Chapter 8 - Vertical farming and organic farming integration: a review

Abstract

As the global population expands and food demand increases, the agricultural sector faces increased duress for better yield production. Furthermore, agricultural land is already lost due to urbanization infrastructure advancement, leading to farmland shortages. The artificial control of light, temperature, gases, and humidity allows indoor plant production. Vertical farming’s primary goal is to maximize crop output in a small space. Vertical farming has the potential to produce food in a climate-resilient manner while emitting no pesticides and fertilizers, additionally using reduced land and water than conventional farming. Vertical farming systems, particularly around heavily populated areas, can meet everyday consumer needs for fresh, nutritious products and, at the same time, also contribute to resilient food systems. This system at present grows a narrow crop range, such as vegetables, herbs, and fruits. However, successful vertical farming integration into conventional agriculture demands profitability improvement, efficient energy utilization, end-user acceptance, and communal policy. In the present chapter, vertical farming is discussed as an indoor multilayer crop production system, investigating future challenges in the area of plant growth, quality, environmental sustainability, automation, system control, and socioeconomic and policy-associated institutions must collaborate to make certain successful vertical farming and organic farming integration into future food systems.