CHALLENGES OF VERTICAL FARMING
To get the most productivity out of a small
space, McCue suggests choosing “plants that
grow quickly and in high density, primarily
plants like lettuces, greens, and herbs.”
However, several groups are experimenting
with flowering plants, such as zinnias and
violas, and small roots, like radishes and
turnips, in the LGM. For a Freight Farms
system to operate optimally with a wide
variety of flowering plants, McCue reports
that it is possible to “unlock this crop category
with a few design changes here and there.”
Another consideration for those looking to start
a vertical farm is geographic location. Densely
populated urban regions tend to lease space at a
higher rate, making rent the highest fixed, recur-
ring cost for every farmer operating a Freight
Farm. Utilities including water and electricity typi-
cally come second for highest expenses. Due to the
small footprint and efficiency of the Freight Farms
design, however, it is unlikely for rent and utilities
to be vastly prohibitive. Still, it is important to take
this into consideration before making the initial
investment. McCue advises that urbanization will
hugely impact the logistics of vertical farming,
as some estimates suggest that 80 per cent of the
global population will be living in cities by 2050.
FUTURE OF VERTICAL FARMING
ADVANTAGES TO VERTICAL FARMING
Well into the age of automation, vertical farming
offers a practical platform to incorporate many levels
of automation into the grow space. Freight Farms’
LGM is outfitted with sensors that monitor the air
and water and adjust the growing environment
automatically based on levels set by the grower.
These levels can be monitored, analyzed, and
controlled in real time using their Farmhand App.
This allows growers to capture the components
of nature’s ideal environment and reproduce it
repeatedly in a contained and protected space. With
climate change on the rise, and the unpredictability
of growing outdoors, Freight Farms has found a way
to alleviate these issues for farmers. McCue adds that
they install “LED lights that are designed to generate
precisely the wavelengths of light that plants use
in photosynthesis so that the farms don’t waste any
energy on non-productive light.” Additionally, the
LGM uses a sort of nutrient film technique (NFT) in a
vertical orientation to run nutrient-rich water down
the channels that cross over the roots of the plants,
and the excess is recaptured and returned to the
main reservoir. From there, the water is renewed,
recycled, and used again. A Freight Farms’ system
growing upwards of 9,000 plants uses less than five
gallons per day on average. The plant capacity
of the LGM varies, however, based on plant type
and application. McCue explains the capacity is
“changeable because unlike many other forms of
hydroponic agriculture, our mature growth area has
flexible grow sites that allow us to plant anywhere
from one to 40 plants per vertical crop column.”
As the values of farmers and consumers continue
to become more aligned, mentalities continue
to shift toward a more sustainably driven goal
set. The process of farm-to-fork has long lacked
transparency, and vertical farms such as the LGM
provide the resources and insight to overcome
these obstacles. Vertical farming offers the
ability to reduce, or even eliminate, the need for
evolved refrigeration techniques and efficient
transportation methods to import produce into
regions that cannot traditionally grow certain
crops. Additionally, resources are used more
efficiently in controlled environments, as a lot of
these inputs are pre-calculated at optimal levels.
The LGM uses recirculating hydroponics to collect
and renew the water unused by plants in feed
cycles. This cost-savings benefit prevents the
Earth’s ecosystems from being adversely affected
by agricultural runoff, as well as allow damaged
ecosystems the chance to rebuild. McCue
highlights the detrimental impact of runoff as a
primary source of the planet’s pollution.
Whether you are preparing for the apocalypse
or considering a new business, Freight Farms
has everything dialed in for you to start your
own vertical farm. It provides the resources
you need to focus on meeting your production
demands in an ideal environment, excelling in
everything from ambiance to the optimization of
growing fresh produce in house. Freight Farms
anticipates and prepares to open the doors
to new and additional markets by working to
reduce start-up costs and simplify the growing
process through automation, irrespective of the
farmers’ prior knowledge.
groundbreakers
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