hydroponics Archives - Hydroponic Container Farms and Mushroom Farms

The Most Underrated Use of Container Farms? Crisis Readiness

Crisis readiness is one of those things most organizations agree is important while quietly kicking the conversation down the road. It lives in binders, in policies, in “just in case” conversations that rarely turn into action.

But over the past few years, that mindset has started to shift. Supply chains have proven fragile. Access to basic resources has been disrupted. And the idea that food (especially fresh food) will always be available when you need it no longer feels guaranteed.

A three-tiered seedling table in a Vertical Hydroponic Farm.

That is where container farming enters the conversation in a way most people have not fully considered. For years, container farms have been framed around sustainability. Less water. Fewer food miles. Year-round production. All of that still matters. But there is a deeper and more urgent value emerging. Container farms are not just tools for growing food. They are tools for ensuring food access when systems around us begin to fail.

Think about how organizations prepare for emergencies. Contingency plans. Hospitals have backup generators. Data centers have redundancy built into every layer. Buildings have fire suppression systems that may never be used but are always at the ready. These systems exist for one reason. The cost of not having them is too high.

Now apply that same thinking to food.

In a crisis, whether it’s a natural disaster, a supply chain breakdown or a prolonged disruption like a pandemic, food becomes one of the first pressure points. Shelves empty quickly. Deliveries slow down or stop. Quality drops. Prices rise. And for organizations responsible for feeding people, that pressure compounds fast. A turnkey container farm changes the equation in a big way.

Instead of relying entirely on outside systems, you create a controlled, predictable source of fresh food that exists within your own footprint. It does not replace traditional supply chains, but it strengthens them. It gives you a layer of independence that most organizations simply do not have.

What makes this especially powerful is that container farms do not sit idle. This is not a piece of equipment that waits for disaster to justify its existence. It produces value every day. Fresh greens for a hospital. Consistent produce for a resort. Nutrient-dense feed for zoo animals. Educational opportunities for students. Revenue streams through direct sales or tours.

Then if and when a crisis hits, its role shifts instantly. It becomes a stabilizer. It becomes a source of reassurance and certainty in an uncertain environment. It becomes something you are grateful you invested in before you needed it. Much like underground shelters preserve life in emergencies, robust food production systems sustain that life.

There is also a human element that often gets overlooked. In high-stress environments, access to fresh food and living plants has a real psychological impact. It provides a sense of normalcy. It creates routine. It reminds people that growth is still happening even when the outside world feels unstable.

That matters more than most people realize.

The organizations that will lead in the years ahead are not just the ones that operate efficiently when everything is working. They are the ones that continue operating when things are not. They are the ones that think beyond cost and start thinking in terms of resilience.

Container farming fits directly into that shift.

It’s not about fear. It is about preparation. It is about recognizing that the world is changing and choosing to be ready instead of reactive.

Because just like a sprinkler system, you do not invest in it because you expect something to go wrong.

You invest in it because you cannot afford it if it does.

No Seasons, No Surprises: Modular Farms Reduce Risk of Crop Loss

Container farming is altering the way we think about agriculture by removing one of its oldest challenges: dependence on seasonal normalcy.

For generations, farmers have worked within the constraints of weather patterns, temperature swings and unpredictable environmental conditions. Today, controlled-environment agriculture, especially through container farms, offers a way to grow crops consistently year-round regardless of what’s happening outside.

At the heart of container farming is control and assurance. Self-contained systems allow growers to regulate temperature, humidity, light and nutrient delivery with precision. Instead of reacting to seasonal shifts and extreme spells, farmers can create the exact conditions plants need to thrive at all times. Whether it is the dead of winter or the peak of summer, crops inside a container farm experience a stable, optimized environment that eliminates the traditional growing calendar.

We’ve already seen examples this spring; extreme heat has become one of the most damaging seasonal challenges in agriculture, often leading to crop stress, reduced yields and even total loss. In a container farm, temperature is carefully managed through climate control systems, including sensors that take regular readings to maintain ideal growing conditions. Plants are never exposed to scorching heat, which means they can maintain consistent growth rates without the interruptions that heat waves typically cause. That stability not only protects the plants but also allows farmers to plan production with confidence.

