Vertical Farming and Sustainable Agriculture

By: Teresa Yu

Vertical farming refers to the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. Such systems can

be integrated into urban skyscrapers along with offices. Fruits and vegetables in vertical farms are

cultivated on soilless substrates with nutrients and under multicolored artificial LED lights.

Under the status quo of rapid urbanization and sustainable development, vertical farms are gaining

prevalence in a wide array of countries. Large-scale vertical farms that emerged globally include

Vertical Farm Beijing, GigaFarm in Dubai, Gloucestershire Vertical Farm in the UK, AeroFarms in

the United Arab Emirates, Planted in Detroit, and AppHarvest. Three of these farms have recently

filed for bankruptcy, as their profits are unable to sustain the high operational costs. Nevertheless,

while some vertical farms are closing down due to financial difficulties, more are debuting.

Vertical farming caters to the world’s expanding food demand in urban areas. 60% of the global

population will reside in cities by 2030 (Chatterjee et al., 2020). Food systems account for one-third

of global greenhouse gas emissions, 39% of which are emitted during production and 29% in

distribution (Cairns, 2024). Together, these statistics demonstrate an urgent need to establish local

food systems in urban areas to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in crop production and

transportation. Vertical farming reduces production time and transportation distances, thus

becoming a potential solution that can be integrated into urban buildings.

Vertical farming offers a sustainable alternative to outdoor farming. By employing hydroponics,

aquaponics, and aeroponics systems (Cairns, 2024), vertical farms require 98% less water compared

to conventional agriculture. In its precisely controlled environment, vertical farming diminishes the

use of fertilizers and pesticides and supplies safer and greener products. In addition, food scraps can

be recycled to improve the sustainability of the production process.

Vertical farming adopts advanced technologies that boost production efficiency. The compact spatial

design of stacking plants vertically allows for greater yield per square meter and fits the system into

urban skyscrapers. Optimal climate and lighting, fine-tuned by numerous sensors and computers,

maximize crop growth and guarantee superior quality. Automation and robotics free human labor

and can work in conditions more preferable for plant growth (Van Delden et al., 2021). For instance,

CO 2 concentrations can be adjusted to a higher level to favor photosynthesis, an approach not

feasible with human staff working inside the farms. It is well-established in the scholarly

conversation that vertically-farmed crops grow three times faster than those outdoors, and the

production span is continuous all year round (Harvey, 2024; Walling & Lafleur, 2023).

Vertical farming demonstrates geographic versatility. It helps achieve mass food production in urban

areas with limited space (Chatterjee et al., 2020) and enhances food security in food desert countries

by lowering their reliance on imports (Cairns, 2024). Since vertical farms are indoor, they can resist

extreme climates and create more stable and resilient food production chains.

Despite their immense promise, vertical farms come at an expense. The dense, multicolored LED

lights entail high energy costs. Building the massive infrastructure of stacked towers requires

prohibitive start-up costs (Walling & Lafleur, 2023). The tightly organized nature of vertical farming

also imposes constraints on the groceries it can produce. Researchers note that staple foods, which

compose the majority of our diet intake, cannot be grown inside vertical farms (Van Delden et al.,

2021).

In response to these difficulties, researchers have proposed various solutions. Renewable energy,

such as solar power, can be converted into light energy with minimal cost. A quantitative modeling

analysis proved that solar panels outside vertical farms can generate sufficient energy to power a

multitude of expenditures, such as lighting and water pumping (Al-Chalabi, 2015). In GigaFarm,

black soldier fly larvae eat food waste and turn into high-protein animal feed at the end of their

growth cycle, contributing to organic composts from which food can grow (Cairns, 2025). These

diverse approaches can effectively save resources and reduce maintenance costs.

Consumer preferences are directly relevant to the profits and potential expansion of the vertical

farming industry. According to an online survey distributed to 482 German consumer participants

(Jürkenbeck et al., 2019), consumers’ perceived sustainability increases as the scale of the vertical

farm enlarges, leading to greater intention to buy. However, some consumers believe that vertically

farmed crops are loaded with chemicals and refuse to purchase these products (Al-Chalabi, 2015).

Vertical farming represents a social innovation that encourages green agriculture. This creative

solution implemented by global enterprises promotes the sustainable development of our food

system and accelerates our efforts toward a better future. The primary concern of energy costs can

be ameliorated by technological progression, including the installation of solar panels and heat

extraction systems. Yet, due to rising land prices in urban areas, vertical farms may face challenges in

starting or upscaling their businesses. Consumer acceptance of vertically farmed products also

requires long-term cultivation of environmental awareness.