Farms are Swiss watches. They look simple, until you open the case.

If you want to tinker, you better be competent or courageous.

Its a numbers game.

Low margin, high risk.

The recent wave of vertical farming bankruptcies show what can happen if you miscalculate.

Massive CapEx, over reliance on technology, high overhead and operating costs, along with top heavy management structures.

Not to mention outrageous energy requirements.

A recipe for disaster.

The lessons we can take from the vertical farming experience is that doing the basics well is critical.

The economics of agriculture don’t change because your crops are indoors.

It is heartening to hear the industry acknowledging a renewed focus on fundamentals, but what’s next for vertical farming?

Renewed focus on product and markets.

Refinement of systems and genetics.

Input and operational efficiency.

To quote Prof. Paul Guthier “Bring the farming back to vertical farming”