Vertical Farming: An Option in Modern Food Production: A Review
Poonam Maurya
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Shikha Jain *
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Vinay Kumar
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Amulya, S.
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Bhargav Kiran
Division of Fruits and Vegetable Science, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Prateek Singh
Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005, India.
Udayabhan Nishad
Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi- 221005, India.
Laya, P.
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110012, India.
Kiran Kothiyal
Department of Horticulture (Fruit Science), Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand-263153, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Meeting the food needs will be one of the major problems, as farmland is being lost due to causes including soil contamination, water scarcity, and climate change, among others. In this situation, a workable alternative to manage this perennial problem is provided by vertical farming, an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly agricultural technology that does not use soil. Vertical farming could indeed be an important factor in the production of crops and vegetables in regions with scarce soil and water resources. With modern technology such as hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics, the idea of a vertical farm appears to have a promising future. In times of pandemics like COVID-19, it has emerged as a viable option for growing a wide range of food crops to suit the dietary needs of the growing world population.
Keywords: Aeroponics, aquaponics, climate change, hydroponics, vertical farming