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Healthy food
City Farms
Alternative protein

Urban vertical farms for urban agriculture and hydroponics, solving the problem of food shortages in cities

Smart Farm
Grows vegetables, fruits and herbs with the specified parameters
Solution of iFarm
Vertical farming
To grow the best plants possible for the betterment of humanity
Solution of AeroFarms
Indoor garden
Grow real food, eat real good!
Solution of Click & Grow
Vertical farms
The neural network grows healthy and safe plants
Solution of FloraSpace
Robotic greenhouse
Less costs, more results
Solution of Makalini
Farms with artificial intelligence
Remotely controlled molds for growing mushrooms and vegetables
Solution of CITY FARMER
Economic vertical farms
Allows you to grow 63 different crops
Solution of Absolute Foods
Vertical farming
Full automation and high energy efficiency
Solution of Vertical Future
Farms for local communities
90% less water consumption than field farms
Solution of Iron Ox
Plant Growing Ecosystem
Advanced Automation for Farms of Any Size
Solution of Kalera
"Smart farms" in shipping containers
Can be located almost anywhere
Solution of Square Roots Urban Growers
Home farm
Fresh herbs are always at hand
Solution of Agrilution
Experts in the field of city farms
  • Vertical Farm Institute
    It is a non-profit organization that promotes the use of vertical farming. The Institute provides information and resources on vertical farming to the public.
  • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE)
    A professional organization of agricultural and biological engineers. ASABE provides its members with information and resources on vertical farming.
  • Vertical Farming Association (AVF)
    It is a non-profit organization that promotes the use of vertical farming. AVF provides its members with information and resources on vertical farming.
  • Dr. Dixon Despommier
    Professor of Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. He is the author of the book "Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century".
  • Dr. David Zhang
    Professor of horticulture at Cornell University. He is an expert on the use of controlled environment agriculture to grow food in urban areas.
  • Dr. Dixon Despommier
    Professor of Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. He is the author of the book "Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century".
  • Dr. Mark van Wageningen
    Professor of Urban Agriculture at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands. He is an expert in the design and operation of vertical farms.
  • Dr. Craig Kufal
    Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Texas A&M University. He is an expert in the use of hydroponics and aeroponics for growing food on vertical farms.
Vertical trusses
The UN estimates that by 2050 the world population will reach 10 billion people, and the amount of available arable land will decrease to one third of what was available in 1970. Climate change will lead to more droughts and floods, which will only further hinder our ability to produce food to feed the billions of people living on Earth. Traditional farming practices are not as efficient and environmentally friendly as they should be: agriculture consumes 80 percent of fresh water and generates 24 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers leads to runoff that pollutes soil and water bodies.

Vertical farming can significantly increase food production while reducing the environmental impact of the agricultural sector by reducing the use of land, water, chemicals and fertilizers and increasing overall efficiency (for example, today up to 40% of fruits and vegetables are wasted before reaching the consumer - thanks to city farming, this percentage can be significantly reduced). While the environmental benefits are well known, the economic feasibility of vertical farming is still unclear.

For vertical farming to become a viable alternative for the masses, both capital and operating costs need to be reduced. In terms of capital investment, the main costs are structures, lighting and automation systems, while energy is the single most important operating cost parameter.
When choosing a solution for vertical farming, it is necessary to pay attention to the use of energy efficient tools, including the selection of the right spectrum for specific plants (a variety of scenarios for different crops), the features of solutions for automating most processes on the farm, including sowing and harvesting.
Benefits of smart farms
For the first time in human history, crop growers around the world do not have to worry about their level of knowledge: they can now grow anything, as sensors widely used in smart farms regularly collect weather, soil and plant data, compare them with harvesting scenarios and give specific advice to growers. Typically, modern farms can predict the biotechnological and abiotic stress of plants, its dynamically changing relationship with the microbes surrounding it, and the state of plant health. This has become possible thanks to advances in machine learning, computer vision and phytology, which are actively used by modern vertical farms.

