Abstract
A new wave of city-focused food production, variously known as 'plant factories' (vegetable factories or fruit factories), or 'vertical farming' or simply as 'closed environment agriculture' (CEA) is sweeping the world. As opposed to open-air agriculture, with its vulnerability to seasonal disturbances, its high dependence on water and chemicals as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, all with uncontrolled run-off, the new approach is based on contained systems, utilizing renewable resources and recycling, and producing sustainable yields that can scale up to cope with surging urbanization and growth in global population. This article reviews the developments worldwide in CEA and identifies the main features, which are fivefold: (1) producing more with less, (2) continuously, (3) with clean practices, (4) in a controlled environment and (5) with an urban focus. The article develops an argument as to why the new wave resembles manufacturing more than traditional agriculture, and enjoys cost and efficiency gains that are likely to prove decisive in competition with traditional food production methods, particularly as the wave diffuses beyond leafy vegetables to encompass fruit vegetables, fruits, berries, fish and seafood and eventually staple crops starting with rice.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 006 |
| Pages | 1-16 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources |
| Volume | 13 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2018 |
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Keywords
- Closed environment agriculture
- Fruits
- New wave food production platform
- Plant factories
- Rice cultivation
- Vegetables
- Vertical farming
Cite this
}
'New wave' revolution in city-focused, closed environment food production. / Mathews, John A.
In: CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, Vol. 13, 006, 01.01.2018, p. 1-16.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - 'New wave' revolution in city-focused, closed environment food production
AU - Mathews, John A.
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
N2 - A new wave of city-focused food production, variously known as 'plant factories' (vegetable factories or fruit factories), or 'vertical farming' or simply as 'closed environment agriculture' (CEA) is sweeping the world. As opposed to open-air agriculture, with its vulnerability to seasonal disturbances, its high dependence on water and chemicals as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, all with uncontrolled run-off, the new approach is based on contained systems, utilizing renewable resources and recycling, and producing sustainable yields that can scale up to cope with surging urbanization and growth in global population. This article reviews the developments worldwide in CEA and identifies the main features, which are fivefold: (1) producing more with less, (2) continuously, (3) with clean practices, (4) in a controlled environment and (5) with an urban focus. The article develops an argument as to why the new wave resembles manufacturing more than traditional agriculture, and enjoys cost and efficiency gains that are likely to prove decisive in competition with traditional food production methods, particularly as the wave diffuses beyond leafy vegetables to encompass fruit vegetables, fruits, berries, fish and seafood and eventually staple crops starting with rice.
AB - A new wave of city-focused food production, variously known as 'plant factories' (vegetable factories or fruit factories), or 'vertical farming' or simply as 'closed environment agriculture' (CEA) is sweeping the world. As opposed to open-air agriculture, with its vulnerability to seasonal disturbances, its high dependence on water and chemicals as fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, all with uncontrolled run-off, the new approach is based on contained systems, utilizing renewable resources and recycling, and producing sustainable yields that can scale up to cope with surging urbanization and growth in global population. This article reviews the developments worldwide in CEA and identifies the main features, which are fivefold: (1) producing more with less, (2) continuously, (3) with clean practices, (4) in a controlled environment and (5) with an urban focus. The article develops an argument as to why the new wave resembles manufacturing more than traditional agriculture, and enjoys cost and efficiency gains that are likely to prove decisive in competition with traditional food production methods, particularly as the wave diffuses beyond leafy vegetables to encompass fruit vegetables, fruits, berries, fish and seafood and eventually staple crops starting with rice.
KW - Closed environment agriculture
KW - Fruits
KW - New wave food production platform
KW - Plant factories
KW - Rice cultivation
KW - Vegetables
KW - Vertical farming
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051432453&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1079/PAVSNNR201813006
DO - 10.1079/PAVSNNR201813006
M3 - Article
VL - 13
SP - 1
EP - 16
JO - CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources
T2 - CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources
JF - CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources
SN - 1749-8848
M1 - 006
ER -