An Approach to a Vertical Farming Low-cost to Reach Sustainable Vegetable Crops

Abstract

Vegetables are mostly grown outdoors in areas suitable for certain species and on a seasonal basis, which implies a discontinuous and rural supply that leads to their transfer to urban centers. Its high variability implies a discontinuous supply in which increased costs of transport or maintenance of the crop are required. A promising solution in recent years is vegetables grown in a greenhouse or hydroponics. Soilless cultivation technologies have facilitated the cultivation of vegetables with high commercial value, increasing yield per unit area, safety, and extension of harvest periods. These systems stand out for their efficient use of water; however, seasonality does not allow them to guarantee the continued supply of products. Recurring inclement weather and water shortages have given rise to using other green and intelligent technologies, such as vertical farms. They combine soilless cultivation with agriculture 4.0 to produce horticultural species regardless of the weather. This research proposes developing a vertical farm prototype that uses abandoned containers to reduce investment costs and guarantee technology transfer to remote areas where climatic conditions are not favorable. Vertical farming, combined with intelligent control strategies and monitoring systems, increases productivity and ensures production sustainability.