IELTS Academic Reading: Practice Test 1

The Rise of Vertical Farming

[A] By the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth’s population will reside in urban centers. Applying the most conservative estimates to current demographic trends, the human population will increase by about 3 billion people during the interim. An estimated 109 hectares of new land (about 20% more land than is represented by the country of Brazil) will be needed to grow enough food to feed them, if traditional farming methods continue as they are practiced today. At present, throughout the world, over 80% of the land that is suitable for raising crops is in use. Historically, some of this has been laid waste by poor management practices. What remains is largely poor quality or situated in environmentally sensitive areas.

[B] One potential solution to this looming crisis is "vertical farming." The concept, popularized by Dickson Despommier, a professor at Columbia University, involves cultivating plant or animal life within skyscrapers or on vertically inclined surfaces. The idea is that instead of farming horizontally on the endless expanse of fields, we should farm upwards, utilizing the controlled environments of modern construction. A multi-storey farm in the heart of a city could hypothetically produce enough food to supply tens of thousands of citizens, drastically reducing the fossil fuels currently required to transport produce from rural farms to urban markets.

[C] The advantages of vertical farming are numerous. First, crops would be protected from weather-related failures; there would be no droughts, floods, or pests to destroy a harvest. As a result, crops could be grown year-round, multiplying the productivity of the farmed surface by a factor of 4 to 6 depending on the crop (e.g., strawberries or lettuce). Furthermore, all the water used in vertical farming can be recycled and reused, significantly reducing the massive water consumption associated with traditional agriculture. Perhaps most importantly, the controlled environment eliminates the need for herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers, resulting in organic, chemical-free produce.

[D] However, the concept is not without its critics. The most significant hurdle is the cost of powering such facilities. While sunlight is free for traditional farmers, vertical farms require artificial lighting, usually LEDs, to mimic the sun's spectrum. Critics argue that the carbon footprint created by the energy usage of these lights, along with the climate control systems needed to regulate temperature and humidity, might outweigh the benefits of reduced transportation. Dr. Stan Cox, a senior researcher at the Land Institute, has stated that if you were to grow wheat in a vertical farm, the cost of lighting alone would make the loaf of bread prohibitively expensive.

[E] Despite the skepticism, prototypes are springing up globally. In Singapore, a country with high population density and almost no arable land, a commercial vertical farm called 'Sky Greens' produces tons of vegetables daily using a rotating hydraulic system. This system uses minimal electricity, as the rotation is powered by a water-pulley system using rainwater. Meanwhile, in Japan, a former Sony semiconductor factory has been converted into the world's largest indoor farm, using specialized LEDs that emit wavelengths optimized for plant growth, shortening the harvest cycle of lettuce from 70 days to just 40.

[F] The future of vertical farming likely lies in a hybrid approach. It may not replace traditional agriculture entirely, especially for staple crops like corn and wheat which require vast amounts of space and light. However, for leafy greens, herbs, and perishable fruits, it offers a viable, local alternative. Architects are now proposing "agritecture"—the integration of farming systems directly into the architecture of new residential buildings, allowing city dwellers to grow food on their own balconies or in communal production floors, turning the concrete jungle into a literal green ecosystem.