Vertical and greenhouse farming should be viewed as two production systems on a gradient instead of perceiving them as two opposed systems. In most cases, greenhouses can use technologies from vertical gardens to increase crop performance and climate control in these environments. When interactions with the exterior environment are undesirable, vertical gardens provide an ideal environment for climate control.

In modern agriculture, vertical farming is a production system that is gaining popularity, especially in urban areas. During establishment, this method requires knowledge from other disciplines such as systems engineering and environmental science. However, farmers can hire professionals to establish controlled environments with proper ventilation systems to regulate the flow of air, fully functioning advanced irrigation and fertigation systems, crop monitoring tools such as sensors, and proper lighting with fewer energy costs. Compared to traditional production systems, growing crops in controlled environments is more efficient and uses less water, especially when using drip irrigation systems.

Farmers growing crops in greenhouses invest more in freely available solar energy which cost-effective and more efficient compared to electrical energy. However, greenhouses do not offer all the required conditions which make vertical gardens more viable, especially in urban environments where space is limited.

What are the benefits of practicing Farming in controlled environments?

There are countless benefits of growing crops in controlled environments. They include:

  • Energy losses across the greenhouse and vertical façade are relatively low and the beneficial energy gain is higher, especially in cold areas that receive little sunlight. However, controlled environments are not effective for various crops such as grapes that require direct sunlight to enhance crop quality.
  • Resources such as land, water, and fertilizers that are used are less which makes the production methods viable in densely populated, arid, and semi-arid areas.
  • Vertical gardens and greenhouses strengthen local food production especially in urban areas that rely on imports to sustain the ever-increasing population.
  • Controlled environments provide the ideal conditions for various crops such as strawberries and vegetables to flourish. Unlike open fields, controlled environments are not affected by the adverse effects of climate change such as extremely high temperatures and strong winds.

Adopting innovative solutions

Europe and Asia provide a large market for Kenyan horticultural products. As the global population keeps growing, the demand for food is rising to sustain it. Agricultural land is decreasing over time and it’s important to adopt innovative farming practices to produce enough food for the growing population.

In arid and urban areas, small spaces can be used to grow more. Vertical farms promote agriculture in urban areas where space is limited and arid areas where water and ecological conditions are not conducive for agriculture.  Apart from hydroponics and aeroponics production methods, there is a new system whereby the roots are exposed to a nutrient-rich fog. This method requires less water and the production is higher compared to hydroponics since the nutrients are absorbed faster.

Automation and digitalization in controlled environments make farm management more effective. Since the growing environments are smaller, especially in urban areas, irrigation, fertigation, crop monitoring, and pest control is more effective and efficient which translates into high yield quality and quantity.

At Oxfarm, we can help you establish vertical farms as well as Multistorey gardens.