vertical farm

[ vur-ti-kuhl fahrm ]

noun

, Agriculture.

1. a multistory structure in which large-scale, intensive agricultural production takes place, using stacked, inclined surfaces to grow food crops, and sometimes to raise livestock and fish:

   Vertical farms and other urban agricultural initiatives can reduce our dependence on imported food.

Other Words From

• ver·ti·cal farm·ing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vertical farm¹

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

The so-called vertical farm can grow salad three times as fast as traditional outdoor agriculture thanks to its controlled, consistent climate.

From BBC

He said his first thought on vertical farm startups — especially those heavily reliant on artificial light — was, “Boy, this is a dumb idea” — mainly due to high energy costs.

From Seattle Times

But Curt Covington, senior director of institutional business at AgAmerica Lending, a private investment manager and lender focused on agricultural land, isn’t convinced that indoor farming operations can work — except maybe in cases where big retailers and greenhouses team up, like Walmart and Plenty, or where grants for urban and vertical farm operations that benefit communities could be made as a form of socially conscious venture capital.

From Seattle Times

It can be tricky to expand beyond growing just a few varieties of easy leafy greens, says David Meszaros, founder of Smartkas, a Dutch agricultural technology firm that owns the largest vertical farm in the UK - a 27,000 sq m facility in Harlow, Essex dedicated to growing strawberries.

From BBC

The industry has been blighted by "hubris", argues Chris Davies, chief executive and founder of Harvest London, which plans to open a new vertical farm in Beddington next year.

From BBC