image: A section perspective of a 1 ha vertical wheat farm growing 10 layers of wheat from seeds to harvest. view more
Credit: Image credit: Gregory Kiss, Senthold Asseng, and Paul P.G. Gauthier
A study examines the efficiency of using vertical farming methods to grow wheat. Wheat accounts for approximately 20% of the calories and proteins in the typical human diet. However, wheat yields are variable and typically depend on several factors, including soil quality and weather. To determine whether vertical farming is a viable option for increasing wheat production and meeting global food demand, Paul Gauthier and colleagues simulated wheat growth using two crop simulation models on a hectare of land in a 10-layer indoor vertical facility under optimized artificial light, temperature, and carbon dioxide levels. The simulated yields revealed that vertical farming could produce at least 700 +/- 40 t/ha and up to 1,940 +/- 230 t/ha of grain per year, which is 220-600 times the current world average annual wheat yield. The authors found that compared with traditional farming methods in outdoor fields, indoor vertical farming requires less land area, water, herbicides, and pesticides and results in less nutrient loss to the environment. The findings suggest that indoor vertical farming may help offset disruptions to food production systems, according to the authors.
Article #20-02655: "Wheat yield potential in controlled-environment vertical farms," Senthold Asseng et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Gauthier, Bowery Farming, NJ; tel: 609-480-2690; e-mail: paul.pg.gauthier@gmail.com
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Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences