This series of concepts on the Chris Jacobs website for high-density vertical farming is really intriguing to look at. I first read about this at work while going through a new issue of WIRED. What about putting these things in the middle of existing farming centres that are not too far from cities? There may be fewer issues and a bit less NIMBY but perhaps the economics of doing that would make it even tougher to sell than in cities. I also think this would be a great way to make use of brownfield spaces in our cities - places where the soil is contaminated and can't be used in its current form. Build vertical farms in those spaces while remediation takes place below the ground with new technologies and sufficient safety measures in place. These brownfields are often in commercially valuable areas or near economic corridors.
Like many innovations, success comes from bringing together a number of drivers in such a way that a new, high value proposition emerges. Hopefully that will happen soon and we will be able to see some high-rise towers of food spring up. Having grown up on a farm, it would be interesting to take an elevator to the 21st floor to do some weeding or to dig potatoes.
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Vertical farms would also bring fresh air and reduce visual pollution in cities. They would benefit from appliance that turn food scraps to fertilizer, without odor or intensive labor, and on small scales (like inside an apartment). If investors read that they would be more prone to invest in start ups (like mine) that are developing such appliances!
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