From Crisis Zones to City Farms: How Vertical Farming can feed our future

As a former United Nations Doctor, I’ve witnessed firsthand how food insecurity fuels suffering. In refugee camps and disaster zones, the absence of reliable nutrition often exacerbated health crises. These experiences taught me that medicine can treat symptoms, but without addressing the root causes and access to nutritious food, healing remains incomplete.

Today, as I work in sustainable agriculture, I see vertical farming as a powerful tool to bridge that gap. Recent studies from the University of Surrey and the University of Aberdeen reveal that vertical farms can produce crops like lettuce with a carbon footprint comparable to traditional methods, whilst using 28 times less land. This efficiency could free up over 8,000 hectares in the UK alone for other agricultural uses (University of Surrey).

Moreover, vertical farming's controlled environments drastically reduce water usage by up to 90% and eliminate the need for harmful pesticides (Cultivating.Info). By situating these farms within urban areas, we can cut down on transportation emissions and provide fresh produce directly to communities.

In cities like London, urban farms have transformed unused spaces into hubs of sustainability and education, addressing food inequality and promoting environmental stewardship (FT) These initiatives demonstrate that with innovation and commitment, we can create food systems that are both resilient and equitable.

Reflecting on my journey from global health to sustainable agriculture, I believe that integrating vertical farming into our urban landscapes isn't just a technological advancement; it's a necessary step towards a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

A link to the study sited above can be found here: (source)