4 ms·

Why isn't it as cost effective? Is that just from a higher start-up cost or is it significantly more expensive to run in the long run? Seems like it would be ch

Why isn't it as cost effective? Is that just from a higher start-up cost or is it significantly more expensive to run in the long run? Seems like it would be cheaper (closed environment). Anecdote: I heard that peaches were grown in Greenhouses to avoid rot & bugs and it's been very helpful.

hanniabu 11y ago
I work for a vertical farming company (Verticulture Farms) and high property values and utility costs are killers in higher populated areas.
minthd 11y ago
Two major , expensive costs - the factory, the equipment, land,etc.very expensive - but maybe this can be solved. maybe. But there's also the required energy: "just to meet a year's U.S. wheat production with vertical farming would, for lighting alone, require EIGHT TIMES as much electricity as all U.S. utilities generate in an entire year"
- giltleaf 11y ago
  There is no reason to grow wheat in a vertical farm. Vertical farms would be for specialty crops. Would love to see your source on that too. Additionally, not all vertical farming relies on artificial lighting.
  - minthd 11y ago
    sorry , forgot to add source: http://www.alternet.org/story/146686/why_planting_farms_in_skyscrapers_won%27t_solve_our_food_problems http://www.alternet.org/story/146686/why_planting_farms_in_s...
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  Yeah, traditional farming uses the sun directly as a major input, and vertical farming has to use a lot of electricity to make up for that -- which is why all the "positive" energy comparisons you see for vertical farming are to other indoor methods. But without cheap, abundant, clean power to replace the way traditional farming uses the sun, vertical farming is either not going to be economically viable on a large scale, or is going to be trading one set of negative externalities for another (traditional farming's externalities from runoff, etc., for the externalities from the power production for vertical farming), or both.
pjc50 11y ago
Lots of construction and real estate expenses. The more your farm resembles an actual building rather than a greenhouse or polytunnel, the more expensive. It also sounds like it requires energy and skilled labour. Using externally powered lighting is going to be hugely expensive. Where is that energy coming from, anyway, and is it renewable? I don't think people realise how low farm-gate prices for commodity foods are.

hanniabu 11y ago

I work for a vertical farming company (Verticulture Farms) and high property values and utility costs are killers in higher populated areas.

minthd 11y ago

Two major , expensive costs - the factory, the equipment, land,etc.very expensive - but maybe this can be solved. maybe. But there's also the required energy: "just to meet a year's U.S. wheat production with vertical farming would, for lighting alone, require EIGHT TIMES as much electricity as all U.S. utilities generate in an entire year"

giltleaf 11y ago
There is no reason to grow wheat in a vertical farm. Vertical farms would be for specialty crops. Would love to see your source on that too. Additionally, not all vertical farming relies on artificial lighting.
- minthd 11y ago
  sorry , forgot to add source: http://www.alternet.org/story/146686/why_planting_farms_in_skyscrapers_won%27t_solve_our_food_problems http://www.alternet.org/story/146686/why_planting_farms_in_s...
dragonwriter 11y ago
Yeah, traditional farming uses the sun directly as a major input, and vertical farming has to use a lot of electricity to make up for that -- which is why all the "positive" energy comparisons you see for vertical farming are to other indoor methods. But without cheap, abundant, clean power to replace the way traditional farming uses the sun, vertical farming is either not going to be economically viable on a large scale, or is going to be trading one set of negative externalities for another (traditional farming's externalities from runoff, etc., for the externalities from the power production for vertical farming), or both.

pjc50 11y ago

Lots of construction and real estate expenses. The more your farm resembles an actual building rather than a greenhouse or polytunnel, the more expensive. It also sounds like it requires energy and skilled labour. Using externally powered lighting is going to be hugely expensive. Where is that energy coming from, anyway, and is it renewable? I don't think people realise how low farm-gate prices for commodity foods are.