Animal Welfare Implications of Vertical Farming

Vertical farming grows crops without animal farming inputs — its welfare implications are significant.

Key Facts

Vertical farms produce vegetables and grains without land clearing that destroys wildlife habitat
Reducing land use for crop production through efficiency could free land for wildlife
Vertical farming eliminates pest control needs that kill billions of insects and rodents
Some vertical farms are beginning to produce cultivated seafood alongside plant crops

Welfare Considerations

Vertical farming has significant indirect animal welfare benefits. By dramatically increasing the efficiency of crop production, it reduces the land footprint of food production, potentially freeing land for wildlife habitat restoration. It eliminates the pesticide use that kills billions of insects, birds, and small mammals annually. It produces food without the habitat destruction that threatens wildlife globally. Direct welfare benefits emerge from pest-free production eliminating lethal control. As vertical farming scales, its welfare benefits are likely to grow substantially.

What You Can Do

Support vertical farming innovation through consumer choice and investment interest
Advocate for policies that direct land freed by efficient farming to wildlife habitat
Engage with the ecological and welfare benefits of efficient food production systems
Support research into vertical farming methods that minimize all animal impacts