Developers of smart farm solutions, along with the biological control of pesticides, microbes, etc., are often involved in other complex disease control strategies - in particular seed preparation to reduce the risk of plant diseases.

Key benefits of smart farms:
  • Accurate forecast. Data models allow better estimation of yields, which, among other things, reduces costs and waste at all stages of production.
  • Increased yields by tracking accurate nutrient levels, water levels, temperature and humidity. This increase in efficiency allows small greenhouses to vastly outperform field farms.
  • Faster growing cycles, for example, by reducing the "breeding" step.
    Greenhouses and vertical farms
    Greenhouses are able to provide impressive crop volumes on a regular basis. So much so that it is one of the main reasons why the Netherlands has burst into second place in the world in food exports.

    Governments around the world are recognizing the need to increase the area under greenhouses through various subsidies and incentives - farmers too are aware of the productivity gains associated with this form of cultivation. However, in many countries farmers refrain from investing in greenhouses because this usually involves stepwise implementation of solutions: for greenhouse cultivation to be successful, the selection of the right seeds and growing materials, climate control, nutrition control, pest prevention and control must be right. Although there are many solutions for each of these problems - it is still quite difficult, while vertical farms are a complex agronomic solution: it can be customized for specific tasks, a constantly learning and easy-to-implement solution combines technology, data science, agronomy , hydrology, etc. in the form of a simple daily to-do list for a farm owner. Vertical farms greatly simplify and automate (where possible) operations in the greenhouse. This leads to an increase in yield by an average of 25-40% per cycle, using much fewer resources than before.
    Crop growing scenarios
    Vertical farms provide optimal growing conditions through harvesting scenarios.

    1. Nutrition: The intelligent system proposes a plan for each field, thus optimizing the distribution of available nutrients according to specific conditions.

    2. Environment: the ideal habitat for the plant, specific to its variety. The vertical farm can measure and control more than 400 data - pH, EC, TDS, OD, humidity, water pressure, air pressure, wind direction and strength and other parameters to optimize crop growth.

    3. Interaction: Plants interact with each other and with the environment by dynamically adjusting ethylene, CO2, chlorophyll concentration, chlorophyll fluorescence and other parameters. Most of the parameters can be captured and evaluated by the AI of the vertical farm.

    4. Light. By adjusting PAR, PPFD and other parameters, the vertical farm allows crops to experience no visual stress.

    This accuracy in terms of input data also results in significantly less waste at each step of the process. This approach to precision farming not only uses less water, energy and emits less CO2, but also improves the quality of products.
    Smart farming: Smart farms are modern agro-technical complexes equipped with advanced control and management systems. Using sensors, artificial intelligence, and automation systems, smart farms can optimize the processes of plant cultivation and animal husbandry. They allow for the monitoring of environmental conditions, maintaining optimal levels of humidity, lighting, and nutrients, which leads to increased crop yield and production efficiency.

    Vertical farming: Vertical farming involves the cultivation of plants in vertical structures, such as multi-level hydroponic systems. This allows for the efficient use of limited urban space and even enables food production inside buildings. Vertical farms use minimal water and do not require the application of pesticides. They can be automated using robotic systems, enabling efficient management of plant growth and ensuring stable food production throughout the year.

    Robotized greenhouses: Robotized greenhouses combine the use of advanced robotics and greenhouse technologies to automate and optimize the cultivation of crops. These systems can handle tasks such as planting, watering, monitoring plant health, and harvesting. By reducing manual labor and maximizing resource efficiency, robotized greenhouses contribute to sustainable food production in urban areas.

    Aquaponics: Aquaponics is a sustainable farming technique that combines aquaculture (fish farming) with hydroponics (soil-less plant cultivation). In this system, the waste produced by fish is converted into nutrients for plants, while the plants purify the water for the fish. It is a symbiotic relationship that allows for the production of both fish and crops in a closed-loop system, minimizing water usage and waste.

