Albert Lin recently spoke to students in Columbia SIPA's Understanding Emerging Technologies class. The session featured a strong lineup of biotech speakers with a tie to public policy, which initially made him unsure whether a discussion about Vegbed would fit. The invitation, however, opened the door to view vertical farming through a policy lens rather than only through production or technology.
© Aurola Wedman-Alfaro
Lin explained that while farms often focus on yield, systems, and labor efficiency, policy choices shape the long term viability of indoor agriculture. He highlighted several points that growers should consider.
© Aurola Wedman-Alfaro
First, growers need to choose locations not only for logistics but for policy advantages. Lower electricity costs, supportive zoning rules, and other state level incentives can make a major difference. Second, retrofitting an existing building can offer benefits, especially in dense cities. A rooftop greenhouse, for example, might avoid counting toward a building's maximum floor area. Third, farms should understand how a city classifies agriculture within its code. Last, he pointed to the equity challenge. Farms must decide who they are serving and whether their produce will reach broader communities or target only premium buyers.
© Aurola Wedman-Alfaro
Lin thanked Dr. Laura Scherling and Laurence W. for the invitation and noted his appreciation for the other presenters, including Sophia Xu, Ankit Roy, Eiko Yamada, and Sharifa Davis. He said he learned as much from the group as he hoped the students learned from him.
Source: Albert Lin
