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Energy isn't vertical farmings only issue. The fact that you cannot grow staple crops like wheat, soy, or rice indoors is the major issue. Most of what these

Energy isn't vertical farmings only issue. The fact that you cannot grow staple crops like wheat, soy, or rice indoors is the major issue. Most of what these farms are best suited to grow can be considered "crunchy water" and not nutritious enough to feed a planet.

hairytrog 7y ago
crunchy water. nice.
ColanR 7y ago
What about potatoes? Seems like those are a fairly good staple crop.
- onlyrealcuzzo 7y ago
  Not sure, but I don't think root vegetables are good for growing indoors. They need a lot of soil depth. I can't imagine it'd be efficient, but not sure...
  - kss238 7y ago
    you can grow root vegetables (at least some) hydroponically
jdc 7y ago
Somebody should tell these "farmers" about sweet potatoes!
kragen 7y ago
Isn't that precisely the energy issue? Or is there another reason you can't grow those crops indoors, other than your light not being bright enough (because making it bright enough and then air conditioning the hothouse is too expensive)?
elcritch 7y ago
Staple crops like wheat, soy, and rice have been honed to near perfection and largely don’t need or benefit from vertical farming. However, you’re conflating calories with nutrition but they’re not the same. Once basic caloric needs are met, a variety of vegetables become crucial in a healthy diet. American diets are terrible for this. It’s often cheaper or easier to buy highly processed foods based on corn, wheat, and soy than vegetables in the US [1]. What’s needed in the US and many modern countries is precisely what vertical farms are good at growing, fresh leafy greens, peppers, herbs, green beans, etc. Shipping fresh vegetables degrades the available nutrients in these items (up to 30% in three days [2). Even then that crunchy water like lettuce plays a crucial role in keeping gut biotica healthy and balanced. Sure vertical farms won’t replace staple crops anytime soon or ever, but there’s an enormous need (in the US at least) for more fresh vegetables. Crunchy water also tastes pretty good if you know how to cook it. 1: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nancyhuehnergarth/2016/03/14/study-finds-nearly-60-of-calories-in-the-american-diet-are-from-ultra-processed-foods/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/nancyhuehnergarth/2016/03/14/st... 2: https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-xpm-2013-07-10-chi-most-produce-loses-30-percent-of-nutrients-three-days-after-harvest-20130710-story.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-xpm-2013-07-10-chi-...

hairytrog 7y ago

crunchy water. nice.

ColanR 7y ago

What about potatoes? Seems like those are a fairly good staple crop.

onlyrealcuzzo 7y ago
Not sure, but I don't think root vegetables are good for growing indoors. They need a lot of soil depth. I can't imagine it'd be efficient, but not sure...
- kss238 7y ago
  you can grow root vegetables (at least some) hydroponically

jdc 7y ago

Somebody should tell these "farmers" about sweet potatoes!

kragen 7y ago

Isn't that precisely the energy issue? Or is there another reason you can't grow those crops indoors, other than your light not being bright enough (because making it bright enough and then air conditioning the hothouse is too expensive)?

elcritch 7y ago

Staple crops like wheat, soy, and rice have been honed to near perfection and largely don’t need or benefit from vertical farming. However, you’re conflating calories with nutrition but they’re not the same. Once basic caloric needs are met, a variety of vegetables become crucial in a healthy diet. American diets are terrible for this. It’s often cheaper or easier to buy highly processed foods based on corn, wheat, and soy than vegetables in the US [1]. What’s needed in the US and many modern countries is precisely what vertical farms are good at growing, fresh leafy greens, peppers, herbs, green beans, etc. Shipping fresh vegetables degrades the available nutrients in these items (up to 30% in three days [2). Even then that crunchy water like lettuce plays a crucial role in keeping gut biotica healthy and balanced. Sure vertical farms won’t replace staple crops anytime soon or ever, but there’s an enormous need (in the US at least) for more fresh vegetables. Crunchy water also tastes pretty good if you know how to cook it. 1: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nancyhuehnergarth/2016/03/14/study-finds-nearly-60-of-calories-in-the-american-diet-are-from-ultra-processed-foods/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/nancyhuehnergarth/2016/03/14/st... 2: https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-xpm-2013-07-10-chi-most-produce-loses-30-percent-of-nutrients-three-days-after-harvest-20130710-story.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-xpm-2013-07-10-chi-...