Vertical Farming Research Articles

Vertical farming goes dynamic: optimizing resource use efficiency, product quality, and energy costs

Vertical farming is considered to be a key enabler for transforming agrifood systems, especially in or nearby urbanized areas. Vertical farming systems (VFS) are advanced indoor cropping systems that allow for highly intensified and standardized plant production. The close control of environmental parameters makes crop production stable and repeatable, ensuring year-round uniform product quality and quantity irrespective of location. However, due to continuous changes in plant physiology and development, as well as frequent changes in electricity prices, the optimum conditions for crop production and its associated costs can change within days or even minutes. This makes it beneficial to dynamically adjust setpoints for light (intensity, spectrum, pattern, and daylength), CO2, temperature, humidity, air flow, and water and nutrient availability. In this review, we highlight the beneficial effects that dynamic growth conditions can have on key plant processes, including improvements in photosynthetic gas exchange, transpiration, organ growth, development, light interception, flowering, and product quality. Our novel findings based on modeling and experimentation demonstrate that a dynamic daily light intensity pattern that responds to frequent changes in electricity prices can save costs without reducing biomass. Further, we argue that a smart, dynamic VFS climate management requires feedback mechanisms: several mobile and immobile sensors could work in combination to continuously monitor the crop, generating data that feeds into crop growth models, which, in turn, generate climate setpoints. In addition, we posit that breeding for the VFS environment is at a very early stage and highlight traits for breeding for this specialized environment. We envision a continuous feedback loop between dynamic crop management, crop monitoring, and trait selection for genotypes that are specialized for these conditions.

Vertical farming: a toolbox for securing vegetable yield for the food of the future

Vertical farming: a toolbox for securing vegetable yield for the food of the future

Vertical farming: a holistic approach towards food security

Vertical farming: a holistic approach towards food security

Growing Up: Making Vertical Farms Even Smarter

Many people live in very big cities, and these mega-cities continue to grow in number and in size. However, living in a mega-city can mean that healthy fruits and vegetables are difficult to get. Vertical farming systems (VFS), farms that grow crops in stacked layers inside buildings, might be a solution. These systems allow farmers to control all environmental conditions, so that plants can grow well. The environments in many VFS stay the same all the time, but to do so, VFS use a lot of energy—mostly for lighting. What if we could change the conditions in VFS throughout the day and the growing cycle to save energy, without harming plant growth? In this article, we will explain how this strategy, which is called dynamic environmental control, can be used to vary the amount and timing of light plants receive, as well as other growth conditions. Farmers could use many sensors to monitor the plants, to make sure they still grow well and stay healthy under the changing conditions—saving money while producing lots of healthy food!

Genotypic and environmental influences on colour and curcuminoids of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) genotypes across contrasting production environments

Abstract Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) is rich in curcuminoids, which are polyphenolic pigments make it one of the most valuable spice and medicinal plant. The rising need for natural colours and the numerous health advantages of curcuminoids are driving up the demand of turmeric. In this study, the effects of genotype and genotype × environment on the colour characteristics of 21 turmeric genotypes were examined in three different production environments namely vertical farming, greenhouse, and field conditions. The pooled analysis of variance revealed highly significant (P < 0.05) differences among genotypes (G), environments (E), and G × E interaction for three colour parameters [L* (lightness index), A* (redness index), B* (yellowness index)]. Among the genotypes, the values ranged from 41.80 to 54.76, 13.92 to 24.83 and 31.72 to 47.67 for L*, A*, B*, respectively. Erode Local (22.34), IISR Pragati (24.56) and IISR Prathiba (26.55) recorded maximum A* value under vertical farming, greenhouse, and field conditions, respectively. Correlation analysis between colour values and curcuminoids revealed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.608–0.735, P < 0.001) between A* value and curcuminoids. Furthermore, stability analysis for A* value revealed 78.87% genotype × environment interaction (GEI) from the first two principal components of GGE biplot. IISR Pragati and Waigon Turmeric are best was most stable for A* value across environments. Our study revealed that colour traits among genotypes vary widely and are strongly impacted by genetic and environmental factors. These findings are crucial for future breeding programs to enhance turmeric's colour, ensuring high-quality, stable products for producers and consumers.

