Can urban vertical farming redefine food sustainability in densely populated cities?

As the global population continues to rise and urbanization expands, the pressure on traditional agricultural systems intensifies. Vertical farming, which involves growing crops in vertically stacked layers, presents a potential solution to the challenges of space and sustainability. By utilizing controlled-environment agriculture technology, vertical farms can produce food year-round with reduced water usage and minimal land requirements. This method also decreases the need for long-distance transportation, further minimizing the carbon footprint. However, the question remains: can urban vertical farming become a scalable and economically viable model that significantly contributes to food sustainability in the world's burgeoning metropolises?