In the near future, many countries will face not only a growing population, but also a shortage of arable land. For example, China, Singapore and the UAE are already experimenting with vertical hydroponic farms that do not need soil. Many companies are also developing aquaponics systems that combine the fishery and the garden. The publication Inhabitat collected 6 examples of the application of aquaponics, hydroponics and aeropony in the most seemingly unfit for agriculture conditions. Many shops in recent years have begun to grow leafy greens "without departing from the cash register". This approach is beneficial for several reasons. First, the products do not deteriorate in the process of transportation, and secondly, buyers are easier to attract, if you show them green beds. The American trading network Target in the spring of 2017 began to test vertical hydroponic farms in its branches. The systems of growing leafy vegetables and herbs for Target were developed by specialists from the MTI Media Laboratory and designers from Ideo. In the future, the trading network plans to grow potatoes, beets and zucchini in the shops. Some Arab countries that rely primarily on oil revenues are gradually beginning to explore new resources and discover new economic models. Such an approach should help them in the future when oil revenues begin to fall. Saudi Arabia together with the American start-up AeroFarms built the first aerial farm in the Middle East, which does not need water or soil. Plants on a farm located in the city of Jeddah, receive nutrients from fumes. Also, Saudi Arabia receives 15% of tomatoes from the hydroponic farms of SunDrops Farms, which operate on solar energy. A small amount of water needed for plants, farm workers receive from the Persian Gulf. Using solar heating, water is desalinated, and then used to care for plants. Many companies create container farms and other portable vegetable growing systems that can be delivered in a busy area of ??the city. Farm 360 equips hydroponic beds in the warehouse area. Its farms use 90% less water than traditional farms, and also receive all electricity from renewable sources.

Farm 360 delivers its vegetables to the nearest grocery stores. Another plus of urban farms is jobs for residents of certain areas. Farms of a new type also help those regions that found themselves in isolation. Since 2010, the UN has installed on the roofs in the Gaza Strip (Palestine) aquaponic mini-farms. In total by this time more than 200 such installations have been equipped and their number continues to grow.

Original article: Vertical farms capture cities, tunnels and even deserts.