From the article, it sounds like the company was just mis-managed.
Vertical farming is an extremely solarpunk idea that is impossible under capitalism - finding people with the experience to solve the issues and paying them enough to make it worth their expertise and also pay for marketing and create value for shareholders is impossible if your product is lettuce.
In a world where no one had to work, alternative growing methods are exactly the kind of projects that would attract bright minds.
The principle is the same. You’re competing with traditional agricultural production, so the absolute value of the crop you’re producing matters less than the difference in profit margin compared to traditional methods.
Unlike silicone chip manufacturing or entertainment production which inherently require high levels of education and have barriers to entry, growing anything doesn’t require a PHd or a unique personal brand. Farm workers are extremely knowledgeable and don’t get enough credit for their craft. The issue is the product doesn’t magically command a higher price when made by a venture employing doctors of agriculture, engineers, and roboticists. The higher infrastructure and labor costs eat up ‘shareholder value.’
Except if done right I can guarantee a yield. Saffron takes two years to grow so it’s a huge risk to cultivate it. Cannabis is more or less indoor growing only, since crops are worthless if a single male plant pollenates it. There are lots of crops thay make sense in enclosed farms.
