A similar proposal by Ken Yeang proposes that instead of hermetically sealed mass produced agriculture that plant life should be cultivated within open air, mixed-use skyscrapers for climate control and consumption (i.e. a personal or communal planting space as per the needs of the individual). Which may work because as we all know Privatization works better. Even if you try to grow food in a highrise you still need lots of fertilizer. To supplement they would compost the material food waste that’s inedible. Still you would require lots of compost beyond capacity to replenish it. The people that ate the food to begin with can compost but what if residents decide to keep it for themselves. Similarly, if the power needs of the vertical farm are met by fossil fuels, the environmental effect may be a net loss since you have to power every floor with lights, sensors, pumps and other devices. Even scientist and anti-global warming activist George Monbiot calculated that the cost of providing enough supplementary light to grow the grain for a single loaf would be almost 10 dollars.

Rooftop farming on the other hand is much more simple. You can grow stuff in simple containers with no real modifications to the roof other than making it strong enough to support all the weight. Anyone can grow stuff in a flower pot on their porch or balcony or backyard. It’s simple and can be done even in climates that may not permit those types of fruit/vegetables using free sunlight and little money.