what is vertical farming

Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers, often incorporating controlled-environment agriculture and soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics. Some common structures used to house vertical farming systems include buildings, shipping containers, tunnels, and abandoned mine shafts. Vertical farming allows for the production of a larger variety of harvestable crops because of its usage of isolated crop sectors, as opposed to traditional farms where one type of crop is harvested per season. According to the USDA, vertical farm produce only travels a short distance to reach stores compared to traditional farming methods. Vertical farming systems can be used to grow a wide array of plants, such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, and even flowering plants. However, it is important to note that there are drawbacks to vertical farming, such as the high cost of initial investment and the fact that some crops simply won’t grow well in such a configuration.