Many farmers are shifting to indoor agriculture because of the allure of container farming. Container farming has been gaining popularity because of the low fixed costs and the portability it provides. According to estimates, there are close to 300 branded container farms in the world and the number is set to grow as there is surging popularity. The future of farming is in containers given the fact that land is becoming a scarce commodity and the adverse effects of climate change don’t make things any better.
The phenomenon has not only captured the attention of the media but also of seasonal investors as well. More people are seeing the potential of container farming and it is only a matter of time before it becomes fully mainstream. Here are some of the advantages of container farming.
Creating New Farmers
Research has shown that more than 80% of the container farmers are new to the industry. They must have been attracted to container farming because of the convenience it provides. These new farmers are also bringing a new set of skills to the industry. They mainly come from construction, consulting and finance. According to these newcomers, container farming is a manageable way to get into the industry.
They are likely to have full-time jobs and going upcountry for farming might not be possible. The average global age of the farming workforce is 60 years. It is time things changed and container farming is encouraging young people to try farming.
Investor Interest
Container farming is certainly attracting the right crowd. Feeding a growing population is becoming a challenging endeavor. Large scale farming might not cut it anymore. Both growers and equipment suppliers have been raising equity from different sources. Venture capitalists, crowd funding, donations are just some of the many ways this new kind of agricultural practice is being funded. Just in the last year alone, container farming startups have raised significant sums through investor funding. In 2017, there was funding to a tune of $18 million. This is a serious sign of growth given the fact that there are less than 300 container farming brands in the world.
Speed to Market
Fixed structures come with a lot of challenges. There is design, site selection, permits, and manufacturing before you can think about the product reaching the market. It can take up to a year before you’re fully operational. The time wasted could have been used doing something else that enhances the productivity of the farming endeavor. With container farming, you only need to worry about the zoning and proper size before you can get a permit. One of the advantages of containers is they can easily be relocated. The flexibility comes with a lot of possibilities and you can locate your mobile farm anywhere you deem convenient so long as you’re following the right procedures.
Flexibility
Container farming is a great alternative for situations that don’t allow for conventional farming because of space considerations. It will also be difficult to provide control environments for places that experience extreme weather conditions. A farming container can be conveniently placed and it doesn’t take up a lot of space because everything has been maximized for efficiency. You can relocate the structure whenever it is necessary because there is the flexibility which you don’t get with any other kind of modern farming techniques. Strautmann parts are helpful for the same.
Relatively Low Prices
This has to be one of the main advantages of container farming. The starting cost will consist of either new or used equipment depending on the situation. It is estimated that ta fully functional container claas farm equipment can cost between $15000-20000. Most farmers will prefer to work with branded equipment vendors because of they offer out of the box solution and you don’t have to worry about assembly and all different dynamics involved in a fully operational container farm. Equipment vendors will also provide the necessary training for successful operations.
Where is the Buzz Coming From?
Even though container farming is yet to be identified as a mainstream niche, there is still a buzz about it and is mainly coming from the supply-side. There can never be enough food especially with a population that has been growing for the last couple of decades. There will always be a need for more farmers in the market. Consumers want hyper-local agricultural produce because of the trust element. There will always be a demand for food products and you stand a chance to rip the benefits if you do it the right way and container farming is one such alternative.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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