This video is a great overview of the South Korean “vertical farm”. It explores the benefits of year-long food production, automated harvesting, and hydroponics. It also explores the challenges that vertical farming faces today: high start up costs, expensive energy costs to maintain optimal temperatures, and the limitations of wide-scale production. Agritecture is getting more and more attention which will hopefully lead to further investments from national and local governments and a business environment where more companies are willing to take risks to grow food densely indoors. Very cool of South Korea to take the lead in this developing field!
Al Jazeera reports on the efforts of scientists in Gyonggi province to develop an affordable and sustainable version of ”vertical farming” — the hydroponic cultivation of crops inside large buildings and skyscrapers.