Indoor farming no silver bullet for environment issues
While indoor farming is a nice addition to existing systems for growing food, more must be done to make the sector economically viable and environmentally sustainable
South China Morning Post
Dec 5, 2021
Excerpt:
First, advanced technology and high levels of energy consumption are required to establish and maintain the controlled environment. Because of the high upfront investment and energy costs, there are concerns regarding the financial viability of indoor farms. The higher production costs also mean that produce from indoor farms is more expensive than traditionally farmed crops.
Second, higher energy consumption means a bigger carbon footprint. Also, the mineral nutrients used in indoor farms are industrially produced at high concentrations. The production process involves mining, chemical synthesis and transport, which can lead to different types of environmental problems. The nutrient-rich water produced by indoor farms, if not properly disposed of, can contribute to the problem of red tides.
Third, only limited types of crops are grown in indoor farms, including herbs, leafy vegetables, berries and edible flowers. Crops that need high levels of sunlight or soil such as wheat, corn, soybeans and root vegetables are still not suitable for indoor farms.
