World’s Largest Indoor Vertical Farm Is Being Built In New Jersey

As the world’s farmers turn to vertical farming for profits the technology behind this phenomenon is getting more advanced. Farmers also turn their farms into soiless growing beds and depend on LEDs to simulate the sun. It’s an agricultural revolution and one that could very well be the solution to the world’s hunger problems. While running a vertical farm by no means automated farming, the concept is way more environmentally friendly than traditional farming.

AeroFarms, one of the leading companies in the vertical farm revolution, is currently building the world’s largest indoor vertical farm and will be located in Newark,  New Jersey. [pullquote]When in full production it will produce over 2 million pounds of fresh lettuce and other vegetables yearly.[/pullquote] That is a sizeable production that will ensure most of New Jersey’s people can expect their lettuce to be locally grown. This is something that a lot of people expect nowadays.

The size of AeroFarm’s  new vertical farm will be 70,000 square feet and will be nothing short of an industry in itself. Even though the concept is growing in popularity, it’s still a daring business to undertake. To remain in business, you have to prove to people that you can deliver the amount you promise them. The vertical farm will be more manageable than other farms, sure, but when all things are considered, it’s not by any means a business that runs itself.

However, AeroFarms know their trade well. They have been around since 2004 and run several totally-controlled farms which show they have the green hands necessary to turn this new farm into a success.

David Rosenberg, co-founder and chief executive officer of AeroFarms, said, “We use about 95 percent less water to grow the plants, about 50 percent less fertilizer as nutrients and zero pesticides, herbicide, fungicides.”

The company has built itself and its reputation over many years and, just like other vertical farming companies, started out small. Perhaps not using urban wall gardens, like we have written about before, but rather doing what they are doing now, but on a much smaller scale.

Do you think vertical farms have a place in the future of agriculture? As the major cities become megacities, will vertical farms be a necessity to provide the population with fresh locally grown vegetables? Let us know in the comment section below.

AeroFarms’ Soiless & Sunless Vertical Farm

SOURCE: [GIZMODO]