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Why Vertical Farming Won't Save the Planet

Utah State University Extension · lecture · Watch on YouTube

Environment, agriculture & food systemsRenewables, batteries & storage

What it is

Utah State plant scientist Bruce Bugbee presents his analysis of the energy and environmental costs of vertical and indoor farming. He argues artificial lighting cannot compete with sunlight in fields or greenhouses.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN uses it as the go-to rebuttal to vertical farming hype, since it gives hard numbers from a leading controlled-environment authority.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2017, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “Been sending this video to every charlatan pushing vertical farming for years now.”

    The math against vertical farming is insurmountable.

    busterarm, 2023-12 · Strong recommendation · in “Vertical farming company raised $500M, and then it all but disappeared”

  2. “A very informed and informative lecture filled with facts”

    Informative lecture backing the argument against vertical farming.

    jsilence, 2017-01 · Recommendation · in “The Vertical Farm”

  3. “a lecture by the preeminent authority in the field, Bruce Bugbee”

    Lecture by a leading authority on controlled-environment growing.

    contingencies, 2018-07 · Recommendation · in “Is Vertical Farming Really the Future of Agriculture?”

  4. “he does give hard numbers to do the math that shows that vertical farming is not as good as its proponents have made it out to be”

    Hard numbers showing vertical farming trails outdoor agriculture economics.

    Shawnecy, 2025-03 · Recommendation · in “Vertical farming company Plenty files for bankruptcy after raising nearly $1B”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: vertical farming, indoor agriculture, energy costs, controlled environment, bruce bugbee

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