In this blog we’re going to look at different cultivation techniques, growing outdoor, in a greenhouse and indoors. We’re comparing the resource inputs and the outputs.
Table of Contents
by Jille Kuipers
Why is it relevant?
A 70% increase in food production is required
The global food production has to increase by 70% in 2050 vs 2010 levels to feed the global population which is estimated to be around 9.4 to 10.2 billion by then. The challenges are numerous with an increasing demand for water, more extreme weather events, environmental pollution and poor soil quality.
From 4 to 80 KG/sqm
The good news is that despite a reduction in arable land, agricultural production has increased. This is due to more efficient farming methods. For example, a field in Spain will yield roughly four kilograms of tomatoes per square meter per growing season, In a high-tech greenhouse, it can produce eighty kilograms of tomatoes per square meter.
Indoor farming can bring more benefits
Growing hydroponically and growing indoors are good future directions. It can reduce the need for pesticides to zero, and reduce water consumption to about 2 to 4 liter per kg of vegetables. Greenhouses require about 20 liters, and in the open field, you would need 250 liters. Indoor farms also reduce land use by a factor of 10 to 20x. it can increase harvest cycles, reduce food miles and ensure all year-round production. Some disadvantages are the energy use which ideally should be from renewables.
Comparison
Here is a comparison adapted from Avgoustaki and Xydis (2020):
|
|
Outdoor |
Greenhouse |
Indoor |
|
Water L/kg lettuce/ year |
250 |
20 |
1 |
|
Energy kWh/kg/year |
0.3 |
60 to 180 |
250 |
|
CO2 emission kg/ton of lettuce |
540 |
352 |
158 |
|
Pest control |
Pesticides |
Traps |
Zero pesticides |
|
Yield kg/m2/year |
3.9 |
41 |
80 to 120 |
|
Harvests per year |
2 |
6 to 7 |
8 to 12 |
|
Food miles |
3200 |
800 to 1600 |
43km |
|
Main challenge |
Land clearance |
HVAC, Renewables |
Renewables |
Each approach has different benefits and challenges. A greater share of food production in greenhouses and indoor farming can have a profound impact on local food security. Powering them with renewable energy sources will be even more attractive.
And with services such as light-as-a-service and energy efficient grow lights, the future of indoor farming is brighter than ever.
References
1. Global agriculture towards 2050. FAO High Level Expert Forum—How to Feed the World in 2050, Rome, Italy (2009)
2. Is the Future Tomato Red (2022), article 13848 from Agritechtomorrow
3. Avgoustaki DD, Xydis G. How energy innovation in indoor vertical farming can improve food security, sustainability, and food safety? Advances in Food Security and Sustainability. 2020;5:1–51. doi: 10.1016/bs.af2s.2020.08.002. Epub 2020 Sep 25. PMCID: PMC7516583.