Comment grow lights are the future (Score 2) 279
We're at the point that we can actually have solar powered grow lights for our plants and still have greater energy efficiency than just plain sunlight (because you can have the LEDs at peak plant absorption wavelengths). Plus it's easier to transport, easier to deal with climate variability, easier to deal with insects or pests, plants can be fed extra CO2, and you can have more usable light with less heat stress, uses less water, easier to harvest, doesn't contain dirt, and arrives at the market fresher. And on top of all that, you can trick the plant into thinking it is any season you want or even go with 24 hr lighting.
Minuses: It costs more, at least for now.
But don't be too surprised if the future has all farmland converted to solar panels and all farming under grow lights. It'll be great practice for space colonization too.