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Frontiers for Young Minds

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.

Illustration of a girl looking at vegetables grown in a vertical farm

Growing Up: Making Vertical Farms Even Smarter

A version of the lead article written for—and peer reviewed by—kids aged 8-15 years.

EXPLAINER

Frontiers for Young Minds

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 in Science Editorial

Growing Up: Making Vertical Farms Even Smarter

A version of the lead article written for—and peer reviewed by—kids aged 8-15 years.

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.

Expert insights

Image of rows of lettuce growing in a vertical farm

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.

Watch now

Photo of Prof Dickson Despommier of Columbia University, USA, to accompany his editorial on vertical farming as a holistic approach towards food security, published in Frontiers in Science

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.

Photo of Dr Raymond M. Wheeler, formerly of NASA, USA, to accompany his viewpoint on improving vertical farming efficiency through dynamic environmental control, published in Frontiers in Science

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.

Photo of Prof Youssef Rouphael and Dr Michele Ciriello of the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, to accompany their viewpoint on vertical farming as a toolbox for securing vegetable yield for the food of the future, published in Frontiers in Science

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

Frontiers in Science Editorial

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.

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.

Watch now

Vertical farming: a holistic approach towards food security

Improving vertical farming efficiency through dynamic environmental control

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

POLICY OUTLOOK

Integrating nutritional and geopolitical considerations into transformative science, technology, and innovation policies: the case of vertical farming

News

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.

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.

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.

‘Smart lighting’ might make vertical farming more affordable

The indoor farming technique saves water and space but currently is energy intensive.

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.

'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.

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.

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.

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.

‘Smart lighting’ might make vertical farming more affordable

The indoor farming technique saves water and space but currently is energy intensive.

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.