VERTICAL FARMING IN URBAN AGRICULTURE: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Vertical farming has turned out to be one of the modern and innovative methods of developing urban agriculture to meet necessities such as food security, sustainability, and effective use of resources as the world is increasingly turning into urban centers, besides facing a future of climatic change. This review article aims to review the state of the art, opportunities, issues, and prospects of vertical farming. By using the technological means of hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics, vertical farming benefits from activities such as resource-saving, the lower use of water, and the ability to produce products year-round. The paper further analyzes the economic profitability, environmental advantage, and social relevancy of the vertical farming system, which includes decreasing transportation-related costs, minimizing the impacts on ecological life and producing quality crops without using many pesticides. However, such excellence comes with drawbacks that include, high capital investment, usage of energy, technicalities and regulations in vertical farming. Additionally, the range of crops that are currently produced in vertical farms remains rather limited, and there are issues related to the environmental consequences of nutrient runoff and waste management. It is therefore necessary to effort towards establishing ways and means to innovate, in consultation with other farmers as well as other stakeholders, and develop policies that will help to enhance the implementation of vertical farming to increase the production of such crops to meet the demands of the growing population in the future.