IMPORTANCE & PROSPECTS OF VERTICAL FARMING IN INDIA

May 7, 2023

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IMPORTANCE & PROSPECTS OF VERTICAL FARMING IN INDIA

Vertical farming is an agricultural method through which crops are grown in vertically stacked layers. It is done in a controlled environment using techniques such as aquaponics, hydroponics and aeroponics, that does not make use of soil.With a growing population and not much operational farmland to go around, vertical farming may be used to fulfill the growing food demands of the world.

Projections suggest that India will become the most populous country before 2025. This puts into question our food production capabilities. The Global Food Security Index (GFSI), which benchmarks 58 unique indicators measuring the drivers of food affordability, availability, quality, and safety for 113 developing and developed countries, ranked India at 71^st position in 2021. This indicates what a pressing challenge food production is – and this is likely to increase with the growing population.

Macro trends across markets indicate a consumer preference for fresh and natural products that are healthy and locally sourced. Vertical farms have been proposed as an alternative to pesticide- and fertiliser-dependent farming, and technological advances have decreased the cost of production and made the concept commercially feasible. It’s estimated that there are already more than 2,000 vertical farms in the US. These farms can occupy spaces such as buildings or shipping containers, where they produce greater yields than traditional outdoor farming, and use 70 to 95% less water. A study conducted by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) found that water and fertilizer savings of around 25% and 30% respectively were reported for various fruit crops in Delhi region through the drip fertigation system.

In India, Future Farms has successfully developed vertical farms, and Barton Breeze operates smart farms by collecting hundreds of data points at each of its units to project harvest data and calculate sales. Farm-in-Box has developed innovative packages for 15 day-old live micro-crops with roots clumped in a box which can be freshly harvested at any time. Several such farms are emerging near cities and are slowly serving the needs of urban dwellers. Hydroponically-grown vegetables can be spotted in major grocery stores, and on popular e-grocery platforms.Vertical farming is cultivating and producing crops/ plants in vertically stacked layers and vertically inclined surfaces. The entire world is on the verge of population explosion and there is a gravest challenge of feeding the population. The population explosion has led to the decreased per capita land. Earlier with the aim of supplying the food to ever increasing population agricultural scientist stretched their innovative approaches to the tune of developing hybrid/ improved high yielding varieties, improved techniques, improved tools and implements, integrated practices in water, nutrient management and insect, pest management, greenhouse technology and even the genetically modified crops .All these efforts once were revolutionary, now sound inadequate. In 1915, Gilbert Ellis Bailey coined the term “vertical farming” and wrote a booktitled “Vertical Farming”. In the early 1930s, William Frederick Gerick pioneered hydroponics at the University of California at Berkley. In the 1980s, Åke Olsson, a Swedish ecological farmer, invented a spiral-shaped rail system for growing plants and suggested vertical farming as a means for producing vegetables in cities. Professor Dickson Despommierin in 1999 came up with an idea of vertical farming. His concept was to grow the food in urban areas itself utilizing less distance and saving the time inbringing the food produced in rural areas to the cities. He intended in growing food within urban environments and thus have fresher foods available faster and at lower costs.. Today, the context of vertical farming has completely changed and is confined to the aim of utilizing each and every inch of land and space, no matter whether it is urban or rural for growing maximum possible food for the hungry population. It has now emerged as a new farming technology all over the world. In India also, vertical farming is stepping inactually.Many entrepreneurs are coming forward for vertical farming with high net returns. Vertical farming can be implemented in buildings, warehouses, rooftops and balconies .

Why vertical farming is adopted :

Why vertical farming is adopted are as listed below: ▪ It increases yield per unit area i.e., productivity even from a small piece of land. ▪ It Increases the amount of net return to the farmer. ▪ It helps in best utilization of the vertical area which is generally left unused. ▪ It provides fresh cut vegetables to the consumers.

Origins of Vertical Farming

The concept of vertical farming was first pioneered by Dickson Despommier in 1999. He was a professor of Public and Environmental Health at Columbia University. Challenging his students on whether food could be grown on the rooftops of New York skyscrapers, a concept was created in which a 30-story vertical farm grown by hydroponics and artificial light could feed about 50,000 people.

As a result, governments and developers around the world would take note of vertical farming and implement it in cities such as Abu Dhabi, New York, Los Angeles, Bangalore, Dubai, Beijing etc. Between 2014 and November 2020 about $1.8 billion were invested into startups working on creating vertical farms.

