The Vertical Farm: Urban Agriculture Aims High

Over the past few years, there's been a lot of interest in starting serious vertical farming projects in urban areas. And for good reason: We have begun to realize that the agricultural and food production and transportation systems we rely on now are not so sustainable. Simultaneously, our population continues to grow, as do our cities. Urban agriculture looks more and more appealing, and has demonstrated inspiring results, but only on a small scale. To grow urban farming, perhaps the only way to go is up.

We've got the balconies and the rooftops covered, but what about everything in between? A handful of urban architects have drawn up ideas for the vertical farm, and Department of Environmental Health Sciences in Columbia University's School of Public Health executed one of the most comprehensive studies on the feasibility of the vertical farm in 2004. The study "The Vertical Farm: Food Production of the Future" proposes an 18 story building on a large New York City block that could feed 50,000 people. This imagined vertical farm includes space for the production of chicken, eggs, and tilapia, as well as fruits and vegetables carefully selected based on nutritional value and adaptability to indoor growing systems. The list includes bananas, carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, peppers, soybeans, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, and dwarfed wheat. Crops are grown intensively, using hydroponic or aeroponic methods, and depending on the crop 1 acre indoor can yield as much as 4-6 acres outdoors. Ideally, the vertical farm is a closed, self-sustaining system. The waste from the chickens and fish is not only used as fertilizer for crops, but also produces methane, which is used for energy to power the building. Wastewater is converted back into usable water through captured evapotranspiration.

One problem with this particular vision of the vertical farm is that it would limit the diet of the 50,000 people it feeds. All the essentials are covered, and it is even generous in that it would not force people to become vegetarian and includes meat and eggs. However it does not incorporate large livestock to produce milk, cheese, or a variety of meats. I'm not saying such inclusion is necessary, or even sustainable, but in a city like New York where people are used to having a myriad of food options at their fingertips, I'm not sure the limited selection would suffice. But there are many more pros than cons. The prospect of vertical farming reworks the relationship between the natural environment and crops, eliminating the threats of drought, storms, and other environmental factors. The vertical farm could potentially greatly increase food security for millions.

It's a great idea, but the question is will it work? No one really knows, as these "farmscrapers" are not yet a reality. Crops such as tomatoes, strawberries, and lettuces have already been grown hydroponically inside on a large scale, but bananas and wheat have not. The calculations of space, amounts of inputs and outputs, have yet to be tested and proven. However, one can imagine that the first live experiment is not far off, as more and more interest and effort is poured into sustainable urban design and high-yield urban agriculture projects.