Vertical farming solutions suppliers in 2024: Warehouse Efficiency and Productivity – Just as regular tillable land needs optimization for farming, warehouses must also have the necessary features to operate efficiently and support optimal growing conditions. This includes designing the space ergonomically, installing new equipment and creating a warehouse safety culture, among other things. Setting up a warehouse farm is capital intensive — plus, farmers also need sufficient financing to cover operating costs. For instance, even a small indoor farm can have an electricity bill of over $100,000 yearly. Switching to renewable energy sources like solar and geothermal power plants can help lower monthly expenses, but installing these systems requires substantial spending, too. Find more info on hydroponic rack system.
One such method that is, quite literally, on the up, is vertical farming. With more and more industry players embracing this innovative growing method, citing it as a more sustainable, smarter way to address a looming global food shortage, it’s little surprise that the vertical farming market is projected to grow over the next decade. In 2021, the Global Vertical Farming Market amounted to around $3.5 billion, and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 25.3% from 2022 to 2030, reaching $25.7 billion by 2030.
Aside from meeting consumer demand for more eco-friendly, socially responsible practices and fresher, local food, these greening initiatives can also benefit food companies by reducing costs and shortening delivery distances while creating better working conditions for employees and protecting the environment. Several companies in the food supply and agriculture industry are implementing vertical farming techniques, pioneering a new way of growing, distributing, purchasing — and thinking about — our food. The ability to supply retailers with locally grown, sustainable products year-round has caught the attention of many investors, too, along with the increased consumer demand for more eco-friendly food purchasing options — for which today’s consumers are willing to pay more money.
OptiClimatefarm lab team has been working on something even more unusual – saffron, aka the world’s most expensive spice. For years, the team has commercialized the growing of vertical leafy greens, herbs, tomatoes & peppers for global growers. 4 tons of saffron seed balls could be grown in only 100m2 OptiClimatefarm with Smart Climate + Artificial Light vertical grow rack technology to optimize planting density in a controlled environment indoors.
Additionally, some HVAC systems may be more energy-efficient than others. When considering energy consumption, some factors to consider are: Can you use waste heat? Can you use free cooling directly or indirectly, allowing you to use other sources and, in some cases, reduce energy consumption by up to 85%? Dehumidification requires energy, so it is important to determine the best technique for the specific situation to save energy. We examine the most favorable dehumidification method. This starts with the initial condition of the crop and the corresponding climate. Then we can focus on the best technology for the specific situation and choose what is best to apply. Energy can be saved by choosing cold recovery methods such as cross-flow heat exchangers, heat pipes, or run-around coils.
Vertical farming HVAC systems generate significant amounts of heat as byproducts. Implementing waste heat recovery technologies can harness this excess heat and repurpose it for various applications, such as water heating or powering absorption chilling systems. Key advantages include: Reduced energy consumption for heating purposes; Increased overall energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat; Cost savings through the reuse of heat energy. Controlling temperature fluctuations minimizes stress on plants, promoting their overall health and productivity.
We’ve often referred to the importance of HVACD systems to every layer of the cultivator’s business, but how do you choose which approach is right for your facility? The truth is, OptiClimatefarm there are a number of technologies that can successfully manage the climate in an indoor facility. One of our most important responsibilities as your design partner is to review with you all options in depth, along with budgets and their respective pros and cons, to assist with the decision-making process. See even more information at opticlimatefarm.com.
OPTICLIMATE Provides professional Vertical Commercial Cultivation Solutions for customers. OptiClimate Farm’s original commercial vertical hydroponics facility is a highly engineered, modular and combined vertical production environment, tailored for various crops, plant products and business models of AG and CBD. Provide the best controlled vertical planting environment to grow a variety of gardening, flowers and agricultural products in various environments and climates. In addition to growing green leafy vegetables, herbs and other special plants and shallow root crops can also be grown.
In addition, it is necessary to map the environment so that the design of, for example, a chiller/cooling water installation can also take the noise level into account. Higher requirements will be placed in a built environment than in an industrial area. On top of that, lighting is also of great importance in vertical farming. It is important to adjust the lighting to the HVAC system so that an optimal growing environment is created. In addition, controlling lighting can also help reduce energy consumption.