Types of Vertical Farms

The following are the known types of Vertical Farming

Vertical Farms in buildings

Abandoned buildings are repurposed for vertical farming, but it’s not necessary that such buildings be used often. Depending on the requirements new buildings are also used to construct vertical farms.

Shipping-Container Vertical Farms

Old or recycled shipping containers are equipped with LED lighting, vertically stacked farms, climate controls and monitoring sensors. Such types of farms can save space and get a higher yield in the process.

Underground Vertical Farms

Also known as ‘Deep Farms’, these types of vertical farms are built in underground tunnels, abandoned mine shafts or any subterranean environment. The constant temperature and humidity means that they require less energy for heating and as for water supply, the underground water source can be used. Such farms can also produce 7 to 9 times more food than a conventional farm.

Impact of vertical farming

Reduction of energy costs in transportation. • Year-round crop production preparation protection from weather. • Crops are then sold within the same infrastructure (reduction of crop waste). • Elimination of crop machinery fossil fuel emissions. • Growth of enough food to replace lost productivity as farmland is urbanized. • Four acres of land in traditional farming would produce the same number of crops in vertical farming.

Types of Vertical Farming

1. Despommier Skyscrapers Despommier proposed that plant life is mass produced within hermetically sealed, artificial environments that have little to do with the outside world. In this sense, they could be built anywhere regardless of the context. Despommier’s concept of “The Vertical Farm” emerged in 1999 at Columbia University (Manoj and Sreedhar, 2019).

2. Mixed Use Skyscrapers It was proposed and built by architect Ken Yeang. He proposes that instead of hermetically sealed mass-produced agriculture that plant life should be cultivated within open air, mixed-use skyscrapers for climate control and consumption. These skyscrapers integrate traditional agricultural activities with vertical farming concept (Manoj and Sreedhar, 2019). The advantage of Mixed-Use Skyscrapers over Despommier Skyscrapers is that they require less initial investment compared to Despommier Skyscrapers, which requires the entire environment within the building to be controlled and monitored according to the crop’s requirements (Yeang, 2002).

3. Stackable Shipping Containers Several companies have brough forth the concept of stacking recycled shipping containers in urban setting. Brighter side consulting has created a complete off grid container system Fright Farms produces a “leaf green machine’’ that is a complete farm to table system outfitted with vertical hydroponics, LED lighting and intuitive climate controls built within a 12m 2.4 m shipping container and sensors to monitor the environmental condition inside the containers. This method of vertical farming uses shipping containers to grow leafy green vegetables, gourmet mushrooms and strawberries (Markham, 2015).

Techniques of vertical farming

Systems of Vertical farming

HydroponicsIt is a method of growing food in water using mineral nutrient solutions without soil.The basic advantages of thismethod is that it reduces soil-related cultivation problems like soil borne insects, pest and diseases.
Aeroponics In aeroponics, there is no growing medium and hence, no containers for growing crops. In aeroponics, mist or nutrient solutions are used instead of water. As the plants are tied to a support and roots are sprayed with nutrient solution, it requires very less space, very less water and no soil.
Aquaponics It is a bio-system that integrates recirculated aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponic vegetable, flower, and herb production to create symbiotic relationships between the plants and the fish. It achieves this symbiosis through using the nutrient-rich waste from fish tanks to “fertigate” hydroponic production beds. In turn, the hydroponic beds also function as bio-filters that remove gases, acids, and chemicals, such as ammonia, nitrates, and phosphates, from the water. Simultaneously, the gravel beds provide habitats for nitrifying bacteria, which augment the nutrient cycling and filter water. Consequently, the freshly cleansed water can be recirculated into the fish tanks.
Controlled-Environment Agriculture (CEA) CEA systems are typically hosted in enclosed structures such as greenhouses or buildings, where control can be imposed on environmental factors including air, temperature, light, water, humidity, carbon dioxide, and plant nutrition. In vertical farming systems, CEA is often used in conjunction with soilless farming techniques such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics.

Advantages of vertical farming

The first and the major advantage of vertical farming is producing extremely high yields per available land or area. 2. Producing the food throughout the year without the risk of vagaries of natureof nature like floods, heavy rains, uneven rains, hail and snowfall, drought, dry spells, extreme high temperatures, cold waves, epidemics of pest and diseases, etc. 3. It reduces the cost over transporting loads of food grains from rural area to urban areas and reduce the spoilage occurring therein.Fossil fuel consumption in transporting the farm produce to cities from village places is also reduced to a greater extent. 4. Vertical farming uses 70 to 95 % less water compared to traditional farming 5. 90%less or no soil is needed in vertical farming and thereby no pest and disease infestations. 6. Pesticide free or organic food is produced as there is no use of pesticides. 7. Due to reduced food supply chain, consumers get the fresh produce with all its original nutrient qualities. 8. High productivity per unit area i.e. almost 80% more harvest per unit of area in vertical farming. 9. It will lead to greening of the urban areas and help to reduce the rising temperatures and mainly the air pollution in cities.