Drought similarly presents another major obstacle for traditional farming, especially in regions where water availability is becoming increasingly uncertain (the desert Southwest, for example). Container farms dramatically reduce water usage by employing recirculating hydroponic systems. Water is delivered directly to plant roots, captured, filtered and reused rather than lost to evaporation or runoff. This efficiency ensures that crops receive exactly what they need without being affected by external water shortages. Even in the driest conditions, container farms can continue producing fresh food without interruption.

Storms and severe weather events can devastate outdoor crops in a matter of hours. Heavy rain, high winds and hail can destroy entire fields, wiping out months of work and investment. Container farms do well in eliminating risk almost entirely by housing crops within a durable, enclosed structure. Plants are shielded from the elements, allowing them to grow undisturbed regardless of what is happening outside. For farmers, this protection translates into greater reliability and significantly reduced risk.

Beyond protection, container farms also unlock new levels of predictability and efficiency. Because the growing environment is consistent, farmers can harvest on a set schedule, ensuring a steady supply of produce. This predictability is especially valuable for businesses that rely on consistent inventory, such as restaurants, grocery stores and institutional buyers. Instead of dealing with seasonal shortages or fluctuations in quality, they can depend on a continuous stream of fresh, locally grown products.

In addition, container farms enable farmers to grow crops in locations that were previously unsuitable for agriculture. Urban areas, regions with poor soil quality and climates with extreme seasonal variations can all support productive farming through this technology. By removing the limitations imposed by the natural environment, container farms expand opportunities for growers while bringing food production closer to consumers.

Ultimately, container farming represents a shift from reactive agriculture to proactive agriculture. Rather than adapting to the unpredictability of nature, farmers can now design ideal growing conditions and maintain them year-round, albeit on a smaller scale. The result is healthier plants, more resilient operations and a food system that’s better equipped to handle the challenges of a changing climate.

Making Farming Accessible, Achievable for the Next Generation of Growers

There’s a time in almost every industry when an impactful shift upends what doing business looks like.

Farming has always been the backbone of society, but for many young people today, the idea of becoming a farmer feels out of reach. Land is expensive, climate conditions are unpredictable and the upfront costs of equipment and infrastructure can be overwhelming. That’s where automated container farms come in, offering a new pathway for the next generation of farmers to thrive.

Unlike traditional models, container farms don’t require hundreds of acres or decades of experience passed down from family. They’re compact, climate-controlled and highly efficient. Most importantly, they harness automation and technology, which makes them a natural fit for younger generations who grew up with smartphones, data analytics and digital tools at their fingertips. With sensors that monitor and control environmental conditions, automated watering and nutrient delivery systems, and detailed dashboards that track results, farming suddenly becomes less about guesswork and more about innovation.

This shift doesn’t just make agriculture more approachable, it makes it exciting. Young people who might never have considered farming can now view it as a career rooted in technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship. Container farms offer consistent, year-round production regardless of outside weather conditions, which speaks directly to a generation deeply concerned about climate change and food security. The controlled environment also uses a fraction of the water and land required by traditional farming, aligning with values of environmental stewardship that many young people hold close.

At the same time, container farms double as living classrooms. Schools, universities and community organizations are already using them to teach students about biology, engineering, natural resources, coding and even business management. Hands-on experience with these systems not only connects learners to where food comes from, but also equips them with skills they can carry into careers in ag-tech, sustainability or entrepreneurship. It’s a form of education that blends science with purpose, and it leaves a lasting impression.

Perhaps most empowering of all is the way container farms connect young people to their communities. These systems allow farmers to grow fresh food locally, reduce reliance on long supply chains and provide nutritious produce to underserved areas. Many young entrepreneurs are finding purpose in this mission, using container farms to build small businesses that serve both their neighborhoods and the environment. By removing many of the traditional barriers to farming, container farms open the door to opportunity and impact.

