Week 2 Assignment Template
Sustainable Living Guide Contributions, Part Two of Four:
Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Ramon Tejeda
Ashford University
August 17, 2020
Your Term: Vertical Farming
Growing crops vertically is referred to as vertical farming. Vertical farming can be
characterized like a giant sandwich in which crops are built in layers. In this type of farming,
each layer is used to grow crops. Through vertical farming, farmers are able to grow crops in a
critical environment, allowing the farmers to control the temperature, pressure or segregation of
the crops. In vertical farming, hydroponics is an essential process in which plants are suspended
together with the roots settled in the water (Bensel and Carbone, 2020). Furthermore, soil is not
an essential element of vertical farming using the process of hydroponics. One of the advantages
of vertical farming is that crops and plants will grow even if there use of water and pesticides
will be limited (CPS/IoT Ecosystem: Indoor Vertical Farming System, 2019). Another advantage
of vertical farming is that this is a suitable method to grow crops indoor. It means that
individuals who desire to grow crops inside their houses can resort to vertical farming as a means
of growing crops.
Aside from hydroponics, vertical farming can also employ aquaponics (Bensel and
Carbone (2020). In this method, marine animals will be essential since the fertilizer to be used on
plants will be the animal waste of the aquatic creatures. Vertical farming is like a bookshelf and
each layer of the bookshelf has its own features and importance. In vertical farming, the
uppermost shelf will contain the water supply that will be used in watering the plants or crops.
The lower shelf will be the place for the aquatic animals that will produce waste as fertilizers for
the crops. In order to connect all of the shelves or layers in vertical farming, an irrigation system
will be essential.
Basically, vertical farming is advantageous since it is a more convenient way of growing
crops due to the fact that it requires less amount of water and site for farming. Vertical farming is
also regarded as the future of farming since the demand for food will increase with 80% of the
global population living in urban areas (5 Reasons Why Vertical Farming is the Future of
Humankind, 2018). Since vertical farming requires lesser land to till and grow crops, it is a
method that can be utilized to satisfy the growing demand for food in the future. Basically, if the
population will grow, requiring more agricultural lands to be converted to urban areas for
housing and industrial activities, vertical farming will still be ideal as a means of growing crops.
Vertical farming will also ensure that people will still enjoy healthier food choices and reduce
GM foods.
Since growing crops indoor is possible through vertical farming, I suggest that people
should consider doing this in their homes. In my own experience, I enjoy growing herbs in my
vertical garden located in my kitchen. Whenever I am cooking and I need to use different types
of herbs, I can access it on my own garden. Even if it developing and building your own
aquaponics will be expensive, the investments on vertical farming will generate satisfying and
positive returns. Basically, vertical farming enables a person to live a healthier lifestyle within
the four corners of his home. The advantages of vertical farming will also enable a person to save
time and effort in purchasing healthy food options since this method of farming only requires
minimal amount of water and space. There is also no need to purchase commercial fertilizer
since wastes of aquatic animals can be used. However, individuals who would like to start their
own vertical garden should be educated on this subject. They should start by doing their own
research about vertical farming. It is also important to read on different articles and materials
discussing vertical farming. It is important that a person aiming to build his own vertical garden
will be equipped of necessary knowledge, skills and understanding to ensure the success of his
initiative.
References
Bensel, T., & Carbone, I. (2020). Sustaining our planet. Retrieved from
[Link]
Geronimo. (2018, 4 May). 5 reasons why vertical farming is the future of humankind. Retrieved
from [Link]
Haris, I., Fasching, A., Punzenberger, L., & Grosu, R. (2019). CPS/IoT Ecosystem: Indoor
Vertical Farming System. 2019 IEEE 23rd International Symposium on Consumer Technologies
(ISCT), Consumer Technologies (ISCT), 2019 IEEE 23rd International Symposium On, 47–
52. [Link]