Vertical Farms & Living Walls

Prior to taking the leap into becoming a commercial scale grower of any crop, we recommend that new growers are knowledgeable in hydroponic systems and plant health.  While the internet is a great tool for leaning about how to grow food indoors, nothing beats some good old hands-on experience growing on a small scale before operating your own commercial scale unit.

In short, like many farms or business the key to being profitable is to have a great plan and even better execution.

Having a strong team with a firm understanding of costs, the market, customer needs and operations is critical to success.

Generally speaking, smaller indoor farms, with low energy and staffing requirements will outperform many of the larger operations.  Identifying niche crops of high value and year-round demand in local markets can often times pay big returns.

The scale of our agricultural system is enormous and the cost to the environment can be difficult to comprehend. Fundamental changes in how we grow our food are needed today to create a sustainable and secure tomorrow. To feed our growing population the world will need to produce roughly 70% more food by 2050 than it does today. Vertical farms will be one of the many solutions used to feed a hungry planet. Capable of growing fruits and vegetables in almost any indoor environment, vertical farms offer year-round food security while using a fraction of the resources used in traditional agriculture.

The largest environmental concern with vertical farms is their dependence on large amounts of electricity. While some of this power is supplied from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar, the majority of power used in growing this food creates greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon footprint of each farm is different depending on the size of the farm and the lighting systems. However, vertical farms provide a range of benefits over traditional agriculture that offset many of these carbon emissions.

• 50-95% reduction in water usage
• Eliminate most emissions created in transporting food from the field to the fork. In Northern Climates like Canada, much of our food travels over 3000 KM.
• Eliminate the need for chemical sprays used to treat pests or diseases. The production of many of these chemicals are emission intensive as is the global distribution network
• Reduce food waste by roughly 90%. Roughly 50% of all the perishable fruits and vegetables grown will go to waste. This was will release methane gas which is many times more destructive than CO2 to the environment.
• Eliminate the need for tractors and other diesel-burning equipment
• Vertical farms use 80% less farmland. Allowing soil quality and ecosystems to recover.
• Fertilizer production is an energy-intensive process. Hydroponic farms are much more efficient in delivering nutrients to plants and as a result, require a fraction of fertilizer.

Many small to large-scale vertical farms that are in operation today have a net-positive effect on the environment. As we continue to invest in sustainable sources of electric power generation, these technology-driven farms will only become more sustainable as more renewable infrastructure is built.

Generally speaking, the best types of crops are hardy plants that are quick to grow and have a high market demand. Popular crops include;

Leafy Greens- Lettuces, Chards, Kales (60 varieties)

Herbs- Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Mint (40 varieties)

Dwarf Cherry Tomatoes (8 varieties)

Dwarf Pepper (12 varieties)