Critics often emerge as passionate individuals driven by a genuine desire to see improvements in their field. One such individual, Thomas Williams, brings us a thought-provoking presentation entitled ‘The Elephant in the Growroom.’ While criticism can be irksome, Williams’ critical perspective stems from his passion for vertical farming and a
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Opinion Piece
Lab-Grown Fruits
Eliminating Light Requirements in Modern Agriculture Currently, one of the greatest barriers faced by vertical farmers is the huge electricity demand, to which the artificial lighting requirements are a major contributing factor. Innovators are working hard to solve this problem and exploring possible solutions that implement scientific and technical knowledge
Farming to Save the Environment
Traditional farming systems and vertical farming technology share a dependency on agribusiness and the goal of working towards rapid technological advancements to maximize the efficiency and the yield of the growing process. To provide food sustainably, we must consider all factors of sustainability collectively. This includes environmental, social and economic
Research and Indoor Farming University Network
When the pioneering vertical farms were established around the world, comparatively basic first-generation technology used created relatively inefficient systems compared with today. Although these operations only enabled the most basic functions to occur, they demonstrated how feasible it was to grow plants in vertical structures and thus, for the first
Shorter Supply Chains Through Urban Indoor Farming
There are many reasons why a government or international organization may advocate the introduction of urban indoor farming. This week we look at some of the main motivations for bringing agriculture closer to the consumer. While urban indoor agriculture may have seemed a far-fetched dream in the past, developments in
Bacterial Contamination in Fresh Produce
Fresh fruit and vegetables are an important part of our diet. If produce is contaminated by poorly sourced water, however, the implications can be fatal. While many people associate foodborne illness with meat and dairy, it is important to recognize that fruits and vegetables can pose a significant threat to
Indoor Farming Is the Future
By 2050, there will be 10 billion people on the planet, the majority of whom in cities. Gertjan and Lianne Meeuws behind Eindhoven firm, Seven Steps To Heaven, believe indoor farming is the future. “Our traditional food system is incapable of feeding everyone responsibly.” All of Eindhoven can identify Gertjan
Rebuilding the Agricultural Economy Post-COVID
The coronavirus pandemic has side-lined climate-change as an issue for many governments. The immediate threat posed by COVID-19 has in many ways placed issues of environmentalism on the backburner in terms of policymaking. It is important to remember, however, that even in the midst of this unprecedented crisis, climate change
Water Scarcity Threatens Global Food Production
Water scarcity is increasingly becoming a problem not only for developing countries but also for the advanced economies. The continuation of ‘business-as-usual’ practices in agriculture has only exacerbated this problem and increased pressure on global resources. In light of the water scarcity crisis, we look this week at some of
Our Fresh-Produce Supply Chain After Covid-19: How Vertical Farming Can Play a Key Role
With the corona-virus pandemic unexpectedly and fully exposing the vulnerabilities of our current fresh-produce supply chains, re-engineering them toward resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability has just become an urgent imperative. This article, written by AVF Vice Chair Joel Cuello, is published in the July/August 2020 issue of RESOURCE, the periodical magazine
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