Vertical Farming: Breaking New Ground

April 28, 2026

By Brooke Cupelli

Alternative farming and agricultural practices are rising to meet the needs of our evolving world. Food insecurity, climate change, and a growing demand for local produce in a turbulent political climate have accelerated the growth of the Canadian sustainable agriculture sector. A University of British Columbia study found that, on average, 50 percent of vegetables and 75 percent of fruits eaten in Canada are imported (Arunasalam, 2025). The need for alternative growing options in Canada, to reduce these numbers and the negative effects mass imports have on our economy and environment, is crucial.

The high urban population of Canada furthers the need for sustainable urban agriculture (UA) and alternatives. Over 80 percent of Canadians live in urban areas, placing specific pressure on the development of supportive infrastructure for the urban population (Canada, n.d.). “UA practices are already common in Canada and include urban farms, community gardens, school gardens, and allotments within city centers,” all leading to accessibility and small-scale progress (Marinozzi, n.d.). Greater focus on large-scale change is also beginning to happen, with funding from the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP). The Sustainable CAP “is a new $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector” (Government of Canada, 2023).

The cumulative effect of UA and alternative agriculture, such as controlled environment farming (CEF), interchangeable with controlled environment agriculture (CEA), can begin to offset the current large-scale adversities facing traditional agricultural practices. Similar to crop rotation and permaculture being variable answers to the question of best practices for food production and agriculture, CEF is just that—another answer. Many advances in agricultural technology aim at supporting a greater solution, rather than being a sole solution. A significant component of this solution is the adaptation and continued development of vertical farming practices, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.

Alternative agricultural practices and the specifics of vertical farming:

There are many types of alternative agricultural practices, all developing in real time to address the needs of the consumer and the environment. Traditional farming, in this context, refers to agriculture using outdoor spaces, open-field cultivation, pesticides, traditional tools and tilling, as well as natural sunlight and rain (with additional water supplies such as irrigation) (Ling & Altland, 2025). Alternative agriculture includes organic farming, hydroponics (growing plants in water and without soil), aquaponics (the addition of fish into a hydroponic growing system), and agroforestry (integration of trees/ shrubs with crops) (10 sustainable farming practices, 2024). Another type of alternative agricultural practice, often utilizing components from other practices, is vertical farming.

Vertical farming is a type of CEF characterized by growing crops in stacked layers of steel or aluminum frames. The spacing between layers is determined by the type of plants and the lighting system used:

Leafy greens and herbs: 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) between layers.
Fruit-bearing plants (like strawberries or peppers): 12–18 inches (30–45 cm).
Larger crops (like tomatoes or dwarf cucumbers): 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) or more.

Spacing is also influenced by light spread and air circulation. Too little space can lead to shading or heat buildup, so designs often include airflow ducts or vertical fans between tiers.

The use of multilayered production of plants increases crop yield per surface area (Van Gerrewey et al, 2022). The central goal is “high-density production of produce grown under optimum conditions” year-round, while utilizing minimal land (Behm, n.d.). With multiple methods, different approaches to maximizing production can depend on the crop (Behm, n.d.). Vertical farming often “uses artificial growing systems such as hydroponics, aquaponics,” and aeroponics (root systems suspended in air) (Ling & Altland, 2025 & Behm, n.d.). It can use soil as growing media, although this is not as common. In Canada, aeroponics is beginning to emerge, but hydroponic systems for vertical farming are most popular (Behm, n.d.).

Chart depicting the basic forms of vertical farming (10 sustainable farming practices, 2024).

Vertical farming presents multiple opportunities for scale variations. Container-based farms, to building-based farms, allow individual and community-based UA opportunities, to greater scale commercialized national and international distribution (Behm, n.d.). Vertical farms have the versatile ability to adapt to available space, meaning they can exist in homes, greenhouses, warehouses, shipping containers, repurposed office buildings and more. The ability to adapt to current infrastructure and redefine the need for agricultural space creates a viable future for sustainable growth. Of course, not all vertical farms use pre-existing infrastructure, but it remains a viable option. With growing opportunities in urban areas and a focus on feeding the local community, vertical gardens result in lowered transport costs and emissions associated with transport; “reducing food mileage by placing vertical farms closer to the consumer can reduce greenhouse gas emissions” (Van Gerrewey et al, 2022).

