Indoor farms are blossoming and flourishing everywhere. Urban greenhouses are springing up in cities around the world and the value of the indoor farming industry is expected to more than triple from US$5.5 billion in 2020 to US$20 billion by 2026, according to market research company Statista.

Taking farming indoors not only solves issues of land scarcity but also provides a sustainable solution to the demand for fresh food in urban areas. Instead of transporting perishable leafy greens from distant locations, city dwellers get access to healthy produce year-round while reducing carbon emissions from transport.

Ploughing a new furrow

Traditional farming faces a host of problems including water shortages, disappearing countryside, and an ageing population in rural areas combined with a lack of interest in farming among younger people.

Meanwhile, climate change and rising populations call for smarter and more sustainable agricultural solutions to keep food on people’s tables without worsening the impact on the environment. This is where the benefits of indoor farming are felt.

Urban farmers have been retrofitting warehouses and vacant industrial and office spaces into muti-layered vertical fields from which crops can be harvested and delivered on the same day to restaurants, supermarkets, and individual customers.

Vertical indoor farming grows plants at any time of year with or without soil. Crops such as leafy greens, herbs, and fruit are stacked vertically on tiered shelves and grown in an artificially controlled and enclosed environment, resulting in harvests that are reliable and available year-round.

Technology can increase yields. Smart sensors are used to monitor the growing conditions, while LED lights illuminate the shelves using different light wavelengths to control plant growth. Data can be used to manage productivity to match market demand.

As well as cutting down on mileage in the supply chain, urban farming reduces the impact of agriculture on the environment because it avoids the need for pesticides.

Gardening in the heart of the city

Hong Kong is home to more than 16,000 food and beverage outlets, ranging from street food to fine dining. However, the city is starved of open space and is one of the most food-vulnerable places in the world with around 95% of its food imported from Mainland China and overseas.

Harvesting a rich crop

Common Farms founder and CEO Jessica Fong is one of the new breed of urban farmers in Hong Kong bringing fresh and nutritious produce from compact spaces in underutilised industrial buildings to homes and restaurants.

Founded in 2017, the company is trusted by both Michelin-starred restaurants and home chefs to provide locally produced microgreens, edible flowers, and speciality herbs with a low carbon footprint.

Technological challenges

Indoor farming has its drawbacks. Some operators of vertical farms are struggling financially as advanced technology with high energy consumption requires high upfront investment to establish and maintain the controlled environment required.

As Common Farms moved to its larger new base, it approached CLP Power for advice on site selection and energy management. CLP Power explored potential areas for smart energy management and provided technical advice to help Common Farms save energy and costs.

CLP Power provided subsidies from its Electrical Equipment Upgrade Scheme to help Common Farms install inverter air conditioners, which operate quietly to provide a consistent, more energy efficient cooling comfort. Other initiatives included adapting lighting control to peak and non-peak hours.

Common Farms also applied for electricity supply under CLP Power's Bulk Tariff scheme to reduce its electricity bills, and won the Carbon Management Award (Excellence) in the Smart Energy Award 2022 programme for its outstanding energy-saving performances and innovative practices.

Sowing seeds

Farming indoors and growing up rather than out are no longer futuristic concepts. Growing fresh produce in a single industrial building may be one small step, but it is a blueprint for the food industry that could lead to a more sustainable agriculture future.

The seeds of a farming revolution are taking root in cities around the world, setting off a sustainable agriculture movement that will change the way city dwellers source food and help solve some of the world’s biggest environmental challenges.