November 27th each year is a celebration of one of the most promising developments in modern agriculture, the vertical farm. National Vertical Farm Day is an opportunity to learn about this innovative technique for growing food which has the potential to revolutionize how and where food is produced.
Vertical farms are inseparable from concepts such as hydroponics, aquaponics and controlled environment agriculture. Locations such as abandoned buildings, shipping containers or even abandoned mines can be used to stack plants on shelves or similar structures in a highly efficient layout. Because the environment is controlled, including artificial light (LED’s in particular), agricultural production can proceed year round.
The end of November corresponds to the conclusion of the Thanksgiving season. Imagine, though, being able to enjoy the bounty of the earth beyond Thanksgiving, even as harsh winter weather sets in. Because vertical farms can support eating local, imaging being able to get freshly harvested produce such as crisp lettuce, red ripe tomatoes and juicy blueberries year-round, available at local retail or via home robodeliveries. Vertical farms enable the imagination of a future of sustainable plenty.
Using the Internet of Things to manage these farms will make them efficient, productive and accessible. Farming becomes a high-tech career choice of the future rather than a holdover of the past. Farmers can theoretically operate their farms largely from the comfort of their homes. Locavores can partake of fresh produce knowing that they are not contributing to climate change by having their food transported over long distances.
On November 27th, use National Vertical Farm Day as an opportunity to celebrate a future, and increasingly a present, that is sustainable, equitable and progressive. Share this day on social media and in the Metaverse with the hashtags #NationalVerticalFarmDay and #VerticalFarmDay!
References:
Vertical Farming for the Future
www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/08/14/vertical-farming-future
Vertical farming
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_farming
Zombies of Things 