Urban Vertical Farming in Kyiv
In Kyiv, engineer Serhiy Salata operates a vertical city farm that cultivates basil using hydroponics. The farm is situated on the second floor of a multi-story building, covering an area of about 200 m². With its five-tier shelving system, the effective growing space expands to roughly 300 m². This project was launched in 2022, following the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Urban vertical farming represents a modern response to the challenges of producing fresh food in densely populated or conflict-affected areas.
According to Serhiy Salata, vertical farming is a complex and capital-intensive business requiring deep process knowledge and constant experimentation. Basil is the primary crop grown on this farm. A key advantage of hydroponic technology is water savings, which can reach up to 90% compared to traditional agriculture. However, the farm faces significant challenges, including:
- high electricity costs, exceeding 130,000 hryvnias per month;
- difficulties with wage payments;
- power blackouts;
- the consequences of shelling.
Launching a similar farm requires a minimum investment of $100,000, with a projected payback period of two to three years. Despite the difficulties, Salata's farm has sustained damage, including shattered windows and destroyed solar panels, highlighting the severe risks entrepreneurs in Ukraine currently face.
The State of the Agricultural Sector During Wartime
Meanwhile, in the village of Zarichchia, Zakarpattia Oblast, farmers have begun harvesting early vegetables. In Ukraine, prices for greenhouse tomatoes at the end of the week range from 120 to 140 hryvnias per kilogram, approximately 10% higher than before. This price increase also applies to cucumbers and other vegetables, which may affect consumer demand. This price volatility underscores the war's broader disruption to food supply chains and local markets.
This case demonstrates how the war in Ukraine is impacting the agricultural sector, forcing farmers to seek new technological solutions to adapt to difficult conditions. Vertical farming could become an important element in ensuring food security, especially where access to resources is limited.
The rising cost of vegetables points to potential supply problems and their impact on consumer demand, which may require attention from both the state and businesses to stabilize the market.