At Boston Microgreens we are still in the process of mastering the art of vertical farming and learning more about the craft every day. Vertical farming and our farming methods in general, are all for a specific purpose. This is to ensure maximum use of space and resources to farm sustainably in an urban environment. Vertical farming while also being extremely efficient tackles many prominent issues in today’s world including, rapidly growing populations, food production at a scale never seen before, and climate change.
Global Population
“By 2050, the UN predicts that the global population will surpass 9 billion people. Given current agricultural productivity rates, the Vertical Farm Project estimates that an agricultural area equal in size to roughly half of South America will be needed to feed this larger population. The world faces large scale food security concerns, loss of arable land and reduced access to fresh water fueled by global warming. A rapidly growing global population and increasingly limited resources are making the technique more attractive than ever,” (via www.enviroingenuity.com). Vertical Farming is absolutely necessary to preserving the Earth’s land as we know it
Water Use
Along with this, Vertical farming allows for a system in which minimal water is used in the growing process. Hydroponic growing uses only around 10-15% of the amount of water as traditional growing methods. The watering method used allows farmers to recycle and reuse their water, in a system that bodes much better economically and sustainably. At Boston Microgreens, we use 90% less water than traditional farming systems.
Chemicals/Pesticides
The Vertical Farming system also eliminates the risks of chemicals and pesticides in our produce, as the indoor controlled environment does not have bugs/insects looming that would warrant the use of pesticides. According to nature.com, the threats of Pesticides range all over the place; "After countless studies, pesticides have been linked to cancer, Alzheimer's Disease, ADHD, and even birth defects. Pesticides also have the potential to harm the nervous system, the reproductive system, and the endocrine system. Pesticides can even be very harmful to fetuses because the chemicals can pass from the mother during pregnancy or if a woman nurses her child. Although one piece of fruit with pesticides won't kill you, if they build up in your body, they can be potentially detrimental to your health and should be avoided as much as possible."