The traditional concept of farming may soon be taking a new twist. Up until now, most people have envisioned farms as outdoor sprawling fields located in the country, but in the future, the picture may be replaced with a citified version of three dimensional “farms” that will be located right on busy city streets inside tall buildings, with one “field” stacked floor after floor on top of the other in order to make the best use of dwindling resources and space.

The Concept

If this vision of the future (referred to in modern agricultural circles as vertical farms) sounds complicated, that’s because it is. Basically, the premise is to use agricultural methods within urban high-rise buildings to raise fruit, vegetables, fish and livestock, which can be used to feed city residents. The farms would rely on rooftop solar panels and advanced technology to capture evaporating water in order to support their operations, so they wouldn’t need to diminish the supply of other valuable resources in order to exist.

The Need

The concept of vertical farming was the brainchild of a Columbia professor and his class who came up with the idea as a potential solution to address some dire future forecasts. By 2050 food shortages in urban areas could become frightening reality. The gap in resources versus need is driven by the fact that the world’s population is expected to double over the next four or five decades, with the majority of people clustering in urban centers. This means that more people will be competing for the limited available food and the fact that 85% of all available free farmland is already being utilized.

A Productive Alternative

Researchers estimate that just one acre of vertical farm can yield as much food as could be grown on 20 traditional acres. This efficiency can be an important aspect in feeding large numbers. In fact, one vertical farm climbing 30 stories high might be able to feed 50,000 people. Better yet, by incorporating some of the latest NASA technology and also calling on other existing resources, a vertical farm is not such a far-fetched idea. In fact, within the next decade or two, the first prototypes may exist.

Why Vertical Works

The rationale for vertical farms, which build upwards instead of outwards, is clear. It could minimize the need for additional farmland and can also operate and sustain itself within the challenge of current urban conditions. But the concept also goes a step further, incorporating a green element that has nothing to do with the color of the grass and everything to do with the environment impact. Experts predict that vertical farming could have a multitude of positive benefits on the future of the planet. For instance, it would reduce some of the problems that are currently associated with traditional farming methods by allowing the soil to return to its natural state, which could ultimately help regulate the world’s climate and weather patterns. In addition, the indoor setting would reduce the need for pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to grow healthy and bountiful crops.