The sweet future of vertical farming | Hiroki Koga
Sep 25, 2024
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Hiroki Koga, a farming entrepreneur, dives into the sweet world of vertical farming, specifically focusing on innovative strawberry cultivation. He discusses how combining solar power, AI, and robotics can revolutionize agriculture. Koga highlights the benefits of growing strawberries indoors, suggesting they may taste better than those from traditional fields. He emphasizes the importance of modern techniques to combat food scarcity and climate challenges, presenting a vision where vertical farms play a key role in sustainable agriculture.
Vertical farming combines AI, robotics, and controlled environments to produce strawberries sustainably, outperforming traditional agriculture amid climate challenges.
The economic viability of vertical farming is highlighted by reduced costs and increased revenue per plant, promising a scalable food solution.
Deep dives
The Promise of Vertical Farming
Vertical farming presents a promising solution to the pressing issues faced by traditional agriculture, such as extreme weather and land scarcity. The technology allows for the cultivation of crops like strawberries, which previously required specific climate conditions, in a controlled environment that can be replicated worldwide. This method not only eliminates the need for pesticides but also allows for significant water recycling, making it an environmentally sustainable choice. Over five years, the costs of vertically farmed strawberries have dropped significantly, indicating the potential for these innovations to become mainstream and affordable in the near future.
Innovative Techniques in Controlled Environments
Vertical farming leverages advanced techniques that enable farmers to experiment and enhance crop yields far more efficiently than traditional methods. By controlling environmental factors such as temperature and humidity year-round, vertical farms can optimize conditions for growth and outperform conventional farms, which are limited by seasonal weather patterns. The ability to experiment continuously has led to breakthroughs in pollination and production, allowing for a success rate of over 95% in fruit development. This accelerated innovation cycle results in a four-to-five-fold increase in revenue per plant annually, demonstrating the economic viability of vertical farming.
The Role of AI and Automation
The integration of AI and robotic technology is revolutionizing vertical farming practices by enhancing productivity and efficiency. AI-powered robots are utilized for monitoring plant health and automating the harvesting process, ensuring that the ripest fruits are picked at optimal times without human intervention. This technological advancement contributes to year-round production and significantly extends the lifespan of plants compared to traditional farming. As a result, vertical farms can continuously supply fresh produce, making them a scalable and sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture.
Can strawberries grown inside a building taste sweeter than those grown in a field? Farming entrepreneur Hiroki Koga explores how his team is combining solar-powered vertical farms with AI, robotics and indoor bee colonies to grow delicious strawberries year-round — and how this practice, if widely adopted, could deliver a harvest of benefits for the future of food.