Vertical farming electricity is one of the most important operating costs in indoor vertical farming. Unlike a greenhouse, an indoor vertical farm receives little or no useful sunlight. The farm must electrically provide the light crops need for photosynthesis while also controlling temperature, humidity, airflow, irrigation and nutrient delivery. That makes vertical farm electricity consumption … Read more
A greenhouse and a vertical farm can both produce crops year-round under controlled conditions, but they achieve that control in very different ways. Greenhouses make extensive use of sunlight while modifying the environment around the crop. Vertical farms replace most or all natural light with LEDs and create the crop environment inside a highly controlled … Read more
A well-designed commercial greenhouse gives growers control over temperature, humidity, irrigation, nutrition and lighting, while also allowing them to integrate increasingly sophisticated automation. None of that, however, guarantees a viable business. Before deciding how large the greenhouse should be or which equipment should go inside it, there is a more important question to answer: Does … Read more
The commercial greenhouse cost in Canada can range from well under $50 per square foot for a relatively simple commercial structure to more than $150 per square foot for a highly automated, year-round facility. Large, technically complex projects with extensive site infrastructure, supplemental lighting, water treatment, packing facilities and advanced climate systems can cost considerably … Read more
Greenhouse profitability does not depend on having the biggest facility in the market. Large greenhouses can spread labour, automation, energy infrastructure and management costs across enormous production volumes. However, smaller facilities can compete differently. They can focus on local markets, specialty crops, shorter supply chains, flexible production and customers that value freshness, consistency or regional … Read more
A community greenhouse can strengthen local food production, extend growing seasons and reduce dependence on distant supply chains. However, the building itself does not create food security. Someone still has to operate it, choose the right crops, find markets, maintain the equipment, manage labour and produce food at a cost the community or customer can … Read more
Indoor farming cost is often reduced to one question: How much does it cost to grow one head of lettuce? It sounds simple. It is not. Although, a head of lettuce may use only a small quantity of seed, fertilizer and water, but those inputs sit inside a much larger production system. Lights need electricity. … Read more
Growers often discuss greenhouse water consumption using simple percentages, but no single number applies to every facility. Crop type, climate, irrigation strategy, growing system, water treatment and—most importantly—whether water is recirculated can dramatically change how much fresh water a greenhouse requires. Hydroponic water usage can be substantially lower than conventional field production because hydroponic systems … Read more
Data centre waste heat greenhouse projects are gaining attention as growers look for ways to improve greenhouse energy efficiency and reduce heating demand. By recovering heat that data centres would otherwise reject, co-located greenhouse projects may be able to turn an industrial waste stream into a useful source of thermal energy. What If a Greenhouse … Read more
Controlled environment agriculture often treats scale as the route to competitiveness. Build a larger greenhouse. Automate more processes. Spread management, technology and infrastructure costs across more production. There is logic behind that approach. Large producers can negotiate major purchasing contracts, supply national retailers, invest in sophisticated technology and operate dedicated sales and distribution teams. However, … Read more