Synthesized answer
The author provides evidence in the form of advantages listed for vertical farming. These advantages include year-round crop production, no weather-related crop failures, and no agricultural runoff [1]. Additionally, vertical farming allows for ecosystem restoration, eliminates the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and uses significantly less water than traditional farming (70-95 percent less) [1]. Other listed benefits are greatly reduced food transportation costs, more control of food safety and security, new employment opportunities, and the purification of grey water to drinking water [1]. Postharvest plant material can also be used for animal feed [1].
The author also presents the idea that the current rate of global population growth necessitates changes in farming practices, as there is a lack of available land [1]. The author suggests that vertical farms will be constructed in abandoned business buildings, which reuses existing structures instead of requiring new construction and thus saving resources [4]. The author believes that urban vertical farming and the use of abandoned lots in cities are necessary to feed communities [4].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
ces, (i.e., herbicides, pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, etc), and offers insightful ways to help bring these changes. In the next section, he presents how vertical farms will be constructed, where they will be utilized, and how they will be funded initially before they can turn a profit. Here are the advantages that he lists for vertical farming: year-round crop production, no weather-related crop failures, no agricultural runoff, allowance for ecosystem restoration, no use of pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, use of 70-95 percent less water than traditional farming, greatly reduced…
Description: There comes an idea every once in a while that has changes the ways in which we live and help us to live longer and to prosper. The next truly great idea, originally introduced and developed by Dr. Dickson Despommier, is that of vertical farming, or farming vertically, however you want to define it. Dr. Despommier is a professor at Columbia University in the Department of Environmental and Health Services and started this concept back in 1999, which has gained considerable steam and attention this past decade, including the October 2010 publishing of his research entitled, The…
Title: The Vertical Farm by Dickson D. Despommier
Brazil to feed all these extra mouths, and with traditional farming methods the majority of those mouths will go unfed. These farms will be in abandoned business buildings being reused, instead of totally new construction, which takes many resources. I hope that as a citizen of a nation known for innovation and taking the next step to solve our problems, we actually want to be able to grow enough food for our growing population. Urban vertical farming and the use of abandoned lots in cities will be and have to be used to feed our communities. The time is now to make sound decisions not only…