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Shamino79 t1_iucz2v7 wrote

Reply to comment by Runaround46 in Indoor agriculture has sustainable potential to feed Canada, others, year round: experts by pirate_republic

People are not implementing it because it’s insane to have to turn the sun into power to run lights in a dark room to grow plants. Why ???

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looking_for_helpers t1_iudve78 wrote

Because you can't grow outside when it's - 20C

And water conservation

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Shamino79 t1_iuf6bsv wrote

People have heated greenhouses in northern climates. They still make use if the sun.

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looking_for_helpers t1_iuf7r6v wrote

There are more variables involved, such as very short days with the sun low on the horizon, the ability to run 24/7, the heat loss costs, security, abundance of cheap clean hydro-electricity, and a hundred other variables. Sunlight is one of them, and we can eliminate that as a production - limiting input.

The Canadian government used to grow weed in an old underground mine.

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Shamino79 t1_iuf999s wrote

Weed used to get grown underground so no one could see it and was under lock and key. Don’t need that for lettuce and tomato. And I do get that greenhouses can use supplementary lights, insulation and heating to extend a season or control flowering. Taking it into a fully sealed building feels like it’s crossed a tipping point. Seems to me at some point food preservation and transport of canned goods could still be a good alternative.

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looking_for_helpers t1_iufemoe wrote

There is not a single solution for all use cases, like energy sources, there are many.

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flash-tractor t1_iug1mn8 wrote

Speaking from experience- it takes more energy to maintain a greenhouse than a well insulated building.

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Shaddap_ t1_iudnd5d wrote

Water conservation.

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Shamino79 t1_iuf5utr wrote

Climate controlled greenhouse. Still use the sun directly.

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Shaddap_ t1_iugnt1p wrote

From the article that you didn't read:

"Amid rising food and energy costs and more frequent extreme weather events, experts and sector insiders say the indoor agriculture industry has the potential to feed Canadians more reliably and maybe more sustainably by using greenhouses, vertical farms and hydroponic technology to grow food even in the winter, in remote communities, urban centres and everywhere in between."

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Shamino79 t1_iugv7nb wrote

Point very well taken. Was a bit triggered by the idea of indoor farming based on other articles I’ve read about vertical farming. Hydroponics in greenhouses is very well established and is a growing industry. And there’s nothing to say that writhing these facilities you couldn’t also get split levels with sun. And if there is an practical ability to grow something fresh that can’t be preserved in the middle of winter in extreme climates then it would be of benefit to those communities.

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