Vertical farming expands as agtech sector grows

Vertical farming is emerging as a significant sector within agtech to address the challenges of a growing global population and climate change. By growing crops in stacked indoor layers using hydroponics, producers can control temperature, light, and nutrients, allowing for year-round production regardless of weather.

In the aviation and hospitality sectors, companies are adopting these technologies to shorten supply chains. Emirates Flight Catering operates Emirates Bustanica in Dubai to provide leafy greens for flights, while Singapore Airlines has partnered with AeroFarms to serve locally grown produce. In Singapore, the Fairmont Hotel utilizes aquaponic systems to combine fish and plant cultivation.

Research in Norway, led by NIBIO, is exploring how to make vertical farming more profitable by optimizing resource recovery. Potential methods include using biorest from biogas production as fertilizer and capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes to enhance plant growth. While high energy and investment costs remain challenges, the method offers benefits such as reduced need for washing, longer shelf life, and less packaging.