IndexWhat you need to know about aeroponics, aquaponics and hydroponicsTraditional horizontal farmsWhat is vertical farming? The third agricultural revolutionVertical agriculture; The dual solution to South Africa's food crisis Driven by the sporadic portrayal of innovative ways of farming in South Africa, this article explores the enormous contribution of emerging smart agriculture, particularly symbiosis-oriented technologies and innovations that could lead to a definitive agricultural review. Focusing primarily on the minor but crucial aspects of South Africa's agricultural component. Being an emerging business in the industry, innovations like hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics seem to be the much-needed innovation to support a growing population. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay What You Need to Know About Aeroponics, Aquaponics, and HydroponicsAeroponics, aquaponics, and hydroponics are variations of revolutionary indoor vertical farming systems that innovatively complement traditional large-scale horizontal farming outdoor systems. These three systems are largely water-based indoor farming approaches that rely on ICT tools, envisioning a futuristic way towards agriculture that could help dispel hunger and poverty in South Africa. Although these tools are still experimental here in South Africa, global economic giants such as the US, Singapore and the UK have supported them for many decades, using them for large-scale farming in small spaces such as rooftops, within unused buildings and alleys. Aeroponics is, according to some sources, a method in which plants are suspended in the air with aqueous solutions sprayed directly on them. The process is an indoor method with carefully monitored conditions to optimize crop production. Aquaponics is a fusion of aquaculture and hydroponics into a system that cyclically raises fish and grows plants at the same time. Plants suspended in the air vertically or horizontally in the tubes derive nutrients from fish wastewater passing along the tubes. The plants in turn consume the nutrients in the water, purifying it in the process. The water is passed through pipes along the roots of the plants, back into the fish tanks. Temperatures and conditions in aquariums must be monitored at all times. It is a necessary exercise perhaps to explain aquaculture, as a side note, as it plays an important role in aquaponic farming. Aquaculture has been defined as a controlled system of “farming of aquatic fish or aquatic plants for food”. There are several noteworthy aquaculture farms in South Africa, Alan Flaming's Philippi Village in Cape Town and Pretoria's Rikalize Reinecke. These two entrepreneurs are championing new ways of farming in urban areas of South Africa. While Flemming Village is primarily focused on container fish farming, Reinecke's business acumen crosses two divides; aquaculture and aquaponics, offering maximum benefits to fish and plant production. Hydroponics is a complex but balanced method of growing plants without the use of soil. Monitoring the processes in this method is essential since the balance of nutrient solutions and oxygen is critical for plant growth. High-precision technology is essential in this method, as plant growth depends on the right balance of water and temperatures infused with nutrients. While there are many forms of hydroponic farming, aan important aspect of this type of agriculture is the technology behind it. In South Africa, hydroponics is perhaps the most widely adopted modern technology-based agriculture, especially on the rooftops and skyscrapers of Johannesburg. Traditional Horizontal FarmsHorizontal farming is farming as we know it today. Using large areas of land to grow crops, animal husbandry, and many other soil-based forms of plant cultivation are the basis of what constitutes traditional agriculture. This type of agriculture is highly dependent on the use of soil as the main ingredient for growing plants and/or growing grass to feed livestock or raise farm animals. This form of agriculture uses large areas of land and is exposed to the elements. Drought, lack of rainwater, exceptional or extremely cold temperatures leave plants at the mercy of unpredictable conditions. With this in mind, traditional farming requires extremely careful management to avoid crop loss. This can be a costly exercise for farmers. Although efforts have been made to limit crop damage caused by unpredictable natural weather conditions through fertilizers, the use of technologies to monitor weather conditions and soil improvement tools, challenges still remain high in this form of agriculture, so there has been a general interest in new forms of agriculture such as vertical farming. “The Belgian campus organized an international week on smart agriculture where students collaborated with international students from Penn State University to find innovative solutions to the challenges farmers face in the agricultural sector. The students focused on both traditional growing methods and newer forms of growing, particularly aquaponics and hydroponics.” In a generalized commentary on human population growth, Despommier Professor Emeritus of Public Health at Columbia University, notes that there is stunted growth in the traditional “horizontal” agricultural way of farming and gaps in knowledge about the sustainability of the growing population. The “godfather of vertical farming” proposes vertical farming systems as a solution to the challenges of terrestrial farming. Professor Despommier postulates that “we have failed at biomimicry at the agricultural level”. This reality paints a picture that, if left unaddressed, heralds an undoing of efforts that seek to address the current high levels of global food security for the growing population. According to him, this should trigger a much-needed “third agricultural revolution”. Professor Emeritus Despommier is renowned throughout the world for his concept of “vertical agriculture”, an innovation that disrupts old ways of farming. What is Vertical Farming? Dozens of sources attribute vertical farming to Professor Emeritus Dickson Despommier of Columbia University. According to some sources, as early as 1997, Despommier together with a group of students experimented with vertical farming after realizing that the population of New York was growing rapidly. Their experiment to find ways to produce food for large populations gave rise to vertical farming inside buildings. Despommier has devised indoor and controlled-environment farming methods at a much faster pace than traditional farming. This cultivation method proved to be fast and efficient, reduced production costs and increased yields and profits. Unlike traditional agriculture, where external conditionsunpredictable conditions can affect crop growth, vertical farming depends solely on ICT-based control systems used to produce favorable conditions for rapid and efficient crop production. Vertical farming eliminates the use of land. Plants receive nutrients directly from the controlled solutions produced, monitored by sensors for accuracy as needed. Plant roots are held back as persistent drought continues to increase the vulnerability of people living in arid and semi-arid lands, vertical farming seems to be the logical step to take to bring relief not only through job creation but also in providing accessibility to affordable food products locally. With little or no soil use, plants grown this way mature more quickly than traditionally grown plants. At the moment, the risks associated with this type of agriculture represent the main challenge that farmers face. Therefore, complementarity between the two forms of agriculture can go a long way in feeding the nation at large. With technologies that can optimize food production between traditional farming and vertical farming, costs can be significantly reduced. The Third Agricultural Revolution The face of agriculture has changed since humans discovered that we could farm to sustain ourselves. Large-scale agriculture, now known as traditional agriculture, has for centuries been the main form of agriculture known to man. However, in the face of challenges related to climate change, plant and animal diseases, and other calamities that are synonymous with natural weather conditions, new ways of farming have emerged. According to Despommier, the first green revolution occurred “10 to 15,000 years” when humans discovered they could grow grains such as “corn, wheat, millet and other grains” using crude technological tools. The second green revolution occurred around 1932, when hydroponics was introduced but was never particularly exploited. This is the phase in which farmers began selecting the cereals to grow. All of this happened on traditional land-based farms. During this revolution, scientists also developed ways to genetically manipulate plants into the desired plant species to grow. Ultimately, Despommier believes that we are on the verge of a third agricultural revolution in which the optimal use of ICT tools will be the future of smart agriculture. Smart agriculture is basically the use of ICT tools to improve the growth of plants and crops in controlled environments. Locally, as South Africa grapples with feeding its growing population through largely traditional farming methods, newer and more innovative ways of vertical farming are emerging. Technologies are being developed and improved, not only for traditional farming methods, but also for versatile vertical farming efforts. Aquaponics and aquaculture are taking precedence and making waves in the agricultural sector in South Africa. Thanks to efforts in tune with Despommier's vertical farming concept, there has been a wave of local farmers adopting this innovative and futuristic way of farming. Although vertical farming seems to be an expensive exercise, from its point of view, farmers who use this type of agricultural ecosystem are faced with unanimously produce better rewards with a much more achieved result compared to traditional methods of cultivation existing. Agriculture.