Southern Africa is a collection of ten countries in which 120 million people live. Greater than 45% of the population lives in extreme poverty on less than US$1.90 per day. On average, only 9% of the land in SA is arable. Much of SA is semi-desert. People living on non-arable land are seldom able to procure sufficient fresh food to eat, with severe health consequences.
Vertical Farming does not require arable land or processed groundwater. Vertical Farming reduces the use of water and fertilizer by more than 90% and eliminates the use of pesticides. Vertical Farms can currently supply certain packaged crops, which are both environmentally and economically sustainable, to the retail trade in urban areas.
Vertical Farms in rural areas can provide fresh food that is environmentally sustainable but is currently not economically viable at affordable prices. Understanding the current limitations of Vertical Farming provides the basis on which to build the innovations that will allow Vertical Farming to provide the food security necessary for Southern Africa.
Read the complete research at www.researchgate.net.
Lomax, Richard. (2022). Will Vertical Farming Provide Food Security for Southern Africa?.