Recent Progress of Phase Change Materials and Their Applications in Facility Agriculture and Related-Buildings—A Review

Facility agriculture, which involves agricultural production in controlled environments such as greenhouses, indoor farms, and vertical farms, aims to maximize efficiency, yield, and quality while minimizing resource consumption and environmental impact. Energy-saving technologies are essential to the green and low-carbon development of facility agriculture. Recently, phase change heat storage (PCHS) systems using phase change materials (PCMs) have gained significant attention due to their high thermal storage density and excellent thermal regulation performance. These systems are particularly promising for applications in facility agriculture and related buildings, such as solar thermal utilization, greenhouse walls, and soil insulation. However, the low thermal conductivity of PCMs presents a challenge for applications requiring rapid heat transfer. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the types, thermophysical properties, and various forms of PCMs, including macro-encapsulated PCMs, shape-stabilized PCMs, and phase change capsules (PCCs), as well as their preparation methods. The research methodology involves an in-depth analysis of these PCMs and their applications in active and passive PCHS systems within facility agriculture and related buildings. The major conclusion of this study highlights the critical role of PCMs in advancing energy-saving technologies in facility agriculture. By enhancing PCM performance, optimizing latent heat storage systems, and integrating intelligent environmental control, this work provides essential guidelines for designing more efficient and sustainable agricultural structures. The article will serve as the fundamental guideline to design more robust structures for facility agriculture and related buildings.

A life cycle assessment of protein production from wheatgrass: Optimization potential of a novel vertical farming system

The global protein demand is expected to keep increasing due to a growing global population, combined with changing social demography and other factors. OrbiPlant®, a novel vertical farming technology developed in Germany, is used to cultivate wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) as one possible solution for realizing a sustainable protein supply to meet this challenge. The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental impacts of wheatgrass protein concentrate powder produced in the novel vertical farming system and compare it with traditional protein sources (cheese and soy protein). To achieve this, a ‘cradle-to-gate’ life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed using OpenLCA software and Environment Footprint 3.1 method. The results show that wheatgrass protein from vertical farming has lower environmental impacts than cheese protein in terms of terrestrial eutrophication, and land use, similar impacts on freshwater ecotoxicity and particulate matter, but higher impacts in other categories. Due to the high environmental impact of the current Germany electricity mix, the overall environmental performance of wheatgrass protein remains non-competitive to traditional protein sources. By optimizing production, the environmental impact can be reduced to just 57.8 % of the cheese protein. This finding highlights the potential of the investigated wheatgrass protein from vertical farming system to reduce environmental impacts when substituting animal-based protein. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of utilizing renewable energy sources.

Urban Agriculture: Exploring Its Potential, Challenges, and Socio-Economic Impacts

Urban agriculture, the practice of growing and cultivating food within urban and peri-urban areas, has garnered increasing attention in recent years due to its potential to address various challenges related to food security, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic development. This review article provides a comprehensive exploration of urban agriculture, examining its multifaceted potential, the challenges it faces, and its socio-economic impacts in greater detail. The article delves into the diverse forms of urban agriculture, ranging from rooftop gardens and community allotments to vertical farming and aquaponics, highlighting their contributions to local food production, green spaces, and community cohesion. Additionally, the review discusses the challenges and constraints associated with urban agriculture in more depth, including issues related to land availability, soil contamination, water management, and regulatory hurdles. Furthermore, it examines the socio-economic impacts of urban agriculture with a nuanced perspective, exploring how it can lead to improved access to fresh produce, job creation, poverty alleviation, and social empowerment at both individual and community levels. By shedding light on the complexities of urban agriculture and providing a more comprehensive analysis of its potential and challenges, this review aims to inform policymakers, urban planners, researchers, and practitioners about the transformative potential of urban agriculture and the need for supportive policies and interventions to foster its sustainable growth and maximize its benefits for urban communities, the review dives deeper into the various forms of urban agriculture, providing detailed insights into their unique characteristics, benefits, and challenges. Rooftop gardens, for example, are explored not only for their contribution to local food production but also for their role in mitigating urban heat island effects, improving air quality, and enhancing building energy efficiency. Community allotments are examined in the context of social cohesion, community engagement, and opportunities for education and skill-building. Vertical farming and aquaponics are discussed in terms of their innovative technologies, resource efficiency, and potential scalability to meet the growing demand for fresh produce in urban areas, the review delves into the challenges and constraints associated with urban agriculture, offering nuanced analyses of their underlying causes and potential solutions. Land availability issues are examined in relation to urban sprawl, land-use planning policies, and competing demands for space in densely populated cities. Soil contamination concerns are explored in light of industrial legacies, brownfield redevelopment, and strategies for soil remediation and regeneration. Water management challenges are discussed in the context of water scarcity, pollution, and the need for sustainable irrigation practices in urban agriculture. Regulatory hurdles are analyzed in terms of their impact on the viability and scalability of urban agriculture initiatives, highlighting the importance of supportive policy frameworks, zoning regulations, and land-use planning strategies. the review provides a comprehensive examination of the socio-economic impacts of urban agriculture, drawing on empirical evidence from case studies and research findings. It explores how urban agriculture can contribute to improved food access and nutrition outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations living in food deserts and low-income neighborhoods.

