How is vertical farming scaling up to address global food challenges?

The answer

Vertical farming - growing crops in stacked indoor layers using LED lighting and hydroponics - has grown into a $6.5 billion industry as of 2024. AeroFarms' Newark, New Jersey facility produces 2 million pounds of leafy greens annually using 95% less water than traditional farming on a fraction of the land. Plenty Unlimited, backed by $900 million in funding including from SoftBank and Walmart, opened its Compton, California mega-farm in 2024, selling produce through Walmart stores. Nordic Harvest in Denmark operates Europe's largest vertical farm at 7,000 square meters. The technology uses precisely tuned LED spectra, automated nutrient delivery, and climate control to grow crops year-round regardless of weather. Energy costs remain the primary challenge; however, pairing vertical farms with renewable energy and AI-optimized growing algorithms has reduced costs by 40% since 2020.