Doing more with less, that’s the basic idea behind vertical farming. Covering the same space, a vertical farm can produce up to 50 times more food than a horizontal farm. Hydroponics (i.e. growing plants on water) does the rest and reduces water usage with a staggering 95%. This high-tech agriculture could easily be applied in densely populated areas but also in places where you don’t expect it, like the desert. There is a drawback however: the energy consumption is high and it’s pricy. Prof dr ir Leo Marcelis (Wageningen University), specialized in vertical farming, is optimistic and believes these issues can be solved. In cooperation with KIVI Students Twente and Ockham.