Why Vertical Farms Will Never Exist

[mishalak]

From Origionally Posted at Blogger

Outside of a few niche applications, of course. Currently the number I'm able to find for actual crop land, as opposed to pasture land, average net returns is about $104.19 per acre in the United States. So for a decent economic return the cost of building/buying an area of land to grow crops on will need to be no more than about (104.19*30)=N*1.02^30-N, or $3,852.41. If anything that is generous since only the very best farmland in Ohio goes for $3,886 an acre. And a 2% return on investment over 30 years... that's just terrible. If you use the more usual 5% return the max drops to about $1000 an acre. There are 43,560 square feet in an acre... You probably see where I'm going. Even at $1 per square foot (I don't know of any skyscraper that rents for less than $30/square foot) it would be mind bogglingly stupid to build a skyscraper to even partially be used as farm space.

Now growing things hydroponically (is that a word?) or in vats in some suburban warehouse type space... that might be conceivable. But I shall point and laugh at the next 'futurist' that proclaims we'll be growing things on the sides of buildings.

Comments

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

I've designed a space hab & a low G drive ship that use vertical space but in a office/residential high rise I think your right.

[mrpsyklops.livejournal.com]

There are some current designs that engineer the building structure to support relatively heavy plant growth on top of the structure. It has more to do with a desire to include green plants in urban landscapes than with the economic return from the plantings. I'll see if I can relocate the article, if you're interested. It's likely to have been in the NY Times.

[mishalak.livejournal.com]

Know all about them. Green roofs are being touted for their insulating qualities, reducing rainwater run off, and the heat island effect of cities. That can all be accomplished with a few inches of soil in interlocking trays planted with sedums, other hearty succulents, and various grasses.

Nothing would stop a dedicated hobbyist from producing $64 tomatoes or $20/kg strawberries, but a commercial farm? Very unlikely given a low end cost of $5/square foot for just the thin installation variety of green roof.