The energy costs are significant, and is one of the challenges (economic and sustainability-wise) of vertical farming. Of course, there is an energy cost to even outdoor growing, particularly if the produce is shipped a long distance to market. There have been some analyses of the energy difference between leafy greens grown in a vertical farm in the Northeast USA, and leafy greens grown in the Southwest and trucked across the country, and while they vary somewhat depending on whose analysis you look at, but they’re pretty close in terms of impact. Local, outdoor growing would likely be the lowest impact, but seasonality is a big limitation also.

@ Erin: Your point about the investment climate is appreciated, but the lack of investor optimism is there for a reason – most of the larger-scale vertical farming operations are losing money. The reality is that vertical farming is an expensive way to grow crops. That’s why it’s really only viable for high-value items, like leafy greens, strawberries, and yes, marijuana. But even then, vertical farm operators are finding it challenging to compete with outdoor growers and even greenhouse growers. The SPACs and VC investments have been fueled by the promise of future earnings, but the investors don’t want to wait forever, and as profits seem slow to come, the investment money is drying up.

I agree with you. Farming is a thankless, worrisome job that requires a strong faith in God to survive the ups and downs. Nothin’ tastes like soil grown vegetables but hydroponics can supplement where it can.

My community has a hugh empty hydroponic set up that used to grow tons of flavorful tomatoes. It had a mold inside that required time mostly time to be sure it was ok to reuse. In the meantime the company went out of business. A other company wanted it to grow Marijuana which is legal here. I’m not sure why but that didn’t happen. Edibles would be good again. We’re located far from sources. Trucked in food is exensive and not a great variety.