Before we talk about types of vertical farming, it would be best to understand more about what it is and the benefits it can deliver. Vertical farming is the new agricultural method believed to provide solution to food shortage. The vertical farming method may seem strange or unusual, but it can help to produce food where the land is rare or unavailable.
The Benefits
Besides the benefits to limited or rare land, vertical farming can also be advantageous in challenging and difficult environments, like cities, mountainside areas, or deserts. Since the method must be done in a closed premise, it would be efficient to grow fruits, veggies, and other crops by using the skyscraper-like construction and precise agriculture methods.
The farming isn’t exposed to the harsh sunray – and it doesn’t take a lot of water too. With this method, you will reduce water usage to 70%. And you can also save soil and space. There are also some types of vertical farming that you can do by your own (yes, you can implement the way at home) and there are some ways that are growing for the future.
Different Vertical Farming Types
Here are some of the most common and also most popular types of vertical farming methods to try:
1. Hydroponics
This is a method where you can grow plants without soil. The plant roots would be submerged in solution (of nutrients). The plants are monitored to make sure that correct chemical composition is well maintained and delivered.
This method implements a way where it is possible to do fish farming and grow plants altogether. Basically, the fish grow is done in the indoor environment where the fish produces waste (that is nutrient rich) and it becomes the food source for the plants. Then, the plants would filter and purify the waste (water) and then directly recycled in the ponds.
The Benefits
Besides the benefits to limited or rare land, vertical farming can also be advantageous in challenging and difficult environments, like cities, mountainside areas, or deserts. Since the method must be done in a closed premise, it would be efficient to grow fruits, veggies, and other crops by using the skyscraper-like construction and precise agriculture methods.
The farming isn’t exposed to the harsh sunray – and it doesn’t take a lot of water too. With this method, you will reduce water usage to 70%. And you can also save soil and space. There are also some types of vertical farming that you can do by your own (yes, you can implement the way at home) and there are some ways that are growing for the future.
Different Vertical Farming Types
Here are some of the most common and also most popular types of vertical farming methods to try:
1. Hydroponics
2. Aeroponics
This is almost the same as previous method. However, this one doesn’t require any soil but it needs very little water that is the most efficient plant-growing system for vertical farms. The method was originally created by NASA – they wanted to create a way to grow plants in space. Then aeroponics was created where it is possible to grow plants in mist or air environment with little water and no soil.
With an aeroponics system, plants can be grown in the chamber and transplanted only 10 days later, shown to uptake more minerals and vitamins, making the plants healthier and potentially more nutritious.
This is almost the same as previous method. However, this one doesn’t require any soil but it needs very little water that is the most efficient plant-growing system for vertical farms. The method was originally created by NASA – they wanted to create a way to grow plants in space. Then aeroponics was created where it is possible to grow plants in mist or air environment with little water and no soil.
With an aeroponics system, plants can be grown in the chamber and transplanted only 10 days later, shown to uptake more minerals and vitamins, making the plants healthier and potentially more nutritious.
3. Aquaponics
This method implements a way where it is possible to do fish farming and grow plants altogether. Basically, the fish grow is done in the indoor environment where the fish produces waste (that is nutrient rich) and it becomes the food source for the plants. Then, the plants would filter and purify the waste (water) and then directly recycled in the ponds.
Some Innovations
There are some companies that have implemented different farming methods with vertical farming basis. There are some names that have achieved success and positive outcome in implementing safe ecological system.
There are some companies that have implemented different farming methods with vertical farming basis. There are some names that have achieved success and positive outcome in implementing safe ecological system.
- Space 10. They are incorporating the idea, Lokal, with advanced hydroponics system. Basically, they are using stackable trays and also LED to grow the garden. As a result, the plants grow 3 times faster with this method. Later, they are putting sensors into the trays so the farmers can check through their smartphones.
- Aerofarms. Whereas Space 10 is still planning the sensors installation into the growing trays, Aerofarms have done a step further. They have done a smart vertical farming with the sensors. They can grow plants without the sun or soil. They have also implemented smart pest management, smart scaling, smart data, smart aeroponics, smart substrate, and smart nutrition.