Vertical Farming Is Expected To Supply A Large Share Of Urban Food Supply.

Vertical Farming Can Contribute How Much To Food Supply In Cities?

Vertical farming provides year-round production by utilizing LED lighting and hydroponic systems in controlled environments. Market research forecasts strong growth for the sector over the coming years; commercial facilities are multiplying in the US, Japan, and Europe. But can this growth enable it to meet a large portion of cities’ food needs by 2035?

Which Products Will Vertical Farming Reach Commercial Scale By 2035?

Market research firms like Mordor Intelligence and Grand View Research predict that the vertical farming market will exhibit strong compound growth until the 2030s. The main driver of this growth is high-value, rapidly growing products. By 2035, it’s expected that vertical farming will reach commercial scale for leafy greens and herbs in major cities - these are the products that benefit most from the controlled environment advantage and can offset energy costs.

Why Will Vertical Farming's Share Of Total Food Supply Remain Limited?

High energy costs and limited product diversity are limiting vertical farming’s share of the total food supply. Scenarios where “vertical farming will meet all city food” seem unrealistic given the difficulty of producing energy-intensive products like grains and animal products in a vertical environment. For example, cultivating staple foods such as wheat or rice on vertical farms requires significantly more energy than traditional agriculture and is economically unsustainable.

What Are Vertical Farming Market Reports Saying?

Market research reports confirm that the vertical farming sector will demonstrate significant growth by 2035. However, this growth will proceed in parallel with an increase in commercial facilities in city centers, but the share of total food supply is expected to remain at a low level of around 8%. This indicates that vertical farming will move beyond being a niche production method and become a significant complement to cities’ fresh produce needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Products Will Vertical Farming Become Widespread In By 2035?

Vertical farming will become widespread, particularly in leafy greens like lettuce, arugula, and spinach, as well as herbs such as basil, mint, and parsley by 2035. These products are economically sustainable for vertical farming due to their short growth cycles and high unit prices.

What Is The Biggest Obstacle Facing Vertical Farming?

The biggest obstacle is high energy costs. LED lighting and climate control systems consume significant amounts of electricity. This cost makes production uneconomical, especially for energy-intensive products (grains, root vegetables). Additionally, limited product diversity is a limiting factor for the sector’s growth.

Can Vertical Farming Completely Meet Cities' Food Needs?

No, it is not expected that vertical farming will meet cities’ total food needs by 2035. Producing staple foods such as grains, legumes, and animal products in a vertical environment is energy and cost-inefficient. Vertical farming will primarily support urban supply chains for fresh, high-value products, but will not be the main source of food.