In 2015, the United Nations set out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. These goals include ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, providing affordable and clean energy, and promoting decent work and economic growth.
Achieving these goals is no small feat, but urban farmers are up to the challenge. Using indoor grow lights, they can produce fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs all year round, regardless of weather conditions. Not only does this provide nutritious food for their communities, but it also creates jobs and boosts the economy. Here’s a closer look at how indoor grow lights are helping urban farmers achieve the UN’s SDGs.
Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
According to the World Bank, about 736 million people—or 10% of the world’s population—lived in extreme poverty in 2012. Most of these people reside in rural areas of developing countries and do not have access to necessities like clean water, adequate shelter, and reliable electricity.
Indoor farming can help break the cycle of poverty by providing year-round employment opportunities in cities. Farm workers can grow crops indoors regardless of weather conditions or natural disasters, earning a steady income even when traditional farming is impossible. In addition, indoor farms can sell their produce directly to consumers through community-supported agriculture programs or online markets, which cuts out the intermediary and puts more money into farmers’ pockets.
Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), one in nine people worldwide does not have enough to eat. This number is even higher in certain regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where one in six people are undernourished. A lack of access to nutritious food can lead to higher disease rates, stunted growth in children, and increased anxiety and depression.
Urban farms that use grow lights can play a crucial role in food security by increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round availability. In addition, because indoor farms have complete control over their growing environment, they can optimize conditions for maximum nutrient absorption. This results in healthier plants that are more resistant to pests and diseases.
Indoor grow lights are crucial in helping urban farmers achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. By providing year-round employment opportunities and increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, indoor farms are helping to end poverty and hunger worldwide. In addition, because they can control the growing environment indoors, urban farmers can produce nutritious food that helps improve food security for everyone.
