What is Indoor Vertical farming?
Indoor Vertical Farming is the practice of growing crops often inside a building in vertically stacked layers. It includes controlled-environment agriculture and farming is done without soil.
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Techniques of Vertical Farming
- Hydroponics
- Aquaponics
- Aeroponics
- Controlled-Environment Agriculture
Types of Vertical Farming
- Building-based Vertical Farms
- Shipping-container Vertical Farms
- Deep Farms
How is LED light used in Indoor Vertical Farming?
LED lighting allows farmers to grow crops in blue and red lights. The space between the lights and the crops is limited which helps in the process of growth of plants. The LED lights do not burn leaves like normal bulbs.
2 Facts about LEDs and Vertical Farming
- LED lights are suited for vertical farming – LEDs are highly efficient. They are 40% to 70% more efficient than normal lights. A LED light has greater lifespan of about 50,000 hours of usage than an ordinary bulb.
In vertical farming, crops are grown in high trays with many layers. For their efficient growth, light needs to be dispersed uniformly. Traditional HPS and MH lights emit much heat than needed which can be harmful for the crops. On the other hand, LED lights distribute optimum heat and uniformly.
- Pink lights in vertical farming – The white light of sunlight is a mixture of a spectrum of colours; a rainbow. We need to know that in order for plants to grow, they don’t need all the wavelengths of a rainbow.
Research has shown that plants grow best in red and blue lights. HPS and MH lights provide for more light spectra than needed thus leading to wastage of energy. On the other hand, LED lights can produce our targeted wavelengths.
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Advantages of LED lights in Vertical Farming
- Optimum operating temperature
- Controlled colour temperature
- Light levels are controlled
- Economically efficient and pollution free environment
Global LED Farming Market Analysis – Forecast Period: 2021-2026
Market Overview
The global LED Farming market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2% over the forecast period.
- The arrival of Controlled Environment Agriculture in terms of vertical farming had an important role to play in the growth of LED Farming The driving forces behind the usage of LED lighting in vertical farms are increased reliability, energy-efficiency, variety of products and reduction in long-term costs.
- North America held the largest share in the global market in 2019.
- Some of the key players in the market are Koninklijke Philips N.V., Gavita Internation B.V., General Electric Company and Illumitex.
LED Farming Market led by Vertical Farming
The introduction of Vertical Farming has set a remarkable trend for the LED technology. There has been a quick change in CEA from high value crops to a variety of crops like vegetables due to affordable LED lights. The price of LEDs has dropped by 90% and their efficiency has increased double-fold.
Global LED Farming market – 2016
| Technology | Revenue (USD Million) |
| Lighting | 268 |
| Irrigation Component | 245 |
| Building Material | 180 |
| Sensors | 127 |
| Climate control | 106 |
| Others | 88 |
Competition
Few international companies have created a competitive landscape. Mergers, invention, diversification of products are some of the well adopted strategies of the top companies.
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Asia Pacific Market
The LED farming market is expected to grow at 22.1% CAGR from 2020 to 2027. It is expected to account for US$ 3147.5 million in 2027. Rise in population in Asia Pacific has created high demand for food which cannot be fulfilled only through outdoor farming as land available is not sufficient. Vertical farming produces healthy crops. Conventional mode of farming creates environmental pollution whereas Indoor Vertical Farming is environmental friendly. This has appealed many countries in Asia Pacific to opt for the later.
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