Project Description
VFB is a non-profit, research-oriented organization with the ambition to establish the first and only vertical farm at UC Berkeley. With sustainability in mind, we aim to increase yield and resource efficiency by investigating symbiotic microbe interactions in a hydroponic environment and developing mechanical automation technology, from ECU-controlled water maintenance to labor-free planting/harvesting. Vertical Farming is the general idea of growing produce in a controlled environment with space, resource efficiency, and produce quality in mind. There are many different types of vertical farms, and on average, 95% of water is conserved due to nearly no evaporation. Yield is nearly twice as high as traditional farming due to no natural pests; no environmental stress; and reliable light, water, and resource exposure. At the same time, vertical farming is extremely space efficient and poses no threat to the environment through pesticide and fertilizer runoff.