Summary
This 2021 review in Nature Food synthesises evidence on the technical, economic, and systemic challenges constraining the widespread adoption and commercial scaling of controlled-environment vertical farming. The authors—a multidisciplinary consortium spanning crop physiology, engineering, horticulture, and agricultural innovation studies—likely conclude that whilst vertical farming offers promise for urban food production and resource efficiency, significant barriers remain in energy costs, crop diversity, and regulatory frameworks. The work appears positioned to inform policy and investment decisions for next-generation food system infrastructure.
Regional applicability
Findings are internationally applicable given the multi-country authorship and publication in a global venue. The United Kingdom's urban food security concerns, energy transition priorities, and horticultural research capacity suggest relevance to domestic policy on future food production infrastructure; however, specific UK regulatory, planning, or market conditions would require contextualisation.
Key measures
Technical performance metrics, energy consumption, crop yields, economic viability, regulatory and market barriers to upscaling vertical farming
Outcomes reported
The study assessed the current status, technical challenges, economic feasibility, and implementation barriers of vertical farming systems at scale. It likely evaluated agronomic performance, energy requirements, crop suitability, and broader adoption pathways.
Topic tags
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