Future of Agriculture: Vertical Farming Revolutionizes Farming Using IoT and Machine Learning

Since the earliest known civilization, human has been farming. However, the last few years have been revolutionary for the farming industry, especially with the advent of vertical farming. This novel technique has piqued attention as it can produce food in a challenging environment, even in the areas where arable land is unavailable. Vertical farming uses soil and hydroponic aeroponic growing methods, which helps mountainside towns, cities, and deserts to grow fruits and vegetables using skyscraper precision agriculture methods. What’s more, it ensures yield and consistency in crop production regardless of climate and external environmental factors such as pests and diseases. Thus, the demand for vertical farming has skyrocketed over the last few years. According to Allied Market Research, the vertical farming market is anticipated to reach $12.77 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 24.6% from 2019 to 2026.

The advantages of vertical farming are numerous, including higher productivity in a smaller area and shorter growing time. Additionally, with vertical farming, fewer volumes of water are used and transportation expenses are drastically reduced as the growing area is much closer to where is food is eaten. AeroFarms is a leading company in vertical farming and is turning the company into a tech venture. The company aims to transform agriculture to change paradigm of exploitation to one of preservation and conservation. As per the company’s recent post, the company’s aeroponic technology is a closed-loop system, which recycles water and nutrients with nearly no waste and uses around 95% lesser water than the conventional field farming.  

The dire need for vertical farming

It is estimated that around 80% of the world’s population would live in urban areas by 2050, making agricultural space in these areas practically non-existents. On the other hand, one acre of vertical farming could offer the production of at least four to six acres as the plants are irrelevant of sunlight or meteorological conditions. Thus, the production can continue in every season throughout the year. Furthermore, vertically farmed crops are produced in tightly-monitored areas, there is hardly any need for pesticides, which increased its popularity as it would provide more fresh produce closer to urban population.

Farming without soil

Hydroponics is a predominant growing method used in vertical farming, which practically is free of soils and involves growing crops in nutrient solutions. Moreover, the crop roots are submerged into the solution and plants are regularly observed to regulate desired level of chemical composition. It can be used in those areas that are frequently affected by harsh weather conditions. In fact, vertical farming is the closed humanity has come to extraterrestrial farming.  

Increased investment and partnerships

Given the benefits of vertical farming, the popular brand Marks and Spencer (M&S) recently announced its partnership with Infarm, an urban farming platform. The deal was set to sell fresh, harvested food in its stores. The UK retailer is spreading its business to include fresh herbs such as mint, basil, parsley, and coriander at the company’s newly-opened store in London. The Infarm vertical farming units would roll out to more stores by the end of 2019. According to Infarm, the company uses farming technology with Internet of Things (IoT) coupled with machine learning to develop a controlled eco-system, which contains optimum amount of air, water, nutrient, and light.

The experiments of vertical farming companies such as Infarm and AeroFarms are expected to pave the way for the bright future of agriculture. It is quite unique that vertical farming more relies on data than the prime ingredients of farming such as water, air, and nutrients. However, it offers a revolutionary way of feeding the ever-growing population of humans on this blue planet.

 

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