vertical farming
Top: Horizontal plane growing systems often require a person in a scissor
lift to service one row of tiers and spend time moving up and down.
Scissor lifts are cumbersome, expensive, dangerous, and block access.
Above: A vertical plane growing set-up allows workers to access any row
they need without bulky equipment. Aisle widths and growing equipment
on wheels make it simple to accomodate multiple workers at once. Some
vertical techniques allow workers at ground level to access and care for
crops at all heights, eliminating the need for a scissor lift.
FACTOR #2:
LABOR COSTS
To reduce labor costs, a farmer should maximize both the
ease with which workers can access crops, and the number of
workers that are able to access a layout simultaneously. This
cuts out waiting time and increases efficiency.
Labor accounts for much of the cost of production. Stream-
lining and simplifying the process will have a tremendous
impact on labor costs, especially in larger facilities.
Another benefit of growing on a vertical plane is that
compliance processes and safeguards are easier to create
and maintain because all processes can be applied in a
very targeted way.
Vertical plane farms are easy to make modular. Because
they are usually modular and lightweight, each part of the
vertical farm can be moved and consolidated for treatment.
Farmers are also able to log more accurately on a unit by unit
basis. This is better for compliance, better for food safety, and
better for pest management.
The product can be moved, consolidated for treatment, and rolled into
special areas for cleaning.
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