The High-Tech Vertical Farmer

In the kale-filled facility at vertical farm startup Bowery Farming, it’s a piece of proprietary software that makes most of the critical decisions -- like when to harvest and how much to water each plant. But it still takes humans to carry out many tasks around the farm. Katie Morich, 25, loves the work. But as roboticists make gains, will her employer need her forever? This is the fourth episode of Next Jobs, a series about careers of the future hosted by Bloomberg Technology's Aki Ito.

Host, Producer: Aki Ito
Camera: Alan Jeffries, Brian Schildhorn
Co-Producer: David Nicholson
Editor: Victoria Daniell
Writers: Aki Ito and Victoria Daniell

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[parthgajjar]

"The software tells her what to do." So basically she's playing real life Farmville. Neat.

[badaburner]

Spare a thought for the software programmers

[danellerbe]

I'm an automation specialist for an oil company- This is the future in so many industries, my family & I also consume a Whole Food Plant Based Diet- This type of industry can help eliminate the inefficiencies of farming and get much needed tech jobs nearer large population centers where the produce can go straight to market!
I Love it!!

[lu-dxoh]

Is this about vertical farming or Katie's life ???

[korcanatalay]

This is so informative that I want to start my own Katie now...

[CaedenV]

There are so many pluses and minuses to vertical farming.
On the one hand, it is super efficient. Most farms use 80-90% less water than traditional farms, no pesticides, no (or very little) fertalizer, typically a solar roof will power all the lights of a building. But mostly, there is a promise of little to no long-haul shipping or long-term storage. You can just build a vertical farm in every city, and grow crops year-round to have always fresh local food! It is a great leap forward for any plants that are lettuce sized or smaller.
The down side however is the price. When you have companies full of enviornmental PhDs and programmers, as well as expensive up-front costs for all of the lighting and automation equipment, the break-even point for these kinds of small veggies is pretty much never. Put one of these in every city, control them with a centralized system, and fill them with cheap labor and less automation and you will have yourself a profitable company that can pump out food for the masses.
But that still does not solve the food problem. most people don't buy a lot off small crops. For this to really take off, it needs to be able to take over staple crops like corn, wheat, and rice, and do it cheap. And it seems that they haven't quite cracked that nut yet... but I bet they are getting close! Once they can do that, the world changes overnight. But in the US, corn is hard as it is so large. I wonder if we will simply continue using fields for corn, of if we would shift our staples to more rice based products.

[richardmoustache]

I'm so glad that everything finally came together for Katie.

Let's revisit this in a year, and see if Katie's still there. Check back in 10 and see if the "farm" is still there....

[waywardchild]

I want to know about the farming not her life !!

[ameenaydan]

Wow I never knew so much about Katie! Cause I really wanted to...

[catem]

I like the fact that they've highlighted her life...jobs of the future will affect every aspect of our lives. It only makes sense to see how a human is adapting to the new jobs.

[MichalOcilka]

Too much backstory not enough sci-fi farm

[tobyschmel]

So how are they doing financially and what is the cost to the consumer?

[juliaset]

I would like to see a cost breakdown of field farming vs. vertical farming from seed to consumer. I understand that the appeal of the vertical farm is the lack of pesticides, the taste, the freshness. It still would be interesting to see a cost comparison.

[alisardo]

It's quite impressive what kaitie is doing at bowery farm, she's been setting up a role model for people looking forward to get involved in new technological fields.

[MoonCatching]

I had this idea in 1999; I’m so happy to see this actually being created!!!! I talked about it all the time hoping that the right people would be able to make it Great JOB my fellow

[Tagnar]

This can be set up underground, can work at night, can be used in space and on other planets. Automated, no pests, minimal water usage, no fertilizer wasted, no waste spilling into local areas. Only downsides are initial costs and running electricity costs, but both can be improved upon as solar batteries get cheaper and tech set-up becomes mass produced.

[MUSTASCHO]

It's exciting to see this technology coming to fruition and real businesses starting up. Nice to see the opportunities this technology is bringing for people like Katie too. "Farm Operator", that's a subtly space-age job title if you ask me.

[dgb]

This is in my opinion the most advanced technology platform in the horticulture industry, well done to the founders

[Rod-bpow]

Ms.Katie, you're admired by many Americans and many individuals worldwide, you bring prosperity as well as types of work where there is infinite joy for agriculture and preservation of farming methods and production that is certain and not for losses, inventories that are always realized, GDP that is continuous and grows original that gives employment and businesses to have suppliers that supplies food at their respective shelters, micro house, respective tables of different size. It is thankful always to have many individuals such as you, a fighter, and a woman. Marriages that are honourable in all righteousness be it left and right. Certainty is always evident in the business, continue to live and Impart the same light that ye possess.

[berengamble]

Gosh tell me more about the tech, not about someone's self doubts.