No other species other than man has been able to radically alter the planet in order to sustain agriculture. There are tropical ants that harvest leaves in order to raise fungi for the colony, but most vertebrates must rely on the natural food chain. Centuries of technological development have allowed humans to spread to every livable spot on Earth, but at a very high environmental cost. Vertical farming systems today are becoming an increasingly realistic option.
As the amount of water and arable land suited to agriculture continues to decline as a result of increasing demand and climate change, this concept is no longer relegated to the science-fiction shelf. The idea of creating sustainable farms that are housed in specially built skyscrapers has existed for several decades, but has not been considered a serious solution until the 21st century.
The idealized vision of a peaceful family farm has disappeared in real life. To be profitable, big agriculture must rely on industrial practices that stress heavy pesticide use and practice mono-culture with genetically engineered plants. Even though few people would sensibly or realistically argue for scaling down agribusiness, current practices have resulted in fragmented natural ecosystems and disappearing habitats.
Large-scale upright agriculture uses the same principles as back-yard plant containers having built-in tiers or growing levels. Plants that normally require a comparatively large plot of ground if planted horizontally often thrive in an upright configuration. When the same principles are applied to crops raised in high-rises, comparable harvests are produced using consistently less land area, allowing agriculture to thrive in urban areas.
These methods expand on the same principles used by greenhouses, which have existed in various forms for hundreds of years. Theoretically, the inhabitants of a major city could grow enough food for all inhabitants without resorting to imports. Although most of the experimental farms today concentrate on plant-life, animals such as chickens or pigs already adapt well to life in small spaces.
There are many advantages to adopting this system. Weather-related crop failures would disappear as long as electrical power remains constant. There would be little reliance on fossil fuels used to power outdoor farm equipment, and the current plague of pesticide runoff problems could be eliminated. Water could be recycled and reused many times, and animal and plant diseases more readily contained and defeated.
Most crop field waste would be reduced, and the remaining vegetable materials recycled. Big agriculture produces large quantities of methane, a gas that can be scrubbed and burned for electrical generation in a high-rise production facility. Unused power could be fed to the grid, much like solar panels do today. Urban workers with grim employment prospects could find rewarding jobs raising crops on a year-round schedule.
The environment itself would see the greatest benefits. When seemingly invincible civilizations have collapsed in the past, nature has reclaimed the land very quickly. Cutting back on destructive farming would encourage the same kind of resurgence in many regions currently experiencing environmental and ecological stress. Traditional practices will always be used, but high-rise food production is becoming a practical alternative.
As the amount of water and arable land suited to agriculture continues to decline as a result of increasing demand and climate change, this concept is no longer relegated to the science-fiction shelf. The idea of creating sustainable farms that are housed in specially built skyscrapers has existed for several decades, but has not been considered a serious solution until the 21st century.
The idealized vision of a peaceful family farm has disappeared in real life. To be profitable, big agriculture must rely on industrial practices that stress heavy pesticide use and practice mono-culture with genetically engineered plants. Even though few people would sensibly or realistically argue for scaling down agribusiness, current practices have resulted in fragmented natural ecosystems and disappearing habitats.
Large-scale upright agriculture uses the same principles as back-yard plant containers having built-in tiers or growing levels. Plants that normally require a comparatively large plot of ground if planted horizontally often thrive in an upright configuration. When the same principles are applied to crops raised in high-rises, comparable harvests are produced using consistently less land area, allowing agriculture to thrive in urban areas.
These methods expand on the same principles used by greenhouses, which have existed in various forms for hundreds of years. Theoretically, the inhabitants of a major city could grow enough food for all inhabitants without resorting to imports. Although most of the experimental farms today concentrate on plant-life, animals such as chickens or pigs already adapt well to life in small spaces.
There are many advantages to adopting this system. Weather-related crop failures would disappear as long as electrical power remains constant. There would be little reliance on fossil fuels used to power outdoor farm equipment, and the current plague of pesticide runoff problems could be eliminated. Water could be recycled and reused many times, and animal and plant diseases more readily contained and defeated.
Most crop field waste would be reduced, and the remaining vegetable materials recycled. Big agriculture produces large quantities of methane, a gas that can be scrubbed and burned for electrical generation in a high-rise production facility. Unused power could be fed to the grid, much like solar panels do today. Urban workers with grim employment prospects could find rewarding jobs raising crops on a year-round schedule.
The environment itself would see the greatest benefits. When seemingly invincible civilizations have collapsed in the past, nature has reclaimed the land very quickly. Cutting back on destructive farming would encourage the same kind of resurgence in many regions currently experiencing environmental and ecological stress. Traditional practices will always be used, but high-rise food production is becoming a practical alternative.
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