Hormetic effect of UV-C radiation on red mustard microgreens growth and chemical composition

Brassica microgreens are rich in phytochemicals and are attractive crops for controlled vertical farming systems where the light spectrum can be precisely manipulated. Understanding the effects of pre-harvest hormetic UV-C light doses on plant composition and growth parameters represents a novel and largely unexplored area for precision agriculture and nutrition. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the impact of exposing red mustard microgreens to low/hormetic doses of UV-C radiation on their growth, chemical composition and colour. Plants were grown in a controlled environment and exposed to 0.3 kJ m−2, 254 nm UV-C radiation at the end of the cultivation period. Treatments included a single pulse on day 7, or three pulses at days 7, 8, and 9 and harvest on day 10. UV-C radiation presented a hormetic effect, while 1 pulse of UV-C stimulated growth and productivity without significant colour changes in microgreens, 3 pulses of UV-C radiation to did not show significant effects when compared to controls (no UV-C exposure). Moreover, strong negative correlations were observed between growth parameters and chemical composition (p < 0.05). Microgreens with enhanced growth parameters showed a decrease in phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity. Interestingly, regardless of quantification, untargeted metabolomics using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS revealed that the secondary metabolites profile remained similar between control and microgreens treated with UV-C radiation.

Protected Cultivation of Horticultural Crops: A Comprehensive Review

Horticultural crops grown under protection are becoming more and more significant in modern agriculture, offering a number of benefits such as increased yields, better quality, and protection from pests and bad weather. This comprehensive review aims to demonstrate protected cultivation methods as they currently exist and explore their future applications in horticulture. The first part of the examination covers the many types of protected production structures, including high tunnels, shade houses, and greenhouses, along with their advantages and disadvantages. The significance of protected farming in tackling concerns associated with worldwide food security is further underscored by preserving crop productivity throughout the year and limiting dependence on seasonal variations. This review looks more closely at the effects of protected cultivation methods on the growth and development of horticultural crops. These methods include improved crop morphogenesis, precipitation control, and the optimisation of environmental parameters like temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. Furthermore, the utilisation of advanced technologies like hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farming in protected growing systems is examined and its capacity to optimise crop yield while minimising resource consumption is emphasised. The difficulties and limitations associated with adopting protected cultivation are also examined in the study, including the need for artificial inputs, energy requirements, and financial considerations. It talks about environmentally friendly and sustainable ways to reduce these problems and preserve ecological balance, like switching to organic farming methods and using renewable energy sources. Future trends and developments in protected cultivation are covered in detail in the study's final section. These include the application of artificial intelligence, the adoption of smart farming technologies, and the employment of precision agriculture techniques. Higher yields and higher-quality horticultural crop output could be the outcome of these developments, which further optimise resource utilisation, improve automation, and better crop monitoring and management.

Using water and wastewater decentralization to enhance the resilience and sustainability of cities

The imperative to make energy and resource consumption more sustainable is prompting a critical reconsideration of all human endeavours. Within urban water management, the drive to enhance sustainability is grounded in the recognition that water services consume a substantial amount of energy and that wastewater contains valuable resources, including water, heat, organic matter and essential plant nutrients. To make urban water systems more sustainable, a paradigm shift is needed. Among the proposed strategies, source separation coupled with anaerobic co-digestion appears to be an effective means of recovering energy, water and nutrients. Here, as existing centralized infrastructure that serves tens to hundreds of thousands of people is difficult to alter and the technologies needed to realize this strategy are difficult to implement in single-family homes, we consider the scale of a city block. Using a quantitative model of unit processes that simulate energy, water and nutrient flows, we consider the technical and economic feasibility of a representative decentralized system, as well as its environmental impacts. To realize potential synergies associated with on-site use of the recovered resources, we complement the decentralized water system with vertical farming, photovoltaic energy generation and rainwater harvesting. Our analysis suggests that decentralized water systems can serve as a cornerstone of efforts to enhance resource efficiency and improve the resilience of cities.

