The future of agriculture lies not on the horizon, but in the sky. In a world where space is precious and the demand for food is growing, vertical agriculture is the ingenious answer to these challenges. Imagine successive floors of crops stacked on top of each other, transforming urban buildings into verdant oases. 🌱 Instead of spreading fields as far as the eye can see, we now cultivate high up, maximizing every square centimeter. What’s more, vertical farming doesn’t just save space; it redefines the way we produce our food. In this article, find out how this revolutionary method allows you to grow more, while occupying less space. 🏙️ In the rest of this article, we’ll explore the 10 benefits of vertical farming that demonstrate why this approach is the future of food production, enabling you to grow more with less space!
What is vertical farming?
Vertical farming is an innovative method of growing plants by superimposing several layers, usually inside specifically designed or adapted buildings, such as greenhouses or even skyscrapers. Instead of spreading out horizontally over vast expanses of land, it maximizes space by making use of height. As a result, these systems often use hydroponic or aeroponic technologies, eliminating the need for soil. For example, imagine a multi-storey building where each floor is filled with salads, tomatoes and herbs, all growing under LED lights. 💡Vertical farming offers a promising solution for producing food locally in urban areas, while saving space and resources. What’s more, it reduces dependence on conventional agriculture, which often requires pesticides and long-distance transport.
What can we grow with vertical farming?
Thanks to its ability to tightly control the growing environment, vertical farming can be used to grow a wide variety of plants. Here are just a few examples of what can be grown using this method:
🥬 Leafy vegetables and others :
It’s common to grow leafy greens such as lettuce, kale, spinach, arugula and others because of their rapid growth cycle and relatively simple requirements.
🌿 Aromatic herbs :
Herbs such as basil, coriander, parsley, mint and others often find their way into these systems due to their high demand and added value.
🍓 Berries :
Although this requires more careful management, strawberries and raspberries can be grown vertically.
🏥 Medicinal plants :
Various plants used for their medicinal or nutraceutical properties can be grown in vertical agriculture.
🌸 Edible flowers :
For gastronomic purposes, flowers such as nasturtiums and marigolds can be grown.
🥕 Root crops :
Although more complex to manage in vertical farming, it is possible to grow crops such as radishes or baby carrots.
🌱 Microgreens and sprouts :
These small plants, harvested just after the first true leaf (or cotyledon), are ideally suited to vertical cultivation as they require little space and have a rapid growth cycle.
🌾 Cereals and grains :
Some innovators are experimenting with growing cereals such as wheat, although this is less common.
It’s important to note that the success of these crops depends on many factors, including the specific system used, the controlled climate inside the vertical farm, the nutrients provided, and light management. What’s more, technology and research in this field are evolving rapidly, which means that the list of plants that can be grown in vertical agriculture continues to expand!
The 10 advantages ofvertical farming with Montel, GreenRak and SAFERAK®.
Discover the benefits of vertical farming with Montel, GreenRak and SAFERAK®. These systems are revolutionizing farming by combining technology and sustainability. 👇
1️⃣ Space optimization
Optimizing space means making efficient use of every available square centimetre. In vertical farming, crops are stacked to maximize production per square meter. For example, a 500m² warehouse can house the equivalent of several hectares of crops.
2️⃣ Flexibility
Flexibility makes it possible to quickly adapt growing areas in vertical farming. For example, with SAFERAK®, a farmer can adjust racking levels to accommodate new crops without a complete redesign.
3️⃣ Uniformity
Uniformity ensures similar growing conditions for all plants. With GreenRak, uniform placement guarantees a homogeneous harvest in terms of size, color and flavor.
4️⃣ Automation
Automation reduces human intervention, improving efficiency. For example, SAFERAK® enables automated programming of irrigation, lighting and air circulation.
5️⃣ Durability
Durability is based on robust, corrosion-resistant materials, reducing replacement requirements and costs.
6️⃣ Safety
Our systems prevent the risk of collapse or damage, ensuring a safe working environment.
7️⃣ Culture in the city
Reduces distances between production and consumer, promoting freshness. Example: an urban warehouse can supply fresh vegetables while reducing the carbon footprint.
8️⃣ Logistics optimization
Facilitates the management and flow of agricultural operations, reducing unnecessary movements and speeding up processes.
9️⃣ Year-round culture
Allows continuous production, independent of outdoor seasons, thanks to environmental control.
🔟 Minimizing environmental impact withvertical farming
Reduces resource consumption and harmful emissions. SAFERAK® also uses water and energy more efficiently, reducing water consumption by up to 90% and avoiding pesticide and fertilizer run-off.
Explore the future of agriculture with our page dedicated to vertical farming. Plus, discover the innovations, sustainable practices and ecological benefits of this revolutionary approach. Click now to be inspired by the future of agriculture: Visit our Vertical Agriculture page.
At SOMR Group, we’re specialists in customized shelving solutions, tailored to each specific need. Our experience and expertise in shelving make us the ideal partner for your projects, whether for vertical farming, storage or other applications. Every space has unexplored potential, and with our solutions you can exploit it to the full. If you have a project in mind and are looking for top-quality shelving, don’t hesitate to
Together, let’s transform every square inch of your space into optimized potential! 🌱