Disadvantages of vertical farming

Initial hugh cost for establishing the vertical farming system is the major problem. It will include the cost erecting the structures along with its automation like Computerized and monitoring systems, remote control systems and software’s, automated racking and stacking systems, programmable LED lighting systems, climate control system, etc. 2. Hugh energy cost as growing plant is entirely with artificial lights. 3. The excess nutrients used in vertical farming may interfere and contaminate the mainurban water system if not taken care of. 4. LED lighting systems emit heat though small amount will create problem of maintaining the temperatures especially in summer months and may overload the air conditioning systems which will again incur high energy cost. 5. Lot of garbage, plant residues, etc. will be generated around the buildings with vertical farming which needs to be dispose off properly. 6. Skilled workforce will be unavailable initially and will need to be trained.

Vertical farming v/s traditional farming

• Yields are approximately 20 times higher than the normal production volume of field crops. • Vertical crop requires only 8% of the normal water consumption used to irrigate field crops. • High levels of food safety due to the enclosed growing process. • Significant operating and capital cost savings over field agriculture.

World Scenario

Vertical farming involves growing crops verticallyin controlled atmosphere using technology like LED lighting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, sensors and smart software, Internet of Things (IoT ), drones, mobile apps to maintain total control over the environment.Food crops can be cultivated easily in urban areas by planting in vertically stacked layers in order to save space and use minimal energy and water for irrigation . Sparks & Stwalley tested the Nutrient Film Technique hydroponics system was by growing lettuce plants and monitoring energy use throughout the growth period. Examination of alternative energy scenarios showed potential energy consumption reductions of up to 53 percent and an improvement of the total system crop production efficiency of up to 55 percent from the baseline. Various experiments are being done about vertical farming all over world. It has already been introduced in the US and Europe, Spain, Japan and Singapore. Several tech-enabled vertical farms like Aerofarms and Green Sense in the USA, Delicious in The Netherlands, Sharp’s strawberry farm in Dubai, Spread, Toshiba and over 100-plus vertical farms in Japan, Packet Greens of Singapore, the EUfunded INFARM in Berlin are proven examples of successful vertical farming. INFARM is now operating more than 50 farms across Berlin in supermarket aisles, restaurant kitchens and distribution warehouses. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) researchers have seen hydroponics as a suitable method for growing food inouter space. They have been successful in producing vegetables such as onions, lettuce, and radishes. In Columbia, Association for Vertical Farming is working on its sustainability

Vertical farms reduce dependence on pesticides and fertilisers

The use of pesticides severely affects human health and the environment. In India, farmers do not have adequate protective equipment and are often unaware of the safe usage instructions. Between 1995 to 2015, 18% of suicides in India were due to the consumption of pesticides. The highest number of cases was reported in the state of Maharashtra, where pesticides are used more than anywhere else in the country. After Kerala banned the usage of Endosulfan, a highly hazardous pesticide, in 2005 there was a lower-than-expected rate of pesticide suicide reported.

Vertical farms use less fertiliser than traditional farms, as it can be applied directly to the roots of the plants, with any wastage being recycled and recirculated. This can have significant implications in a country that has budgeted INR 1.05 lakh crore ($13 billion) of fertilisers for 2022/23. India is the largest global importer of urea, which has dramatically increased in price in recent years.

Small-scale adoptions of Vertical Farming in India

Vertical farming on a small scale has been witnessed in Nadia, West Bengal, and Punjab. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya in Nadia has had initial success with brinjal and tomato cultivation. Vertical farming has also been successful in growing potato tubers in Punjab.

If vertical farms were incorporated into cities, they would be able to feed the whole population.
There is a need for research that appropriately measures the ROI of various types and sizes of vertical farms.
The whole life-cycle analysis (LCA) and the number of years required to achieve parity with a traditional farm must be investigated.
To make vertical farm projects practicable in these nations, researchers should invent, enhance, and further develop local agricultural practices.
They may, for example, develop recycling ways that lessen dependency on water, construct local systems that capture rainwater, and rely on local solar power to provide natural light and electricity.

