The Transformative Environmental Effects Large-Scale Indoor Farming May Have On Air, Water, and Soil

Abstract

This article identifies the potential environmental effects large-scale indoor farming may have on air, water, and soil. We begin with an overview of what indoor farming is with a focus on greenhouses and indoor vertical farms (eg, plant factories). Next, the differences between these 2 primary methods of indoor farming are presented based on their structural requirements, methods of growing, media, nutrient sources, lighting requirements, facility capacity, and methods of climate control. We also highlight the benefits and challenges facing indoor farming. In the next section, an overview of research and the knowledge domain of indoor and vertical farming is provided. Various authors and topics for research are highlighted. In the next section, the transformative environmental effects that indoor farming may have on air, soil, and water are discussed. This article closes with suggestions for additional research on indoor farming and its influence on the environment.

Potential for Food Self-Sufficiency Improvements through Indoor and Vertical Farming in the Gulf Cooperation Council: Challenges and Opportunities from the Case of Kuwait

“…These farms are typically soilless, using chemically inert substrates to anchor crops, offering a high level of control over the application of water and nutrients while avoiding issues with soil borne pathogens, pests and contaminants [30,31]. Irrigation is accomplished through hydroponic or aeroponic systems, which are known for their high water use efficiency, regularly demonstrating over 90% reduction in water usage compared to traditional field agriculture [30,[32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]. To further increase resource-use efficiency while diversifying nutritional yield, indoor farms can also make use of aquaponic systems, where fish or crustaceans are cultivated in tanks to produce animal protein while naturally enriching the water used for the irrigation of plant-based commodities [11,32,36,40].…”

“…Although the potential for higher crop yields is clear and compelling, initiating indoor and vertical farming is not without challenges. Regardless of geography, high startup costs and energy-intense operation are universally cited as drawbacks to initiating this new mode of agriculture [30,33,35,38,39]. But these, along with the additional water consumption inherent with any increase in agriculture, take on a new dimension in the context of Kuwait and other GCC countries where water production and energy generation are coupled through the process of multi-stage flash desalination.…”

Expanding the Level of Technological Readiness for a Low-Cost Vertical Hydroponic System

“…These tubes serve as drainage gutters (11). In this case, straight sheets (10) must be used as supports with two holes at each of their ends (Figure 2f (10), instead of Figure 2a (4)).…”

“…The need for a sustainable and cheaper source of food production has led to increasing research on several vertical farm systems [9][10][11][12][13]. To meet the increasing demand for food in concentrated areas or big cities, the research on last-mile consumption has also recently increased [14,15].…”

“…Vertical hydroponic farming is a combination of vertical production and hydroponic methods that are proven to be useful [9][10][11][12][13].…”