Since the early 2000s, Vertical Farming has grown to become a worldwide concept. The basic principle is simple: instead of spreading production across endless acres of land, production is facilitated in vertical layers, requiring far less land to produce the same amount of crop.
The potential of vertical farming
Multiple vertical layers are set up with light and climate adapted to the specific culture and environment to produce low cultures on a large scale.
– When plants are produced vertically, especially low crops such as lettuce and herbs are ideal for making the best possible use of vertical space, says Pål G. Knutzen, Area Sales Manager at DGT by Senmatic.
Vertical farming installation brings benefits not only to the grower, but also to the environment. Vertical farming is thus a revolutionary part of the horticultural and agricultural industry and has the potential to become the preferred production method of the future.
Vertical farming in urban areas
The concept of vertical farming was developed based on its potential to provide large populations concentrated in urban areas with locally grown food – and to meet the demands of a growing global population. Due to the challenges and costs of transporting fresh crops to major cities, urban growers have realized the potential of utilizing existing square meters in tall buildings and producing crops locally.
– “The tall buildings are not originally intended for growing food, but they can be transformed into large urban greenhouses with space for multiple vertical layers of plants, thus meeting production and space optimization requirements,” claims Pål G. Knutzen.
Vertical farming outside densely populated areas
Vertical farming can be an attractive option for growers outside of major cities if the necessary facilities are available. Greenhouses of a certain height for installing multiple layers are a necessity. This was the case for Dutch-based Rainbow Colors, which increased production by 50% after establishing a Vertical Farming production. However, in most cases it will be cheaper to build horizontally if the necessary hectares are available when expanding or establishing new installations outside populated areas – this way, natural lighting can be utilized in the best possible way
Benefits of vertical farming
– Vertical Farming enables producers to increase production without increasing the cost of heat and electricity – and without expanding existing facilities. Growing vertically then becomes a way to take advantage of excess, unutilized space,” explains Pål G. Knutzen. Secondly, indoor vertical total indoor installations, where the environment is adapted to the specific cultures with LED lighting and climate control, provide a high level of controllability and increased production quality throughout the growing process.
In addition, Vertical Farming technology creates the possibility to automate the entire production, which can increase the utilization rate of the production facilities. Because automation makes you less dependent on direct access to the crop, you become less reliant on excess space to move around between plant layers.
Pitfalls of vertical farming
Despite the benefits of Vertical Farming, there are also pitfalls to be aware of before setting up a Vertical Farming production. Firstly, when urban growers embark on Vertical Farming, they need knowledge about the technical side of growing – climate control, lighting, irrigation, etc. Another option is to hire people who have the necessary knowledge and who will be able to run this type of production.
Secondly, it can be challenging for urban growers to compete with established nurseries in a sustainable way. Before investing, an urban producer must therefore plan branding strategies and sales channels.
In addition to this, too many existing vertical farming installations have low utilization rates, says Pål G. Knutzen and explains:
“In many installations, large lifts are maneuvered between the vertical structures. However, the ideal situation is to have an inspection aisle on one side. When the entire installation is automated, growers don’t need to have direct access to the plants – it only takes up extra space that could have been used for more production”
Pål Knutzen Area Sales Manager at DGT by Senmatic
Summary of benefits and pitfalls
Benefits:
- Increase production by utilizing excess vertical space.
- Control the growing conditions of your entire production with LED lighting and climate control.
- Utilize more square meters thanks to automation.
Pitfalls:
- Don’t invest in a Vertical Farming installation without the necessary technical, cultivation knowledge.
- If you have the ambition and capital but not the knowledge, you should hire people with the required skills.
- Make sure you plan your branding strategies and sales channels. When setting up a new cultivation installation, competition can be fierce.
- Don’t set up vertical farming without utilizing the space sufficiently – utilization rates in existing installations are often low.
Ensure efficiency with the right technical setup
A vertical farming setup is not necessarily efficient in itself – the growing conditions must be ideal.
– In an automated installation, an elevator moves the troughs to the inspection aisle where the producer is able to check parts of the products. The automated system drives the rest of the production as larger plants are moved to higher and higher positions with increased distance between layers,” explains Pål G. Knutzen. The automation of moving gutters allows growers to allocate a larger net area for cultivation and thus higher production.
In addition to the moving gutter installation, vertical farming facilities must have control over artificial light, the environment in the production area and fertilizers. Pål G. Knutzen elaborates:
– With high-quality LED grow lights, it is possible to make every day a sunny day without relying on natural light. The FL100 from DGT by Senmatic is a powerful and controllable LED light bar that is ideal for indoor vertical farming.
Combined with an electronic climate computer and an efficient water and fertilizer mixer from DGT by Senmatic, you can control every aspect of the growing process. Together with skilled partners, DGT by Senmatic can help you install a fully automated production.
“If you have a lot of acres at your disposal, vertical farming might not be the best option for you. But in big cities around the world, vertical farming is highly justified and will have a significant impact in the future. We are excited to be part of this development and to guide ambitious growers to the ideal setup for their business.”
Pål Knutzen Area Sales Manager at DGT by Senmatic
Interested in learning more about vertical farming? Contact DGT by Senmatic today!
