Frontiers in Science Lead Article
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Vertical farming goes dynamic: optimizing resource use efficiency, product quality, and energy costs
Frontiers in Science
doi 10.3389/fsci.2024.1411259
- 52,011 views
- 23 citations
A visionary concept for maximizing productivity and profitability through dynamic control of environmental conditions
Vertical farming requires a precisely controlled indoor environment. Today’s farms keep conditions constant—an energy-intensive undertaking. Could varying these conditions improve resource efficiency, and even crop performance?
Kaiser et al. outline how dynamic environmental control—where light, temperature, and other factors are adjusted according to energy prices and plant needs—can reduce operating costs while boosting crop yield and quality. Their lead article, and the complementary publications in this hub, also describe future developments that will enable vertical farming to meet its potential for supplying nutritious fruits and vegetables to growing urban populations.
Lead article
Expert insights
ARTICLE EVENT
Discussion with the article authors
Experts delved into next steps for deploying dynamic environmental control in vertical farming systems, at a virtual Frontiers Forum Deep Dive session on 26 November.
Frontiers in Science Editorial
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Vertical farming: a holistic approach towards food security
Vertical farming's rapid growth could contribute to food security, biodiversity preservation, and reduced environmental impact through innovative use of urban spaces and sustainable energy, emphasizes Prof Dickson Despommier, Columbia University, USA.
Frontiers in Science Viewpoint
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Improving vertical farming efficiency through dynamic environmental control
Targeted crop breeding and dynamic environmental control can reduce vertical farming costs while maintaining productivity, offering a pathway to greater efficiency and profitability, argues Dr Raymond M. Wheeler, formerly of NASA.
Frontiers in Science Viewpoint
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Vertical farming: a toolbox for securing vegetable yield for the food of the future
Realizing the full potential of vertical farming will require stronger policies to support its adoption and improved consumer education to dispel misconceptions, propose Prof Youssef Rouphael and Dr Michele Ciriello, University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
POLICY OUTLOOK
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Integrating nutritional and geopolitical considerations into transformative science, technology, and innovation policies: the case of vertical farming
To drive food system transformation, innovation policy must take a systems-based approach, focusing on vertical farming’s potential within broader geopolitical and sustainability contexts, asserts Prof Anne Loeber, Athena Institute, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands.
RESEARCH TOPIC
Published on 20 Feb 2025
Controlled environment agriculture goes dynamic
Submissions open: This Research Topic in Frontiers in Plant Science welcomes manuscripts on horticulture, plant physiology, agronomy, breeding, sensor development, and modelling, to share their unique insights on “dynamic CEA”.
Key points
Vertical farming systems offer innovative ways to cultivate crops in controlled environments and may help address challenges in local food security and sustainability.
Vertical farming systems are often operated using constant environmental conditions, but diurnal and developmental changes in plant physiology, as well as diurnal changes in electricity prices, call for dynamic environmental control.
Vertical farming systems are sensitive to electricity prices, but electricity consumption can be adjusted to save costs through variable light intensity without compromising plant growth.
Several end-of-production treatments for crops grown in vertical farming systems allow for optimizing product quality—including extended shelf life and increased concentrations of health-promoting metabolites—while avoiding growth penalty.
The implementation of integrated plant monitoring and modeling in cultivation systems is crucial for achieving dynamic control of climate conditions.
More focus should be given to breeding crops that are specific to controlled environments, as this will help address a bottleneck in a wider adoption of vertical farming systems.
For all readers
EXPLAINER
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Optimizing vertical farming by varying light, humidity, and other growing conditions
A summary of the lead article in a Q&A format, with infographics and a video.
Frontiers for Young Minds
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Growing Up: Making Vertical Farms Even Smarter
A version of the lead article written for—and peer reviewed by—kids aged 8-15 years.
News
PRESS RELEASE
Published on 24 Sep 2024
New indoor vertical farming research could help future-proof food demand for a changing planet
Scientists explore how dynamic environmental control in indoor farms could help us feed a growing population with nutritious, high-quality, locally grown veg.
PRESS RELEASE
Published on 25 Sep 2024
Dynamic environmental control for more efficient vertical farming
Smarter use of artificial light can make significant savings, according to research conducted by Wageningen University & Research.
PRESS RELEASE
Published on 25 Sep 2024
Lighting a path to the future of vertical farming
Technology and improved plant science are the keys to indoor farming contributing to global food needs, according to The University of Queensland’s Professor of Protected Cropping.
NEWS STORY
Published on 24 Sep 2024
‘Smart lighting’ might make vertical farming more affordable
The indoor farming technique saves water and space but currently is energy intensive.
NEWS STORY
Published on 24 Sep 2024
Feeding the future: how vertical farming could transform food production
Researchers explore how dynamic environmental control in indoor farms could help us feed a growing population with nutritious, high-quality, locally grown fruit and vegetables.
NEWS STORY
Published on 25 Sep 2024
'World-first' indoor vertical farm to produce 4M pounds of berries a year
Major steps towards better, sustainable and affordable food production free of environmental challenges have been taken, with the "world's first farm to grow indoor, vertically farmed berries at scale" opening in Richmond, VA.