Abstract Summary
Vertical farming presents an efficient crop cultivation system with fully controlled environmental conditions, demonstrating high productivity, high efficiency in land, water and material requirements compared to traditional methods. This makes it a promising solution for localized food production in densely populated metropolitan areas with limited space. However, the energy consumption associated with vertical farming poses challenges, hindering widespread application due to significant initial and operational investments. This research systematically compares three distinct vertical farm types, varying in size, design, control levels, functionalities, and proximity to consumers. The study meticulously evaluates their energy consumption, environmental impact, and crop production efficiency, with the aim of providing a comprehensive overview of the sustainability performance across different vertical farm scenarios. The establishment of a robust dataset and calculation model lays the foundation for our future investigations into the viability of utilizing diverse energy sources for various vertical farm setups in metropolitan areas. Moreover, leveraging the results, we aim to explore the potential for waste and material reuse within and between the supply chains of vertical farms. Ultimately, this project seeks to propose strategies for enhancing the sustainability of vertical farm production under diverse scenarios, thereby contributing valuable insights to the field of metropolitan agriculture.
