come.