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Right off the bat they compare the production output of their robot interior farm with a comparable exterior farm "5 times the size" - which is another, more su

Right off the bat they compare the production output of their robot interior farm with a comparable exterior farm "5 times the size" - which is another, more subtle, form of BS - how does it compare with a standard "meat powered" indoor farm? Production from hydro/hybrid is higher than traditional outside soil only. >> "What we found is that the two biggest costs in the indoor farm are labor and electricity" this may be true but it doesn't mean the costs of outdoor farming are lower, plus the added cost of land (good farm land is expensive to own or rent)

KaiserPro 8y ago
"plus the added cost of land (good farm land is expensive to own or rent)" Urban land is much more expensive per unit. not only that, but you have the Capital expense of the machinery and buildings, plus the operational expense of heating, lighting, ventilation, and fungus control. http://blog.zipgrow.com/indoor-hydroponic-farming-costs-profits http://blog.zipgrow.com/indoor-hydroponic-farming-costs-prof... has a good overview of the costs. $110k for 500 square feet. excluding building. Then you have the opex for lighting which is $1100 a month. You'll need heating in winter, which will similar cost. To put that in perspective, https://www.uklandandfarms.co.uk/rural-property-for-sale/east-anglia/norfolk/norwich-39764_423815/ https://www.uklandandfarms.co.uk/rural-property-for-sale/eas... grade II soil. $80k, buys you 211266 square feet, with change left over for tractor, plough, seed and tillage hire/buy. Moreover, its not an asset that will depreciate, unless one lets the soil blow away/don't improve it.