Vertical Farming: Answering All the Question Marks Inside Your Head

Hamna Qasim
3 min readJan 26, 2023

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“Investments in agriculture are the best weapons against hunger and poverty, and they have made life better for billions of people.”

— Bill and Melinda Gates

Let’s Start the Question & Answer Session

How Efficient is Vertical Farming?

Vertical farming utilizes less water and space while providing year-round production (not limited by seasons).

For example, advanced technological farms can yield daily harvests throughout the year with minimal food waste.

And they can grow over 200 types of hydroponic produce within one facility.

What Kind of Crops Grow on a Vertical Farm?

Leafy greens, herbs, and microgreens are typically the most suitable crops for vertical farming; however, many other options are possible.

Some vertical farms also grow fruits, flowers, and grains, such as rice and vegetable varieties.

Can Rice be Grown in Vertical Farms?

Yes, some vertical farms are capable of growing rice. There are already farmers in Singapore who are producing rice on vertical farms.

Does Vertical Farming Consume A Lot of Electricity?

Some vertical farm setups require substantial electricity to power grow lights.

However, technology has enabled greenhouses to utilize natural sunlight as much as possible.

This results in 90% less energy consumption than other vertical farming options.

Water or Soil — What is Used in Vertical Farming?

Water is required in vertical farming, but it uses significantly less than traditional farming methods due to recycling systems in place.

It depends on the system as some vertical farms still use soil, while others eliminate it. Some hydroponic farms use water instead of soil.

Does Vertical Farming Rely on Sunlight?

Although not all vertical farms follow this approach, some vertical greenhouses try to make the most use of natural sunlight to reduce costs and pollution associated with powering large banks of grow lights.

As a result, it uses 90% less light energy than other vertical farming options.

Is Fertilizer Required in Vertical Farms?

In a vertical hydroponic farm, a nutrient solution is added to the water, which replaces fertilizer, and provides all the essential nutrients for plant growth and development.

Are Pesticides Necessary?

Vertical farms with CEA technology eliminate the need for chemical pesticides by preventing pests from reaching the plants.

Careful monitoring and cleaning help growers spot problems before they become infestations, eliminating the need to spray pesticides on food.

Is It a Profitable Venture?

Profitability can be a significant challenge in some vertical farming models.

The correct technology and partnerships are vital to ensure a profitable outcome when starting a vertical farm.

One of the main expenses of vertical farming is the energy used for growing light. Advanced technology aims to reduce these costs while yielding abundant crops for sale.

Which Country has the Most Widespread Usage of Vertical Farming?

No specific research currently indicates which country employs this technology the most.

However, several countries and cities worldwide have thriving vertical farms and other urban agriculture projects.

I tried my best to answer all your queries in the easiest manner. So if anything is missing; let me know in the comments below.

I would be more than happy to pen down the answers to all your questions!

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Hamna Qasim

A Millionaire in the Making || Driven Entrepreneur || COO at Inteliract