At its core, this movement is about redefining what it means to be a farmer. Agriculture is no longer confined to wide-open fields and unpredictable harvests. With the rise of automated container farms, farming has become a forward-thinking, tech-enabled career choice that blends innovation with sustainability. For the next generation, it’s not just about growing food—it’s about shaping the future of our food systems in a way that is accessible, resilient, and deeply meaningful.

Solving Global Food System Inefficiencies With Hyperlocal Farming

As we navigate our way through the latter half of this decade, the global food system faces mounting pressure as climate change, population growth and resource scarcity converge.

Massive amounts of food are lost or wasted every year due to inefficient supply chains, long-distance transportation and spoilage during storage and distribution. Meanwhile, food insecurity continues to rise in both developed and developing nations. The current model, which relies heavily on centralized production and global logistics, is unsustainable in the long term and increasingly vulnerable to disruption (watch our recent video about this very subject).

Traditional agriculture, while capable of producing food at scale, is dependent on consistent weather, large plots of arable land and access to water. In many regions, those resources are dwindling or have become unreliable. Supply chain interruptions caused by natural disasters, pandemics or geopolitical conflicts can create severe bottlenecks, leaving communities without access to fresh, nutritious food. These inefficiencies impact not only consumers but also farmers who face limited market access and price instability.

Hyperlocal farming using controlled-climate shipping containers presents a promising solution. By growing food right where it’s needed, communities can bypass many of the pitfalls of traditional supply chains. These container farms operate year-round, regardless of weather, and require significantly less land and water than outdoor farming. With precise control over temperature, humidity, and lighting, they can produce consistent, high-quality crops with fewer inputs and less waste.

Another benefit of hyperlocal container farming is its ability to reduce emissions associated with food transportation. Food often travels thousands of miles before reaching consumers, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Growing crops in or near the communities where they’ll be consumed drastically cuts down on fuel use and packaging waste. It also allows produce to be harvested at peak ripeness, preserving flavor, nutritional value and shelf life.

Container farms can be integrated into urban environments, school campuses and corporate headquarters, making farming accessible in places where it wasn’t previously feasible. These farms can strengthen local economies by creating jobs, supporting small businesses and empowering residents to take control of their food sources. They also offer educational opportunities and foster a deeper connection between people and the food they eat.

While hyperlocal farming isn’t meant to replace traditional agriculture entirely, it plays a vital role in building a more resilient, efficient and equitable food system. By supplementing the global supply chain with localized, sustainable production, communities can better weather disruptions and ensure access to fresh food. Controlled-climate farming is no longer just an innovation—it’s a necessary step toward a future where food security isn’t dictated by distance or disaster.

How Schools are Using Container Farms for STEM, Entrepreneur Education

When STEM meets sustainable agriculture, it cultivates far more than fresh food—it grows future innovators. Across the U.S., pioneering schools are partnering with FarmBox Foods to deploy container-based hydroponic farms as immersive, hands-on classrooms. Here’s how a few standout programs are turning shipping containers into living laboratories.

🌾 South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM)

In Hartsville, SC, GSSM launched a Hydroponic Research Lab, a FarmBox container farm customized for cross-disciplinary STEM learning. Installed summer 2022, it’s integrated into residential, online, outreach and engineering programs.

Students study everything from biology and chemistry to robotics, computer science, and environmental policy within the container’s regulated climate.
Undergrad-level experiments tweak nutrient delivery, pH, humidity and light schedules.
It serves as a hub for curriculum development and for hosting K–12 outreach, including STEM Days and Family STEM events.

Dr. Josh Witten, Director of Research & Inquiry at GSSM said GSSM’s Hydroponic Research Lab isn’t necessarily centered on what it can produce, but how it produces, and, perhaps more importantly, why. It’s a venue for all-encompassing lessons in everything from civics and social responsibility to inventing new indoor farming techniques and creating avenues for environmental stewardship that previously didn’t exist. The educational promise is boundless, as are the practical applications that result.

In many respects, encouraging initial failure provides interdisciplinary opportunities for critical thinking and problem solving. GSSM’s students will have the ability to experiment with different controlled environments, study the research findings, and help answer questions about its effects on the agricultural community in its region, state and beyond. The lab will also help students to develop and standardize hydroponic research protocols for model plants used in plant science, plants of interest and plants beneficial to the area.

