Assessing and comparing various standard vertical farming systems – Vertical Farm Daily

Report on Adaptive Vertical Farming and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Global Food Security Challenges

Global demographic trends present significant challenges to sustainable development. Projections indicate a world population of 9.7 billion by 2050, with a concurrent increase in urbanization and a decrease in available arable land. These pressures directly impact the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to food security and sustainable urban living. Vertical Farming (VF) has emerged as a critical innovation to address these issues, with new approaches like the Adaptive Vertical Farm (AVF) offering enhanced efficiency.

Research Overview: A Comparative Energy Assessment

A computational study was conducted to provide a quantitative assessment of the energy performance of AVF systems compared to conventional VF systems. The research aimed to model and quantify the potential for AVF technology to improve resource efficiency, a key tenet of the SDGs.

• System Comparison: The model compared a standard VF system with an innovative AVF system featuring movable shelving that adapts to plant growth stages.
• Test Scenario:
  1. The simulation was based on an industrial-scale operation with 272 multilevel racks.
  2. The VF system was configured with 8 shelves per rack.
  3. The AVF system accommodated 15 shelves within the same rack height.
  4. The test crop used for the simulation was Lactuca sativa (lettuce).
• Energy Analysis: The study focused on energy consumption for lighting and thermohygrometric (climate) control, utilizing the Penman–Monteith model to accurately estimate plant heat loads and evapotranspiration.

Key Findings: Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

The simulation results demonstrate the significant potential of AVF technology to advance sustainable agricultural practices.

• Energy Reduction: The AVF system achieved an average reduction of 22% in specific energy consumption for climate control compared to the conventional VF system.
• Increased Land-Use Efficiency: The AVF design nearly doubled the number of cultivation shelves within the same physical footprint.
• Expanded Cultivable Area: This intensification resulted in an increase in the total cultivable surface area by over 400% when compared to traditional single-level indoor farming systems.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The demonstrated improvements in energy and land-use efficiency position AVF technology as a significant contributor to multiple SDGs.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: By dramatically increasing the cultivable surface area within urban environments, AVF systems enhance food production capacity, contributing to food security and improved nutrition.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The 22% reduction in energy for climate control directly supports Target 7.3, which aims to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The development and quantitative assessment of AVF technology represent an industrial innovation that promotes resource-use efficiency and sustainable infrastructure.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Integrating AVF systems into urban food systems reduces reliance on long-haul transportation, strengthens local food supply chains, and makes cities more resilient and sustainable.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The AVF model exemplifies sustainable production patterns by achieving higher output with significantly lower energy and land inputs per unit of produce.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: By moving food production into controlled, vertical environments, AVF technology alleviates pressure on traditional agricultural land, helping to reduce land degradation and protect terrestrial ecosystems.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article addresses the challenge of feeding a growing global population (projected to be 9.7 billion by 2050) in the face of declining arable land. Vertical farming is presented as a solution to increase food production.
   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: A central theme of the article is the energy consumption of vertical farms. The study specifically quantifies and compares the energy performance of adaptive vertical farms (AVF) versus conventional systems, highlighting the AVF’s potential to reduce energy intensity.
   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article frames vertical farming as a solution for “sustainable urban food production,” given that 70% of the global population is expected to live in urban areas. It directly supports the integration of sustainable food systems within cities.
   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The research demonstrates a method to produce food more efficiently. The AVF model improves land-use efficiency and reduces energy consumption per unit of output, which aligns with the principles of sustainable production patterns.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production…” The article’s focus on vertical farming as a high-yield, controlled-environment agricultural system that can be implemented in urban areas directly relates to creating sustainable and resilient food production systems to increase productivity.
   • Target 7.3: “By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.” The study’s main finding is that the AVF “achieves an average 22% reduction in specific energy consumption for climate control.” This is a direct contribution to improving energy efficiency in the agricultural sector.
   • Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities…” By enabling local food production, vertical farming can reduce the environmental impact associated with transporting food over long distances. The article highlights improved “land-use efficiency,” which helps reduce the environmental footprint of urban areas.
   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The AVF system is shown to be a more efficient user of natural resources, specifically land and energy. The article states it improves “land-use efficiency” and reduces “energy intensity,” directly contributing to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • Implied Indicator for Target 2.4: While not a formal UN indicator, the article uses “cultivable surface area” and the number of cultivation shelves as metrics for productivity. The finding that AVF increases the cultivable surface area by over 400% compared to traditional flat systems is a direct measure of increased productivity potential, which is the essence of Target 2.4.
   • Implied Indicator for Target 7.3: The article explicitly measures “specific energy consumption.” This serves as a direct indicator of energy intensity for this type of production system. The “22% reduction” is a quantifiable measure of progress in energy efficiency, aligning with the goal of Indicator 7.3.1 (Energy intensity).
   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.6 & 12.2: The article provides a clear indicator of “land-use efficiency.” The fact that the AVF “nearly doubles the number of cultivation shelves within the same footprint” is a quantifiable metric. This can be used to measure the efficiency of natural resource use (land) within an urban context, contributing to both reducing the environmental impact of cities and achieving sustainable resource management.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Mentioned or Implied in the Article)
   SDG 2: Zero Hunger	Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity.	Increase in cultivable surface area (over 400%); Doubling the number of cultivation shelves within the same footprint.
   SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.	Reduction in specific energy consumption for climate control (average of 22%).
   SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities	Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities.	Improved land-use efficiency within an urban footprint; Integration of sustainable food systems in urban areas.
   SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.	Quantifiable improvements in land-use efficiency and reduced energy intensity of food production.

Source: verticalfarmdaily.com