What are the Limitations of Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming can be the answer to the growing food demand as the population grows.

Fremont, CA: The world's population is anticipated to reach 9.7 billion people by 2050, making feeding them a huge issue. The earth loses its arable land every day due to industrial development and urbanization. In 2015, scientists claimed that over the previous 40 years, the earth had lost a third of its arable land. And there is no estimation on how much more arable land the earth will lose in the next 40 years. One of the greatest issues is meeting rising food demand due to a growing population and diminishing arable land, and vertical farming is the solution.

Limitations of vertical farming:

Difficulty in the process of pollination

Vertical farming is performed in a controlled environment devoid of insects. Therefore, manual pollination will be required, which will be time-consuming and costly.

Labor costs

Vertical farming has significant energy costs, but labor expenses can be much higher because of its concentration in metropolitan areas, where wages are higher and more specialized labor is required. On the other hand, vertical farms may require less workers due to automation. In vertical farms, manual pollination becomes one of the more labor-intensive operations.

Too much reliance on technology

Better technology can constantly improve efficiency and lower costs. However, numerous technologies for lighting, temperature control, and humidity control are particularly important in vertical farming. For a vertical farm, even a single day without power can be very costly. Many people believe that current technologies aren't ready for widespread adoption.

Unestablished economics

This new farming strategy's economic viability remains undetermined. Nonetheless, as the industry evolves and technology advances, the financial landscape is evolving.