Here's a skeptical article from Bloomberg on the economics of vertical farming.
The issue is mostly the cost of energy usage--if you have cheap energy and efficient lights (LED) you can grow leaf vegetables and herbs, charge a premium price, and break even. That's state of the art today. What happens tomorrow?
Interesting--as I write this I realize I've not been an enthusiast about vertical farming, but I have about sources of renewable energy. My theory has been that the learning curve for innovations in solar panels and battery storage will work to drive the cost down below carbon-based fuels. That seems a tad inconsistent with my lack of faith in the same factors in vertical farming.
Maybe I'll be around long enough to see what the results are.
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