Evaluation of the efficiency of vertical farms in agricultural systems

The production of crops in indoor facilities replaces natural solar energy with powerful LEDs, as well as ventilation and temperature control systems operating around the clock. The operation of such installations requires a developed digital control and monitoring infrastructure. At the same time, the equipment, including wiring, lighting fixtures, microchips, and tubes, needs regular replacement due to wear or obsolescence. Such technological solutions are characterized by high resource intensity.

The main limitation of vertical farms is the impossibility of growing staple crops. The specialization of such facilities focuses on high-value, high-margin products such as berries, lettuce, and microgreens. The high cost makes it possible to cover massive infrastructure and energy supply expenses, the volume of which reaches 4.4 kilowatt-hours per one kilogram of grown lettuce. This economic model has already led to a number of major bankruptcies in the industry. Since the grown products have limited nutritional value and remain inaccessible to low-income citizens, claims regarding the role of vertical farms in overcoming food security are groundless. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations does not include leafy greens in global hunger statistics.

The support of such projects by investors and politicians is explained by the desire to preserve existing consumption habits and the year-round availability of fresh produce without adapting to environmental constraints. This distracts state resources and attention from more effective solutions, such as improving new farmers' access to land and supporting local knowledge. An exception may be small-scale production in northern Canada — for example, inside containers using solar energy, which helps reduce dependence on long-distance supply chains.