“The GSSM Hydroponic Research Lab provides unprecedented opportunities for students to engage in meaningful research on issues of worldwide significance right here on the GSSM campus in Hartsville, SC,” said GSSM Director of Research and Inquiry, Dr. Josh Witten.

“Because this lab represents a unique research resource, it will also be a platform for GSSM students, faculty, and staff to collaborate with researchers beyond our campus. These innovative and immersive experiences are a hallmark of the GSSM education, which prepares students to become the problem solvers of tomorrow.”

The container farm contains elements of — and applications for — biology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, computer science, robotics and economics, and is ‘being used as a teaching tool to engage their creativity,” the school said.

EPIC Campus – Littleton, Colo.

EPIC, a Career Technical Education campus in Littleton, Colo., received its Vertical Hydroponic Farm in summer 2023 and it turned into a much-discussed amenity during the school year. While the FarmBox is used primarily by students working toward their plant science certification, it has touched many other career pathways; it has applications in business, computer science, nutrition and various other areas of study. The harvested veggies go to three places: the Littleton High School cafeteria via nutrition services, a local pizzeria, and Gracefull Café, a nearby pay-what-you-can eatery.

“The kids go deliver to Gracefull Cafe and they would have people in the cafe tell their stories about homelessness, how when you’re homeless, you’re not eating green veggies,” said Mike Montgomery, EPIC’s Natural Resources Pathway Lead and a certified environmental educator. “The kids would come back and that was a lesson that I couldn’t teach, and it was so powerful for the kids. Way more important than learning about photosynthesis.”

The FarmBox has become a centerpiece of the EPIC campus and visitors always want to know what’s going on inside, Montgomery said. The common refrain from faculty, parents and visiting volunteers is they wish a teaching tool like the FarmBox existed when they were in school.

“They’re so impressed by it and what we’re doing,” he said.

VALE – Parker, Colo.

When Venture Academy of Leadership and Entrepreneurship (VALE) in Parker, Colo., was still just an idea, its founders knew they wanted to change the face of education. One idea to make that happen was bringing a FarmBox to the campus. Now that the school’s vertical hydroponic FarmBox is up and running, it’s proving even more valuable and multifaceted than envisioned.

“There’s just something magical about this place and space. When we do tours for incoming parents, they’re wowed by everything we do, but when they come out to the FarmBox, it’s a game-changer. You can feel it,” said LeeAnn Hayen, chief learner and disruptor at VALE.

The FarmBox has applications in science, culinary, business, nutrition and environmental lessons, among many others. It’s just as important for VALE to “turn out human beings who are empathy centered” as it is to teach them Algebra 1, Hayen said.

Generation Alpha “won’t be satisfied with sitting still,” and engagement tools like the FarmBox are what get kids excited about learning, she said.

According to Katy Kollasch, chief intrepreneur and change agent at VALE, learning doesn’t just happen in a textbook or classroom.

When entrepreneurship students are building a business “from seed to application of a product, they are creating this themselves, and they haven’t had the opportunity to do that in a two-dimensional classroom,” she said.

“The FarmBox creates that additional dimension that actually brings learning to life,” Kollasch said.

morgan community college – Fort morgan, Colo.

Morgan Community College received its Vertical Hydroponic Farm in 2024 and immediately drew interest from the community. Kids from all grade levels were invited to tour the farm, as were local stakeholders and dignitaries during two community open houses. Since then, MCC professors have used the FarmBox to teach general sustainable agriculture practices, and have incorporated students from multiple departments, from biology and agronomy to precision forming hardware, business and multimedia graphic design. Thus far, students have successfully grown broccoli, bok choy, parsley, Korean ponytail radishes, cherry tomatoes, arugula, oregano, basil, Mexican mint marigold, Asian green mix, romaine, dill, chives and jalapeños.

Bill Miller, Precision Agriculture Faculty & Division Chair for Career Technical Education programming, said agronomy students choose a specialty crop for their final research project.

“We do it from start to finish and look at how it produces, how long it takes to germinate, how until it’s mature enough to transplant, how did it grow in the walls, what are the nutrient vales,” Miller said.

