与传统的室外农耕相比，垂直农业用地面积相对少得多，因此它最初被视为一种节省空间的创新种植方式。虽然人们曾认为这个种植方式前景大好，但如今它正面临威胁。垂直农场上的作物是在没有阳光的受控环境下、依靠LED灯光生长的，因此从一定程度上看，能源成本的上升导致了垂直农业的现状不容乐观。垂直农业是否已经走到了尽头？本期节目围绕这个话题展开讨论。

词汇：farming 农耕

Why do farmers grow crops outside in fields when we can stack them vertically? The idea of vertical farming was first proposed in 1999. It was seen as a way to save space, reduce air miles and transform old and abandoned buildings, like warehouses. In 2021, Fortune Business Insights valued the global vertical farming market at 3.47 billion dollars. Now, however, this industry is under threat, partly due to rising energy costs.

According to the magazine Science Focus, vertical farming gives ten times the yield of conventional outdoor farming. However, in order for crops to grow using this method, plants are placed in a controlled environment, grown not under the Sun, but under LED lights and watered with recycled water pumped on a closed-loop system.

Unfortunately, energy prices have risen across the globe. Therefore, this reliance on electricity has meant the last few years have not been easy for the industry. Cindy van Rijswick, from the Dutch research firm RaboResearch, has estimated that operational costs for a vertical farm are around 15% higher now compared to 18 months ago. Infarm, Europe's largest vertical farming company, made around 500 employees redundant back in November 2022 because they needed to downsize. They blamed higher operating costs due to energy increases as one reason for the layoffs. 

Another issue related to the cost-of-living crisis and affecting vertical farming is the type of produce grown. This includes herbs such as basil, as well as salad leaves and leafy greens. Compared to traditionally farmed ingredients, like onions and carrots, these products are more expensive so could be less in demand as consumers watch their spending more.

So, it seems a future with food grown under LED lights is looking less and less bright.

词汇表

crop 作物，庄稼
field 田地
stack 叠放，摞起来
vertical farming 垂直农业
air mile （食物）里程
warehouse 仓库
yield 产量
controlled environment 受控的环境
LED light 发光二极管（LED）灯
pump 用泵输送
closed-loop 闭环的
reliance 依赖
operational cost 运营成本
make redundant 裁员
downsize （公司或组织）减员
layoff （因工作岗位不足的）解雇
cost-of-living crisis 生活成本危机
produce 农产品
basil 罗勒
salad leaves 拌沙拉常用的菜叶
leafy greens 绿叶蔬菜
farmed 耕种的，种植的

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What three advantages of vertical farming are given?

2. How are plants watered in a vertical farm?

3. True or false? It is 15% more expensive to run a vertical farm now, compared to 18 months ago.

4. Why did Infarm make 500 employees redundant?

5. Why might consumers choose to buy more traditionally farmed ingredients than vertical farming produce?

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. The potential _______ for the new drones is said to be worth around $1 million.

crop                              field                          market                     air mile

2. At home, she _______ the books she had brought from the library.      

stacked                         relied                        pumped                   blamed

3. We are buying a smaller house. We need to _______ since the kids moved out.

make redundant           downsize                   grow                        retail

4. My family always grow carrots and _______ in the garden each summer. 

layoff                             farming                     greens                     cost

5. We eat a lot of _______ green vegetables at home.

farmed                          leafy                          controlled                 LED

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. What three advantages of vertical farming are given?

Vertical farming was seen as a way to save space, reduce air miles and transform old and abandoned buildings.

2. How are plants watered in a vertical farm?

They are watered with recycled water pumped on a closed-loop system.

3. True or false? It is 15% more expensive to run a vertical farm now, compared to 18 months ago.

True. It is estimated that operational costs for a vertical farm are around 15% higher now compared to 18 months ago.

4. Why did Infarm make 500 employees redundant?

They needed to downsize. They blamed higher operating costs due to energy increases as one reason for the layoffs. 

5. Why might consumers choose to buy more traditionally farmed ingredients than vertical farming produce?

Because compared to traditional farmed ingredients, vertical farming produce are more expensive so could be less in demand as consumers watch their spending more.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. The potential market for the new drones is said to be worth around $1 million.

2. At home, she stacked the books she had brought from the library.        

3. We are buying a smaller house. We need to downsize since the kids moved out.

4. My family always grow carrots and greens in the garden each summer. 

5. We eat a lot of leafy green vegetables at home.