Vertical Farming Monitoring: How Does It Work and How Much Does It Cost?

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Engineering

Background:

• Traditional agriculture faces challenges from climate change, resource scarcity, and population growth.
• Vertical farming (VF) presents an alternative indoor cultivation system, independent of climatic conditions.
• VF systems require significant water and energy, necessitating technological advancements for efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key variables for monitoring vertical farming systems.
• To propose suitable sensors for data acquisition in VF.
• To develop and apply a cost model for evaluating VF installation profitability.

Main Methods:

• Identification of critical monitoring variables in vertical farming.
• Selection of appropriate sensors for real-time data collection.
• Development of a cost model for VF infrastructure.
• Application of the cost model to a case study for profitability analysis.

Main Results:

• Sensorization enables real-time performance monitoring and evaluation of VF systems.
• The developed cost model provides a framework for assessing VF economic viability.
• Case study analysis indicates that vertical farming investments can be profitable within 3 to 5 years.

Conclusions:

• Implementing sensor technology is crucial for optimizing vertical farming efficiency and resource management.
• The cost model demonstrates the potential profitability of vertical farming infrastructure.
• Vertical farming shows promise as a sustainable and economically viable agricultural solution.