Barely 10 years ago, it was not uncommon to read about another vertical farm commencing operations in an abandoned building in cities in the USA or Europe. A new agricultural paradigm was taking root: 'Dirty' and declining city centers were no longer a problem, but rather part of the solution for food production, and seemingly anyone with access to a building—often abandoned ones—could participate in the revolution.
At face value, the idea of vertical farms in urban centers was attractive for all stakeholders: growers had the opportunity to transform the conventional agricultural system—often criticized for its high-carbon footprint and liberal use of pesticides—into what was claimed to be a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable food production paradigm. Often located within densely populated areas, the proximity of vertical farms to end consumers would drastically reduce lengthy and fuel-consuming transport across state or country borders.
City administrators could incorporate vertical farms into urban renewal programs, replacing derelict buildings in once vibrant city centers with this new green, environmentally friendly agricultural model. Venture capital with an appetite for 'green' projects sensed the opportunity to make healthy returns in what promised to be an exciting shift in the status quo of fresh-produce cultivation.
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