Vertical farming is an excellent option for city dwellers. It has the potential to increase global food security while also addressing environmental degradation problems. No harvest would be harmed by a severe weather catastrophe. It has the advantage of readily reducing cooling and heating water by interior temperature. It contributes to poverty reduction, food safety, and human well-being. Vertical gardening’s effectiveness is determined by food demand and supply, urban population and density, technical advancement, water and energy availability, and weather conditions.

Status of Indian Vertical Farming Start-ups

Ideafarms, an Indian design-in-tech firm, produces vertical farms and is liked because their food is organic, of high quality, and the supply is dependable. Greenopia, a Bengaluru-based firm, sells packages that include smart self-watering containers, enriched soil, and the required seeds. The sensor-embedded pots replace soil moisture as needed and warn you when you need to refill water externally.

U-Farm Technologies, a Mumbai-based start-up, is customizing a modular farm for an individual housing complex or a supermarket utilizing hydroponic gardening techniques. In India, a growing number of vertical farming start-ups are emerging.

Barriers in the adoption of Vertical Farming in India

Because of the varying climatic conditions in different parts of the world, uniform procedures for vertical farming cannot be implemented.

There is a scarcity of crop varieties appropriate for vertical farming. This aspect requires rapid attention from researchers, as the deployment of this technology will be challenging in the absence of suitable varieties.
In urban populations, there is a lack of information and skills necessary for farming techniques.

Feasibility of vertical farming in India

India is one of the largest producer of vegetables, fruits and many other agricultural commodities. In India, vertical farming has been introduced. ICAR experts are working on the concept of ‘vertical farming’ in soil-less conditions, in which food crops can be grown even on multi-storeyed buildings in metros like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai without using soil or pesticides. Scientists at the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya in Nadia have already had initial success in working on vertical farming hydroponically on a small scale. Small-scale adaptations of vertical farming have been seen in Nadia, West Bengal and in Punjab. Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidhalaya in Nadia has found initial success in growing brinjal and tomato. Punjab also has succeeded in producing potato tubers through vertical farming . Ideafarms, an Indian design-in-tech company is producingVertical farms grow and is preferred because their food is organic, of high quality and the supply is predictable.. A Bengaluru based startupGreenopiais selling kits with smart self-watering pots, enriched soil and the right seeds. The sensor-embedded pots replenish moisture in the soil on a need basis, and notify you when you need to refill water externally. AMumbai-based start-up firm U-Farm Technologies is using hydroponic gardening technique to customise modular farm for an individual apartment complex or for a supermarket. More and more number of start-ups in vertical farming are coming up in India. Vertical farming is definitely a solution to critical problems in Indian farming likelack of supply or oversupply of farm produce, overuse of pesticides, overuse of fertilizers, deteriorating soils and even the unemployability. But there are challenges like acceptance of vertical farming by Indian farming community. Indian farmers are facing various problems like lack of electricity supply throughout the day, assurance of minimum support prices, no control over market glut, water scarcity, etc. The initial huge cost of infrastructure for a large-scale farm is a major hurdle for implementing vertical farming in India. Vertical farming in India has to face otherchallenges like public awareness, inclusiveness of farming community, technical know-how, cost incurred in managing and mainlining the vertical farm systems, and also its economic viability.

Vertical farming is surely a solution to critical issues in Indian farming like an absence of providing or oversupply of farm produce, too much use of pesticides, fertilizers, weaken soils and even the unemployment. The about the reason vertical farming is the solution for reducing arable land. It is the practice of producing food and medicine in vertically stacked layers, vertically inclined surfaces and integrated in other structures. The land productivity of Vertical Farming is twice as high as traditional agriculture. Yields are approximately 20 times higher. Operating and capital cost savings over field. High level of food safety. In the near term, most vertical farms will focus on high-return and short-rotation crops such as salad greens, with nearby restaurants often buying all of the production. There are several variations of vertical farms being tested throughout the world and new innovations and technology will likely increase the energy efficiency and profit margins of these farms in the future. In order to make this revolutionary type of farming possible for India, the government will have to take a lead and to awareness and skill development programs to be organized. The skill development programmes can be taken-up by the government institutions for the development of skilled labour/ producers. This can be done by starting a vertical farm prototype for the on the job training of the growers. The state and central governments can support farmers initially by providing a rebate on initial investment costs at lower prices for increasing the area on vertical farming and to protect the interest of the farmers.