The complex uses artificial light for 15 hours a day. Experts have concluded that generating enough solar energy to support growth requires an area about 20 times larger than the planting area. Therefore, natural light cannot be a workable solution for vertical farms.
Another way of growing fresh d food year-round is to build urban farms on rooftops. This more practical approach may be more achievable than the idea of farms in glass skyscrapers, researchers suggest. However, rooftop farming is expensive, and unless people want to pay more for fresh, local food, the technique may not succeed in the marketplace. 9 Experts agree that innovative farming practices are needed to support the planet's need for