The future of farms

The Chronicler · **on:** April 12, 2011, 08:32:49 PM

Here's an interesting article I recently read:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_netherlands_sunless_farming

Basically, a possible solution to grow more crops with less area is to grow them inside buildings designed to provide the best yield possible at any time of the year.

What are your thoughts on this?

Kor · **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2011, 10:28:16 PM

Popular Science had an article on something similar. It does seem a very good idea. instead of just having the farming be out in the open and spread out, why not in a building and have it be vertical. It would take up less space since some of the farm would be on a number of floors, as well as they could control the internal environment and could grow food closer to some cities so less distance it would need to be transported. & the technology is there to start doing something like this I would assume.

jansenov · **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:07:38 AM

And with LEDs you can choose the optimum wavelength to achieve maximal yield with minimal energy. Even so, I'm not sure if it's more energy efficient than growing crops in the open. It is definitely more capital intensive. I do concede that such facilities have a great chance of being built near large cities, however.

vonboy · **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2011, 06:18:13 AM

It would be great for areas with little useable farmland and very dense populations, such as Japan.