    These technologies, along with others like rooftop gardens, urban beekeeping, and community-supported agriculture, contribute to sustainable urban food production and enhance food security. By utilizing innovative approaches and harnessing the power of technology, cities can become more self-sufficient in food production, reduce their ecological footprint, and ensure a resilient and sustainable food supply for their populations.

    Robotic Greenhouses: Robotic greenhouses combine automation and artificial intelligence to optimize plant cultivation processes. With the help of robots and automated control systems, these greenhouses can regulate temperature, humidity, lighting, and irrigation, providing ideal conditions for plant growth. Robots perform tasks such as planting, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting, reducing the workload on human labor and improving farm productivity. Thanks to artificial intelligence systems, robotic greenhouses can analyze data, predict plant growth and development, and optimize resource usage.

    Community Farms: Sustainable development technologies also include the creation of farms for local communities. These are small urban farms aimed at producing fresh vegetables, fruits, and greens for local residents. They can be organized on building rooftops, inside city parks, or on undeveloped land plots. Community farms contribute to strengthening food independence, reducing transportation costs for food delivery, and raising awareness about healthy eating.

    Home Farms: To ensure food security in cities, home farms can be utilized, allowing residents to grow fresh vegetables and herbs right in their apartments or on balconies. These miniature hydroponic or aquaponic systems enable efficient use of limited space and water conservation. Home farms connect urban dwellers to the food cultivation process, enhance awareness of nutritional values, and improve the quality of food products.

    Sustainable development technologies such as smart farms, vertical farming, robotic greenhouses, AI-enabled farms, economical vertical farms, and advanced automation for farms of any size play a key role in ensuring urban food security. They offer innovative approaches to food production, allowing efficient use of resources and overcoming limitations of traditional agriculture.

    The application of smart farms, vertical farming, and robotic greenhouses brings several advantages. Firstly, they enable cities to become more self-sufficient in terms of food production, reducing dependency on external supplies. This is particularly relevant in cases of ecological or economic crises when traditional supply chains may be disrupted. Secondly, these technologies reduce environmental impact as they require less land, water, and pesticides compared to traditional farming.
    Moreover, community farms and home farms contribute to engaging citizens in the food production process. They create opportunities for education and conscious consumption, allowing people to see where and how their food is produced. This promotes the development of more sustainable food systems where individuals become active participants and have control over the quality and safety of the products they consume.

    Sustainable development technologies for urban food security are an important step towards a more sustainable future. They enhance food production efficiency, reduce ecological footprint, and strengthen food independence. Implementing these technologies requires collaboration between government, private sector, and citizens to create a conducive environment for the development of sustainable agriculture in urban settings.

    Further development of smart farms, vertical farming, robotic greenhouses, and other innovative approaches requires investment in research and development, as well as support from governmental organizations and the business community. Incentives need to be created for the adoption of sustainable technologies in agriculture and financial support provided for their implementation.
    Additionally, it is important to ensure education and awareness about these new technologies among farmers, urban residents, and consumers. Access to knowledge and skills in sustainable agriculture should be expanded, and the development of environmental consciousness among the population should be encouraged.

    In conclusion, sustainable development technologies such as smart farms, vertical farming, robotic greenhouses, and other innovations play a crucial role in ensuring urban food security. They offer efficient and environmentally sustainable methods of food production, reduce dependency on traditional supplies, and contribute to the strengthening of local communities. The further development and implementation of these technologies require collaboration and support from all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and productive future for urban agriculture.
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    Terraforming Market is a service for selecting innovative solutions and technologies for sustainable urban development from well-known brands, research institutes and startups from around the world. Terraforming Market is designed to help state and municipal employees, architects and developers, as well as active citizens to find a modern and environmentally friendly approach to the development of the territory and the creation of the city.

    The project is implemented by the Institute of Environmental Conservation and Ecosystem Development Technologies.
    We study and summarize the experience of leaders in the field of nature conservation and ecosystem development in the era of the Anthropocene and disseminate best practices.