If the pace of resolving technical issues and reducing costs continues, we might see more alternatives in the next five to ten years:
For some crops, 10 to 20 times the yield can be obtained per acre in vertical farming compared to open-field crops. Other advantages are that vertical farms are in enclosed structures, so not subject to extreme or inclement weather. Vertical farms are being built in deserts, high-population urban areas, and other places that traditional open-field farming is not practical.
I’m sure there will continue to be a market for traditionally grown crops, but they’re likely to be increasingly expensive in more ways than one. As the link above points out, this is being implemented in many countries. It will be interesting to see if it can resolve issues in places experiencing shortages because of climate or economic/trade policies.
