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> Vertical farming seems key for our future. This has never made sense to me. Vertical farming is just greenhouses except with artificial light instead of natu

• notahacker 4y ago
  Theoretically the advantages are light sources focused where the plant needs when they need it resulting in faster growth. Just turns out that for most crops, that (and lower land use) isn't enough to cover the disadvantages of the extra infrastructure needed. Plus you can install lights in a greenhouse...
• jelliclesfarm 4y ago
  They have only ever managed to grow lettuce with vertical farming. Produce out of farm gate is at the bottom of the supply chain. It will never be profitable unless people are willing to be 4-5x what they pay for lettuce now. CA field grown lettuce gets the farmer less than half a dollar per head. Meanwhile: https://www.montereyherald.com/2022/12/16/11-for-a-head-of-lettuce-nationwide-shortage-causes-outrageous-prices-2/amp/ https://www.montereyherald.com/2022/12/16/11-for-a-head-of-l... Expect price increases and food shortages this year because of rains in CA. We are not allowed to plant for 45-60 days after last rains so field can dry out. The truth is that we do have a real food shortage situation now. The vertical farms won’t make a dent in making up the gap. Not even close.