Just before harvesting, Miller puts out a message to faculty and students and invites them to take produce home. Rising Up, a nonprofit in Morgan County, also regularly picks up fresh veggies for its food bank. “Everyone loves” the FarmBox, and it has become a vital and dynamic teaching tool on the campus, Miller said.

Sustainable Food Production Isn’t Just Possible, It’s Inevitable

The idea of adopting sustainable practices in food production to address critical environmental, social and economic challenges has until recently been seen as a pipe dream, an impenetrable barrier to progress.

There’s concern about costs and whether implementation would be widespread enough to result in noticeable change. But as tech has advanced and prices have slowly come down, this is something that’s within our grasp and something we should expect to see in our lifetimes.

Sustainable food production minimizes environmental degradation by promoting practices that conserve soil fertility, reduce water usage, and mitigate the use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers. Prioritizing ecological balance helps safeguard biodiversity, maintain ecosystems and combat climate change. This is crucial for ensuring the long-term viability of our planet and securing the availability of natural resources for future generations. We don’t want to be remembered as the generation that had the opportunity to do something, but squandered it.

Sustainable food production has significant social implications. It fosters equitable distribution of resources, promotes fair labor practices and supports local communities. Sustainable agriculture often involves small-scale, community-based farming that empowers local producers and reduces dependence on large-scale, industrialized farming systems. This not only strengthens local economies but also enhances food security by diversifying sources and reducing vulnerability to external shocks, such as the supply chain disruptions that crippled our food systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adopting sustainable practices in food production is essential for addressing global food security challenges. As the world’s population continues to grow, ensuring a stable and sufficient food supply is going to become more difficult. Sustainable agriculture emphasizes efficiency and resilience, optimizing yields while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. By embracing methods such as agroecology, organic farming, and precision agriculture, we can create a more robust and resilient food system capable of meeting the nutritional needs of a growing population without compromising the health of the planet. Again, this is achievable with a little bit of political will and a whole lot of education.

Sustainable food production is also economically prudent. While initial investments may be required to transition to sustainable practices, the long-term benefits far outweigh the costs. Sustainable agriculture, like farming in controlled-climate shipping containers, reduces reliance on expensive inputs, maintains soil health for traditional growing, and promotes resource efficiency, leading to increased productivity and decreased production costs over time.

It opens up new market opportunities as consumers increasingly prioritize sustainably produced goods, creating a positive feedback loop that encourages businesses to adopt environmentally and socially responsible practices. It’s already happening in the U.S. People have shown a willingness to incorporate changes into their own lives, and they’re more cognizant about where their food comes from. Taking a holistic approach isn’t some esoteric, “hippie-dippie” idea anymore. Creating an equitable future for both people and the planet, while expanding access to nutritionally dense foods, isn’t just achievable, it’s imperative.

FarmBox Foods launches indoor farm that grows livestock feed

FarmBox Foods LLC is excited to announce the official launch of its Hydroponic Fodder Farm.

The company hosted a public open house on Sept. 27 at our home base in Sedalia, CO. Guided tours of the new indoor farm — the third product line offered by FarmBox Foods — were provided. Attendees also received a tour of the company’s other tech-assisted, containerized farms: the Vertical Hydroponic Farm and Gourmet Mushroom Farm.

What exactly is fodder? It’s a nutrient-dense hay that’s used as a dietary supplement for horses, cows, pigs, goats, chickens, sheep, rabbits and alpacas.

(Want to learn more about FarmBox Foods? Watch our July appearance on ABC News here)

By growing fodder on site year-round, farmers and ranchers can avoid supply chain disruptions, sourcing issues and spikes in hay prices. The controlled-climate farms provide a reliable, hyperlocal source of fresh food while shielding the barley fodder from weather and climate impacts, including drought, heat waves, freezes and floods. The farms are housed inside upcycled, insulated shipping containers outfitted with plumbing, electrical and sensors to control conditions inside. The 320 square-foot farms also capture, filter and recycle water for maximum water efficiency.

