Southeast Asia’s cities are expanding—and so are their appetites for fresh, safe, locally grown food. Urban sprawl is devouring farmland, while climate change and supply chain disruptions make traditional agriculture increasingly fragile. Vertical farming, powered by clean energy, offers a fresh solution: growing food upward amongst city dwellers.

Kashyap Bhatt, who joins One Atmosphere as an advisor, pioneered solar-powered vertical farming as early as 1987. Often called the “father” of solar powered hydroponics, Bhatt holds patents in the U.S., Canada, and India (and a World Bank award no less) for his systems that produce broccoli sprouts, leafy greens, medicinal plants, mushrooms, and even reforestation seedlings. Built for both commercial operations and emergency food supply, his innovation is as socially minded as it is technological.

According to recent market data from marketdataforecast.com, Asia-Pacific vertical farming is on a steep climb: valued at USD 1.68 billion in 2024 and expected to reach USD 2.17 billion by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate above 29% through 2033. Other estimates from vynzresearch.comproject Asia-Pacific vertical farming will grow from about USD 0.6 billion in 2023 to USD 4.1 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 22.1%. Globally, the vertical farming market, which includes controlled-environment agriculture, is projected to hit nearly USD 19.7 billion by 2034 cites. gminsights.com.

In Southeast Asia, from Manila to Jakarta, the potential is clear. Solar-powered vertical farms using hydroponic systems can deliver fresh produce with minimal land and water use, bypassing polluted soils and long transportation chains. Bhatt’s approach also emphasizes equity: his turnkey projects support women entrepreneurs and smallholders, transforming vertical farming from high-tech novelty into inclusive economic opportunity.

By showcasing scalable, socially inclusive, and climate-smart farming innovations, Bhatt’s work offers companies and governments the kind of authentic, solutions-driven stories that One Atmosphere can broadcast into powerful community-positive narratives.