Staple crops like wheat, soy, and rice have been honed to near perfection and largely don’t need or benefit from vertical farming. However, you’re conflating calories with nutrition but they’re not the same.
Once basic caloric needs are met, a variety of vegetables become crucial in a healthy diet. American diets are terrible for this. It’s often cheaper or easier to buy highly processed foods based on corn, wheat, and soy than vegetables in the US [1].
What’s needed in the US and many modern countries is precisely what vertical farms are good at growing, fresh leafy greens, peppers, herbs, green beans, etc. Shipping fresh vegetables degrades the available nutrients in these items (up to 30% in three days [2). Even then that crunchy water like lettuce plays a crucial role in keeping gut biotica healthy and balanced.
Sure vertical farms won’t replace staple crops anytime soon or ever, but there’s an enormous need (in the US at least) for more fresh vegetables. Crunchy water also tastes pretty good if you know how to cook it.
Once basic caloric needs are met, a variety of vegetables become crucial in a healthy diet. American diets are terrible for this. It’s often cheaper or easier to buy highly processed foods based on corn, wheat, and soy than vegetables in the US [1].
What’s needed in the US and many modern countries is precisely what vertical farms are good at growing, fresh leafy greens, peppers, herbs, green beans, etc. Shipping fresh vegetables degrades the available nutrients in these items (up to 30% in three days [2). Even then that crunchy water like lettuce plays a crucial role in keeping gut biotica healthy and balanced.
Sure vertical farms won’t replace staple crops anytime soon or ever, but there’s an enormous need (in the US at least) for more fresh vegetables. Crunchy water also tastes pretty good if you know how to cook it.
1: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nancyhuehnergarth/2016/03/14/st... 2: https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-xpm-2013-07-10-chi-...