Last week, we kicked off a monthly Twitter Spaces series about early stage technologies that could help mitigate the worst effects of climate change.

Our first guest was Jason Green, CEO and cofounder of vertical farming company Upward Farms. Upward is currently building what it claims is the world’s biggest vertical farm, and it has raised over $140 million since its founding in 2013.

Why it matters: Vertical farming could help drastically reduce the amount of water used in farming, and its advocates also argue that they can also slash emissions from gas-powered farm equipment and food delivery.

And, the industry is growing fast: Vertical farming startups attracted $1.6 billion in 2021, 86% more than in 2020.

That said, it’s quite expensive—and energy-intensive—to run a vertical farm, and critics have argued they’re a distraction from more immediately beneficial agtech, like new methods for drip irrigation.

Emerging Tech Brew