🌱 What Happened
In Bangalore, India, a startup named ‘Future Farms’ has turned the farming industry on its head by introducing a new method of agriculture – vertical farming. Founded by Sriram Gopal in 2014, Future Farms aims to solve the problem of food shortage and farmland scarcity.
💡 The Innovation
Vertical farming is a method of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. It often incorporates controlled-environment agriculture, which aims to optimize plant growth, and soilless farming techniques like hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics. Future Farms is pioneering this practice in India, with the focus on growing pesticide-free fresh food all year round, irrespective of climate conditions.
📍 The Bigger Picture
By 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9.7 billion, and feeding it will require a 60% increase in agricultural production. With traditional farming becoming unreliable due to unpredictable weather conditions, vertical farming could be a step towards achieving sustainable agriculture.
🌟 Impact
The use of vertical farming has several benefits:
- Efficient use of space – a square foot of vertical farming can produce the same amount of food as a square meter of traditional farming.
- Less water usage – vertical farming uses up to 90% less water than traditional farming.
- Year-round production – the controlled environment allows for year-round production of crops.
👏 Conclusion
With successful implementation, Future Farms’ vertical farming can serve as a blueprint for sustainable farming across the globe. Indeed, the future of farming could be vertical. Learn more about Future Farms and their innovative approach.