A methodological tool for sustainability and feasibility assessment of indoor vertical farming with artificial lighting in Africa

Abstract

African agriculture is bound to face challenges for its future food systems development and economic transformation. Indoor vertical farms with artificial lighting represent an opportunity that has been gaining relevance worldwide, thanks to their potential to enable high productivity rates, food quality and safety, year-round production, and more sustainable use of water and mineral nutrients. The present study assesses the potential for vertical farming technology integration within the African continent, targeting the countries where a more sustainable approach could be achieved. A deep analysis of each territory’s major opportunities and challenges was built through an updated database of 147 development indicators from 54 African states. Countries such as South Africa, Seychelles, Egypt, Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Cape Verde, and Nigeria showed the best prospective for indoor vertical farming implementation. Moreover, Seychelles, South Africa, and Egypt resulted to be the countries where vertical indoor farming could be more sustainable.

Advancing horizons in vegetable cultivation: a journey from ageold practices to high-tech greenhouse cultivation—a review

“…The 2010s strengthened the agricultural sector’s commitment to sustainability and innovative farming practices. Vertical farming emerged as a solution to space constraints in urban settings, while techniques, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, revolutionized soilless cultivation ( Zhang et al., 2018 ; Mustapha et al., 2022 ; Paucek et al., 2023 ). These advancements have been pivotal in addressing sustainability objectives by investigating water quality and microbial life in hydroponic cultivation contexts ( Paucek et al., 2023 ).…”

“…Vertical farming emerged as a solution to space constraints in urban settings, while techniques, such as hydroponics and aeroponics, revolutionized soilless cultivation ( Zhang et al., 2018 ; Mustapha et al., 2022 ; Paucek et al., 2023 ). These advancements have been pivotal in addressing sustainability objectives by investigating water quality and microbial life in hydroponic cultivation contexts ( Paucek et al., 2023 ). Furthermore, the period saw the increasing application of machine learning (ML)-driven diagnostics as essential tools for preemptive pest and disease identification highlighting the role of data-driven learning in agriculture ( Tzounis et al., 2017 ).…”

Vertical farming: A sustainable agriculture format of the future

“…Vertical farming initiatives often involve community engagement and education. This promotes understanding of food production, sustainable farming methods, and the value of wholesome, locally sourced food (Paucek et al, 2023) [29] .…”

“…These technologies make it possible to produce all year round, regardless of the outside weather, and they make it easier to precisely control the elements that are essential to the growth of plants. The combination of cutting-edge technology and creative farming techniques establishes vertical farming as a viable substitute for conventional agriculture (Paucek et al, 2023) [29] . This review aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of vertical farming, ranging from its fundamental principles and technological underpinnings to its environmental impacts, economic feasibility, and potential contributions to food security (Meemken & Qaim, 2018) [25] .…”

A Review of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Vegetable Production in Africa with Emphasis on Tomatoes, Onions and Cabbage

“…The uptake of CEA technology particularly has been limited in low and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa, with high costs for installation and maintenance cited as constraints [1,11,12]. However, distance to market, having government support and access to social media, additional information are key positive determinants of awareness that would help inform the potential role for CEA in Africa (e.g., [19][20][21][22]). To date, there are few empirical studies that carry significant ecological impacts, food insecurity, nutrition-related problems, farmer livelihood challenges, and persistent food systemrelated inequities on CEA production in Africa [16,17].…”