Protein-rich fodder improves the overall health of livestock, supplements hydration and adds weight to beef cattle. It also promotes the production of better-quality milk for dairy cows and goats, improves fertility rates, reduces the likelihood of illness, and decreases methane output because of its superior digestibility compared to traditional alfalfa hay.

Because barley fodder requires only a 7-day growth cycle, a staggered schedule allows farmers and ranchers to harvest around 880 pounds of fodder per day.

What makes FarmBox Foods a green-oriented company?

We use only upcycled shipping containers.

We give used, insulated shipping containers a new life: growing food at scale in areas that struggle with reliable cultivation and/or access. By outfitting them with the components to grow produce, the repurposed containers are kept out of landfills and scrap heaps.

The farms we build are designed to promote efficient water usage.

We capture, filter and reuse water in both our Hydroponic Fodder Farm and our Vertical Hydroponic Farm, which requires only about 5 gallons of water per day. Water is often lost to evaporation and transpiration in traditional farm settings. By recycling the water, our farms get the most out of every drop. In times of severe drought and diminishing water supplies, this efficiency is critically important.

The farms were built to reduce energy usage associated with agricultural production.

Our Vertical Hydroponic Farm uses around 190 kwh per day, the energy equivalent of two loads of laundry. The Gourmet Mushroom Farm uses even less, drawing an average of only 80 kilowatt-hours of electricity each day. High-efficiency, low-energy LED lights are used in FarmBox containers to reduce energy consumption.

Reduced need for fossil fuels.

Every kilogram/pound of food waste has a corresponding waste factor for energy, labor, water, carbon emissions, etc. It takes a lot to get produce from point A to point B, including diesel fuel to power trucks and trains. Transporting goods across long distances could be a thing of the past, as our portable container farms enable people to grow food near the consumer, thereby reducing emissions and expenses. Hyper-local growing almost entirely removes the supply chain — and its ongoing issues — from the equation.

Indoor farms don’t require the use of pesticides.

Because our farms are enclosed, they’re protected from many of the variables that keep traditional farmers up at night, like drought, flooding, heat waves and hail. But it also prevents impacts from pests, and therefore, pesticides are not required in our farms. As a result, the water discharged from the Vertical Hydroponic Farms and Hydroponic Fodder Farms we build does not contribute to groundwater contamination.

Fodder consumption by livestock reduces methane output.

Barley fodder is easier to digest than traditional alfalfa hay and other nutritional supplements, and because of this, less methane is emitted into the atmosphere. We’re in the process of gathering more specific data to quantify the reduction of methane from different types of animals, and how that reduction corresponds with their respective intake of protein-rich fodder.

Growing near the consumer reduces the likelihood of food waste.

After being harvested, produce grown in traditional outdoor settings often spends a few days on trucks and in distribution centers before it arrives at the store. Hyperlocal growing helps fresh veggies arrive on consumers’ plates and in their refrigerators much sooner — often within 24 hours of being harvested. The produce maintains its shelf life, which provides a longer period of time to eat the food. This results in less food waste at the consumer level.

Our farms can run off solar power.

Anyone who wants to grow nutrient-dense food off-grid can do so by hooking their farm up to a small solar grid.

Compost from our Gourmet Mushroom Farms helps promote soil health.

The spent substrate from FarmBox Foods’ GMF showroom model is donated to the local community to be used as nutrient-rich compost. The seedling pods and spent mushroom substrate can be used for further plant-growing compost once they are removed from the farms. The spent mushroom substrate, in particular, is quite sought after for this purpose. These eco-friendly by-products can also be incorporated into the soil, and the substrate will continue to grow mushrooms if properly managed.

Soil rejuvenation and less need for agricultural acreage.

Millions of acres of America’s traditionally fertile soil have been stripped of vital nutrients, and farmers are compelled to implement crop rotation and remediation steps like composting to regenerate agricultural land. A FarmBox occupies only 320 square-feet of space (they can also be stacked), does not need soil, and allows farmers to revitalize oft-used ag soil.

Furthermore, clear-cutting forests to make room for agriculture is not necessary for some crops. Farmers can utilize available vertical space to grow more food on a smaller footprint.

