World’s Biggest Indoor Vertical Farm Near NYC to Use 95% Less Water

[pscot]

AeroFarms is on track to produce 2 million pounds of food per year in its 70,000-square-foot facility in Newark, under construction less than an hour outside of Manhattan. Their efficient operation, based on previous experience at similar but smaller facilities, can accomplish this astonishing output “while using 95% less water than field farmed-food and with yields 75 times higher per square foot annually.”


aerofarms facade

This new facility is comparable in efficiency to what is currently the world’s largest vertical farm in Japan, but nearly three times the size. Staggering its crops is part of the success behind AeroFarm’s strategy at their new and existing locations – at a given facility they are able to switch between 22 crops per year. Their all-season growth works with specialized LED lights and climate controls all without the need for sunlight or soil.
http://weburbanist.com/2016/06/05/worlds-biggest-indoor-vertical-farm-near-nyc-to-use-95-less-water/

[braddy]

1. Great stuff, Alaskans are benefiting from such farming.

With cheap energy we can do most anything.

[larkrake]

9. Alaskans save a hell uv alot doing this as opposed to importing stale food brought in

refrigerated cargo holds. you need fresh food year-round

[braddy]

10. Yeah, it seems weird that some Alaskans can get fresh, out of season, local produce.

[larkrake]

11. it is wonderful if they persue it, yes

[NickB79]

2. How much does it cost to produce those 2 million pounds of food?

I recalled similar proposals being hashed out years ago here at DU: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x277111

It was debated whether or not one could actually produce food at prices competitive with traditional dirt-grown vegetables. It sounds as though the only way businesses like this make a profit is by relying upon the premium their uber-local produce commands.

[larkrake]

4. just like any new endevor, it will cost less and less as it evolves. It already costs less than the

land, sprays, water and crop loss suffered by farmers now. Farmland would be better served growing livestock, and our water supplies will heal from chemical barrages. Farmers arent going to go without. Vertical farming is greens, herbs and veggies, not corn, wheat or groves.

Fragile crops- greens, lettuce, tomatoes do not survive hailstorms and tornados or fungus or bugs. Vertical farming eliminates those threats totally. It is the future and may stop some trade, but grains can still be exported to feed the world

[NickB79]

6. That doesn't answer my question

How much does it cost to grow the food, in a dollar amount?

If I were to go shopping there, how much does a head of lettuce cost from this vertical farm?

[larkrake]

7. look it up. When I bought from them the tomatos were cheaper than the store, the herbs like Whole

Foods in price and had such better flavor I used half or less in recipies, and didnt have to worry about listeria or tasteless food, in fact, I hated salads before I bought vertical farm greens. It is tastier than hydroponic food and the nutrient tests are amazing.The downside is the corps are doing what they can to delay licencing, or at least in Colorado that is the case. Also it doesnt address grain crops to the degree we will need them and some tubers have to be ground grown

[NickB79]

12. Where do you buy it from? They have nothing on their website

Also, how are you buying tomatoes from AeroFarm's vertical farm when their website says they're only growing leafy greens in it at this time?

Here in Minnesota, we have locally-grown Bushel Boy hydroponic hothouse tomatoes that are available year-round: http://www.bushelboy.com/

[felix_numinous]

3. K&R Awesome

[pscot]

5. Can synthetic meat be far behind?

[larkrake]

8. eeeewwwww!

luckily vertical farming is real food from seed, not GMO or lab synthetics

[pscot]

13. Wouldn't you like to be able to

serve up a meal of tasty, 3-d, laser printed lamb chops?

[larkrake]

14. eeewwwww! with favva beans?