In the rapidly evolving world of vertical farming, a new study is challenging the status quo and urging the industry to think differently about crop breeding. Published in the journal *Frontiers in Plant Science* (translated to English as “Frontiers in Plant Science”), the research, led by Gertjan Meeuws from the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Leiden University in the Netherlands, highlights a critical oversight that could limit the scalability and profitability of vertical farming.
Vertical farming (VF) is often touted as a solution to global food challenges, promising higher yields and lower environmental impact. However, the industry faces significant hurdles, including high costs and the need for even greater crop yields to become truly viable at large scales. While much attention has been focused on reducing capital intensity, Meeuws and his team argue that the need for new crop cultivars has been largely overlooked.
The crux of the issue lies in the models used to estimate crop yields. Traditional Energy Cascade Models (ECMs) focus primarily on the energy a plant receives and how it’s converted into biomass, assuming that the plant’s ability to produce assimilates (the products of photosynthesis) is the limiting factor. However, in vertical farming, crops often face a different challenge: they are limited by their ability to store and transport these assimilates, a condition known as sink-limitation.
Meeuws and his team have adapted the ECM into a Plant Balance Model (PBM) that accounts for these sink-limited conditions. Their findings are striking. For instance, they estimate that current vertical farming yields for lettuce and tomato are already close to these sink-limited conditions. To achieve further improvements, such as the literature’s suggested yield of 700 kg per square meter per year for lettuce, would require an unprecedented 51% decrease in crop cycle time, reducing it to just 6.8 days.
The study also estimates the potential yields for lettuce and tomato at 330 and 369 kg per square meter per year, respectively. However, achieving yields beyond 230 kg per square meter per year for lettuce and 145 kg per square meter per year for tomato would require temperatures that current crop genetics simply cannot tolerate.
So, what does this mean for the future of vertical farming? According to Meeuws, “Proactive breeding programs are essential. Without them, yields may stagnate very soon, limiting the future scalability of vertical farming.”
The implications for the energy sector are significant. Vertical farming is often energy-intensive, with artificial lighting and climate control systems consuming substantial power. By improving crop yields and reducing the time it takes to grow crops, vertical farms could significantly decrease their energy consumption and costs. However, as Meeuws’ research suggests, this will require a shift in focus towards developing new crop cultivars that can thrive in the unique conditions of vertical farms.
As the vertical farming industry continues to grow, this research serves as a timely reminder that innovation isn’t just about technology and infrastructure. It’s also about the crops themselves. By addressing the sink-limitation challenge and investing in crop breeding, the industry can unlock new levels of productivity and efficiency, paving the way for a more sustainable and scalable future.
In the words of Meeuws, “We need to think sink, not source. It’s a paradigm shift, but one that could make all the difference.”