Vertical farming allows a year-round growing season. As an alternative to traditional agriculture, it has no “need for optimum climate conditions and soil classifications” (Behm, n.d.). The benefits of vertical farming do positively impact the environment as well. Vertical farming uses 70 to 90 percent less water and 98 percent less land to produce food volume equivalent to traditional farming (Behm, n.d. & Birkby, 2016) Vertical farming does not cause soil degradation and avoids the need for topsoil. Further benefits include lower labour costs and essentially eliminating the need for chemicals and pesticides (Behm, n.d.).

As a relatively new method of crop production, Canadian vertical farming data is not widely available (Health Canada, 2024). “Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has not received any applications with data to support the registration and use of pest control products in vertical farming,” meaning no current data supports the need for pesticides (Health Canada, 2024). “The use of pest control products in vertical farming is not permitted under the Pest Control Products Act,” and pending assessment by PMRA for any usage to begin (Health Canada, 2024). In addition to crops growing without pesticides, they are also much less likely to have contaminant pathogens harmful to humans (ex., E. coli) (Ling & Altland, 2025).

Vertical farming technology is evolving to be able to grow a vast variety of crops. Vertical farming at a larger scale currently focuses on “high-value, rapid-growing, small-footprint, and quick-turnover crops” (Birkby, 2016). The aim for crops to have “relatively short compact growth forms,” and for the crop to be harvested in its entirety, makes lettuce and herbs an ideal current crop (Ling & Altland, 2025). Technology is continuing to advance, allowing for further success and higher yield opportunities for more dense crops, such as root vegetables. Although root vegetables are still a challenge to grow in large-scale operations, urban vertical farms can. Urban vertical farms offer an opportunity for small-scale garden boxes, usually with soil as the growing medium. Using soil in small-scale vertical farms allows the less experienced grower a higher chance at success and an opportunity for a more versatile crop.

Vertical farming “has a vast potential to contribute to a more sustainable food system in Canada,” with the opportunity for scalability, higher crop yield, a sustained growing season, water efficiency, low pesticide use, and broad crop varieties (Pereira Romero et al, n.d.). With these many positives come current challenges facing the growth of the vertical farming sector.

Pushback and challenges:

One of the largest challenges is energy dependence. The majority of vertical farms rely on artificial light sources, as they are indoor facilities. Energy consumption due to large-scale artificial lighting and climate control adds significantly to operational costs (Birkby, 2016). Although land and building use have cost mitigation strategies in place, it is still a consideration and adds to higher startup costs. As stated, crop variety is also a challenge. The perception of vertical farms and the general desire of consumers and farmers to stay away from high-technology forms of agricultural production pose their own challenges (Pereira Romero et al, n.d.). Similar to traditional agricultural practices, there is a required technical and specialized knowledge, along with general operating costs, and potential for crop failure (Birkby, 2016). Many sustainable alternatives, across sectors, face challenges, but vertical farming is growing and evolving with active solutions.

Conclusion

The challenges facing vertical farming currently limit profitability. Without the combination of private funding and government policy, the sector cannot grow. Potential solutions combating the challenges vertical farming faces “include increased public and private investments in research, new technologies, infrastructure and workforce skills, as well as incentives that encourage clean energy use and support locally adaptable configurations for urban and northern communities” (Pereira Romero et al, n.d.). Solutions are actively developing, with the expectation that the “vertical farming market in Canada [will] grow by over 20 percent by 2027” (Behm, n.d.). Shifting mindsets towards locally grown food and farmers willing to invest in vertical farming is allowing the sector to expand (Behm, n.d.).

Industrialized traditional agriculture allows greater production of food globally, but at the cost of the global community and the degradation of our environment (Marinozzi, n.d.). Shifting to “alternative farming methods offer innovative approaches to food production,” making vertical farming a positive, sustainable option to strive towards (Pereira Romero et al, n.d.). Vertical farming is not a singular catch-all solution. As a young industry, crop cost is currently higher to the consumer, but as the industry expands prices will equalize and match those of traditional farming. Vertical farming can be one of many sustainable steps forward in the agricultural industry.

References

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