Recent developments and inventive approaches in vertical farming

“Biomimicry” is an acronym used to describe how people looked at nature for inspiration to tackle a variety of problems. The modern problems of fast-increasing urbanization, land degradation, climate change, pandemics, loss of biodiversity, and widespread use of pesticides and fertilizers seriously threaten our food supply chain. There is a growing consumer demand for nutrient-dense, flavourful plant-based cuisine with minimal environmental impact. Moreover, a considerable portion of food roughly 24% is lost before it reaches consumers, partly as a result of poor quality and protracted supply chains. Researching new methods of producing food is essential since, by 2050, there will be more than 9.7 billion people on the planet, 70% of whom will reside in cities. Vertical farming (VF), which relieves pressure on conventional agricultural land by using vertical space instead of horizontal expansion, is growing in popularity as a solution to these problems. Because VF incorporates soil-less growth techniques, it is well-suited for urban environments. This strategy may help to produce more premium products, such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs. It may also help to produce cosmetics and medications made from plants. Vertical farming, is becoming more favoured as an alternative to traditional agriculture, and provides avenues for enhancing sustainable food production given the growing challenges of climate change and population growth.

An Overview on the Use of Artificial Lighting for Sustainable Lettuce and Microgreens Production in an Indoor Vertical Farming System

With the global population projected to reach 8.6 billion by 2050 and urbanization on the rise, sustainable food production in cities becomes imperative. Vertical farming presents a promising solution to meet this challenge by utilizing space-efficient, controlled-environment agriculture techniques. In a vertical farming system, high quality, high nutritional value products can be produced with minimum water consumption, using LEDs as energy-efficient light sources. Microgreens are a new market category of vegetables among sprouts and baby leaf greens. The most critical challenge in their cultivation is the choice of growing medium, lighting, and light spectrum, which affect photosynthesis, plant growth, and yield. This review explores various cultivation methods, including hydroponics, within the context of vertical farming. Using current research, it investigates the effect of LED lighting on the physiological properties and growth of microgreens and baby leaf lettuce, but further research is needed to determine the response of the varieties and the optimal light spectrum ratios to meet their needs.

Effects of LED treatments on the growth and nutritional content of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) in a hydroponic vertical farming system

Introduction: LED-integrated hydroponic vertical farming system (HVFS) may address food security challenges arising from urbanisation, while antioxidants in vegetables may prevent cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to explore the LED effects on yield, antioxidant properties, and vitamin C content in Butterhead lettuce (BL) and Italian lettuce (IL). Methods: Three LED combinations were used: 77% red, 14% green, and 9% blue lights (77R:14G:9B); 7% red, 41% green, and 52% blue lights (7R:41G:52B); and 25% red, 67% green, and 8% blue lights (25R:67G:8B). The concentration and pH of nutrient solution in HVFS ranged from 0.878-2.061ppm and 6.0-6.6, respectively, with a 12:12 light-dark cycle. Chlorophyll and anthocyanin contents were measured using chlorophyll and anthocyanin meters, respectively. Total phenolic and vitamin C content were measured using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric assay. Total flavonoid and antioxidant activity were determined through aluminium chloride colorimetric assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) colorimetric assay, respectively. Completely randomised design was adapted with three replications. Results: BL exhibited greater yield, anthocyanin and chlorophyll contents, while IL had higher vitamin C content. Significantly (p&lt;0.001) higher yields were produced under 77R:14G:9B and 25R:67G:8B. Significantly higher phenolic (p&lt;0.001) and flavonoid (p=0.003) contents were produced under 25R:67G:8B. Vitamin C was significantly (p=0.037) higher under 25R:67G:8B than 7R:41G:52B. Conclusion: LED treatment with higher proportion of red light generated greater yield, whereas higher proportion of green light gave higher phenolic, flavonoids, and vitamin C accumulation. This study provided preliminary data on boosting crop yield and phytochemical contents, which may improve food self-production and population health.

Intermittent Light Scheduling for Energy Cost Reduction in Vertical Farming

Intermittent Light Scheduling for Energy Cost Reduction in Vertical Farming

Evaluation of plant spread of strawberry varieties in vertical farming using different potting media

Evaluation of plant spread of strawberry varieties in vertical farming using different potting media

Optimizing vertical farm cultivation of Cichorium spinosum L.: White Light's influence and nutrition management