Rising food prices influenced by several factors

What is influencing the increase in food prices and what can be done about it?

Rising food prices influenced by several factors

A confluence of global events and circumstances have some experts painting a grim picture for populations that already face food insecurity.

Recent spikes in food, fuel and fertilizer prices could lead to “destabilization, starvation and mass migration on an unprecedented scale,” said David Beasley, head of the U.N. World Food Program.

A recent U.N. analysis shows that “a record 345 million acutely hungry people are marching to the brink of starvation.” That’s a 25-percent increase from 276 million at the start of 2022, before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. The number stood at 135 million people before the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, according to an ABC News article.

The war in Ukraine is having a continuing ripple effect on the global food supply. Russia and Ukraine together export 28 percent of fertilizers made from nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, according to Morgan Stanley. The limited global supply has sent prices into the stratosphere — in some cases doubling the cost — and there are fears that high costs or the lack of availability will result in farmers using less fertilizer, leading to lower yields of commodities that are already constrained.

In early July, the Consumer Price Index report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that food prices in the U.S. increased 10.4 percent from June 2021 to June 2022.

Rising costs for any critical ingredient for running a farm — water, labor, fuel or fertilizer — translate to higher food prices. And when all four hit at the same time, disruption ensues, to the detriment of consumers, especially those who were already hanging on by a thread.

In all, worldwide experts fear crop yields will drop by 10-30 percent, and developing countries will be hardest hit.

The prevalence of “undernourishment” — when food consumption is insufficient to maintain an active and healthy life — continued to rise in 2021. The U.N.-commissioned report, “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World,” estimates that between 702 million and 828 million people faced hunger last year.

A grain shortage stemming from the Ukraine conflict is also driving up the cost of basic foods and other commodities, and corn and wheat are not getting out to the market because the Black Sea is closed. To top it off, drought conditions are crippling agricultural operations in several regions known for high output.

There’s a dearth of issues to navigate. But as The Shelby Report points out, crises stoke innovation. Agricultural adaptation is being employed, including the use of hydroponic container farms housed in upcycled shipping containers. The controlled-climate farms allow for uninterrupted, decentralized growing year-round and provide a stable environment to ensure reliable yields. Smart irrigation systems are being used more than ever, and data is driving decision-making at unprecedented levels in order to maximize available resources. Responses to climate change vary by location and commodity. Learn more about how the USDA is assisting food producers.

FarmBox Foods makes appearance on ‘Good Morning America’

Good Morning America visited FarmBox Foods’ headquarters to explain how businesses and nonprofits are using technology to sustainably grow food near the consumer year-round.

GMA Visits FarmBox Foods to Talk ‘Farming Without Harming’

Good Morning America visited FarmBox Foods’ headquarters to learn how businesses and nonprofits are using technology to sustainably grow food near the consumer.

ABC News Chief Meteorologist Ginger Zee spoke to FarmBox Foods CEO Rusty Walker June 20 about the company’s mission to build high-tech indoor farms that provide food security year-round for those without reliable access to nutrient-dense food.

(Watch the GMA appearance here)

Zee also interviewed representatives from two FarmBox Foods customers, Natural Grocers® and Centura Health, about their use of Vertical Hydroponic Farms, which provide a hyperlocal source of fresh produce while reducing environmental impacts and unpredictability associated with traditional farming. The farms are housed inside upcycled, insulated shipping containers that are outfitted with plumbing, electrical and sensors to control conditions inside.

By growing food on site, the companies that use FarmBoxes are avoiding supply chain disruptions, reducing food sourcing costs, improving access, and helping to eliminate food waste because the veggies get to the plate much quicker.

The controlled-climate container farms provide a perfect growing environment for the plants and shield them from weather and climate impacts, including drought, heat waves and flooding.

Natural Grocers is growing organic lettuce behind its store in Lakewood, Colo., mere steps from the display case, and plans to expand the program elsewhere. Centura Health, meanwhile, owns three Vertical Hydroponic Farms and uses them to produce food for hospital patients and visitors, and to provide nutritious produce to food banks in the communities they serve.