Making vertical farms safer with microbial inoculants

By utilizing indoor spaces and advanced technologies, vertical farms offer numerous advantages, including localized food systems, reduced water consumption, and resiliency against the extreme weather events currently threatening most of the planet’s major growing regions.

Despite the potential of these systems, many vertical farms face significant challenges in establishing long-term economic viability. To justify the significant outlays needed for growing equipment, energy supply, and building space, vertical farms must achieve optimal productivity. To do so, vertical farms need to be based on safe crop production systems that are extremely resilient to crop-destroying pathogens and other biological threats.

THE FOOD SAFETY CHALLENGES OF VERTICAL FARMING

Commercial vertical farming operations usually employ soilless growing systems like hydroponics or aeroponics. A nutrient solution cycles throughout the entire system to significantly improve the water and fertilizer efficiency of hydroponic farms. But the efficiency of closed-loop systems also creates considerable food safety challenges for growers.

The efficient transport and re-use of a nutrient solution can unintentionally facilitate the rapid spread and growth of disease and pathogens. This can quickly destroy entire crops or render them unsaleable due to food safety concerns. The attempt to procure a sterile, controlled environment designed to avoid these outbreaks can quickly become a detriment, as pathogens can spread rapidly in the absence of the moderating influence of diverse microbial ecosystems that exist in traditional soil-based growing systems. Pathogens can be introduced via improperly washed processing equipment, propagation tools, irrigation water, and the hands of farm workers, and by neglecting to inspect purchased plants before they enter the facility.

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