The objective of this study was to examine the integration of a wild leafy vegetable, Cichorium spinosum L., in vertical farms. This research comprises two experiments focusing on different “white” light products and nutrient solutions. During both experiments, the temperature varied between 25 and 28 °C, relative humidity ranged from 50 to 70 %, carbon dioxide was at 450 ppm, and light intensity was set at 300 μmol m−2 s−1 respectively. In the lighting experiment, the three spectra used had the commercial names Neutral, Full and a SunLike™, and their spectral composition (blue:green:red:far-red) were 14:32:43:10, 16:36:40:8, and 21:34:36:7 respectively. The photoperiod was set to 12 h and the plant density was 50 plants m−2. Results showed no significant impact on agronomical parameters and leaf anatomy. The stomatal length and width decreased as the red:blue ratio of the light sources decreased, being greater in the Neutral treatment (red:blue ratio of 3.1) compared to the Full and SunLike™ (red:blue ratios of 2.5 and 1.7 respectively). Based on these results the preferable “white light” product was the one with the highest efficiency and lowest market price at the time of the experiment. In the nutrient solution experiment, the agronomical and nutritional attributes of stamnagathi plants supplied with a control nutrient solution, “N10-Fe15” were compared to plants cultivated under limited nitrogen, “N4-Fe15” and elevated iron, “N10-Fe48”, EC was 1.5 ds m−1, and pH was 5.6–6.5. The experiment simulated commercial practices by increasing the photoperiod to 15 h and plant density to 100 plants per square meter. The results did not demonstrate significant effect of the nutrient solution differences on the agronomical characteristics except from a decrease in total Kjeldahl nitrogen under limited nitrogen conditions. Notably, leaf tissue phosphorus content increased under elevated iron conditions. The nitrate content remained within safe for consumption thresholds for all treatments. Based on these results, stamnagathi can be integrated in vertical farms under limited nitrogen conditions. Stamnagathi's resilience to elevated iron in the nutrient solution demonstrated its potential for future biofortification experiments.

Greenhouse farming: Hydroponic vertical farming- Internet of Things (IOT) Technologies: An updated review

This review paper of literature highlights the importance of greenhouse urban farming technology, hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming and applications of Internet of Things (IOT) technologies. The greenhouse farming is a well known modern agriculture technology for optimal plant growth. Hydroponics, a soilless cultivation technique using nutrient solutions under controlled conditions, is used for growing vegetables, high-value crops, and flowers. Vertical farming is a popular trend in hydroponics that involves stacking multiple layers of plants in a vertical arrangement. This farming method saves space, reduces water usage, and increases yields per square foot of growing area. In comparison to conventional greenhouse cultivation, hydroponics requires less fertilizer, pesticides, and water due to the precise control over their distribution. The term “Internet of Things (IOT)” is a system of interconnected computing devices, sensors, objects, microcontrollers, and cloud servers that can transmit data across a network and control other devices remotely without human intervention. A better management of nutrient solution in hydroponic systems requires optimum pH, electrical conductivity (EC), or ions concentration. The three main greenhouse farming gases (GHGs) emissions in hydroponics hi-tech urban farming are nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide (CO2). To measure the levels of CO2 in hydroponics, the more intermediate to advanced grower can use a CO2 monitoring and controllers system. Hydroponic vertical farming is in infancy in India. Although hydroponic vertical farming units for production of crops like strawberry, lettuce and other leafy vegetables, foliage and flowers are functioning in major metros of India. However, the organized hydroponic vertical farms for production of food crops are not available in India. Therefore, only a few successful hydroponic vertical farms have been built in India mainly due to the initial high price tag on construction and the cost of maintaining them afterwards. Another disadvantage is carbon footprint of hydroponic vertical farming is very high, and discourages its applications.

Enhancing Leafy Greens’ Production: Nutrient Film Technique Systems and Automation in Container-Based Vertical Farming

Urban agriculture has emerged as a crucial strategy to address food security and sustainability challenges, particularly in densely populated areas. This study focused on enhancing leafy greens’ production, specifically lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and arugula or rocket (Eruca sativa L.), using Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) systems and automation in container-based vertical farming. The study utilized a 20-foot shipping container retrofitted to create a thermally insulated and automated growth environment equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting and precise climate control systems. The results demonstrated significant improvements in crop yields, with the NFT systems achieving productivity up to 11 times higher than traditional methods in protected horticulture. These systems enabled continuous cultivation cycles, responding to the high market demand for fresh local produce. Moreover, the integration of low-cost sensors and automation technologies, each costing under USD 300, ensured that the environmental conditions were consistently optimal, highlighting this approach’s economic feasibility and scalability. This low-cost framework aligns with industry standards for affordable technology, making it accessible for small- to medium-sized urban agriculture enterprises. This study underscores the potential of vertical farming as a sustainable solution for urban food production. It provides a model that can be replicated and scaled to meet the growing demand for healthy, locally grown vegetables.

Mouthing plenitudes: Of famines, leghemoglobin, vertical farming, and future foods

Mouthing plenitudes: Of famines, leghemoglobin, vertical farming, and future foods