Key Takeaways:

Vertical farming offers year-round production, reduced water use, and the ability to grow fresh produce closer to consumers. High electricity consumption for lighting and climate control has proven to be the industry's biggest obstacle to profitability. Large upfront investments and reliance on venture capital left many startups vulnerable when funding conditions tightened. Several high-profile bankruptcies have highlighted the difficulty of achieving sustainable profits in fully indoor farming operations. Greenhouse-based models that utilize natural sunlight have generally achieved greater commercial success by reducing energy costs. Vertical farming is likely to remain a niche producer of high-value specialty crops rather...