Advances in plant factories New technologies in indoor vertical farming

Description

Climate change is recognised as agriculture’s biggest challenge to date. With increasing temperatures and an escalation in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, agricultural productivity remains at risk of being compromised. With the food security of millions threatened, there remains a need to develop alternative, sustainable production models which can thrive in the face of climate change.

Advances in plant factories: New technologies in indoor vertical farming reviews the wealth of research on optimising plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) as one potential solution to achieving a more sustainable agriculture. The book addresses developments in process monitoring, optimizing energy use, as well as adjusting lighting conditions to improve the sensory and nutritional quality of a range of horticultural crops. It also includes case studies of successful plant factory operations.

Through its exploration of the development and application of PFALs in agriculture, the book highlights the growing importance of controlled environment agriculture technologies as a solution to maintaining global crop production in a time where our climate remains as unpredictable as ever.

Key features

• Provides an authoritative review of the latest research in the development and application of plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) throughout an array of agricultural settings
• Assesses the environmental impact of urban vertical farms and how the use of energy and other resources can be optimised to minimise this impact
• Considers the application of machine vision, plant phenotyping and spectral imaging in plant factories to monitor plant health and growth

Table of contents

View/pre-order chapters

Part 1 Introduction
1.Plant factories: Introduction: Toyoki Kozai, Chiba University/Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan;
2.Classification and definitions of vertical farms and plant factories: scope and perspectives: Toyoki Kozai, Chiba University/Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan;
3.The concept and requirements of sustainable plant factories: Toyoki Kozai, Chiba University/Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan;
4.Advances in vertical farming research in Europe: Leo Marcelis, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;
5.Lessons learned from existing and shuttered vertical farms: Francis Baumont De Oliviera, University of Liverpool, UK;

Part 2 Energy and other resource performance
6.Life cycle assessment of indoor vertical farms: Michael Martin, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; and Francesco Orsini, University of Bologna, Italy;
7.Optimizing energy and other resource use in vertical farms: Francesco Orsini, University of Bologna, Italy;
8.Closed plant production systems in vertical farms for a circular economy: Yoshiaki Kitaya, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan;
9.Modeling energy use in plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) towards a sustainable future: Neil Mattson, Cornell University, USA;

Part 3 Phenotyping and plant health/disease sensing
10.Application of machine vision in plant factories: Wei Ma, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China;
11.Plant phenotyping in plant factories for growth analysis of individual plants: Eri Hayashi, Vice President - Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan;

Part 4 Spectral manipulations for controlling the growth and quality of leafy greens
12.Growth and quality control of leaf lettuce plants by red/far-red/blue light ratios at different planting densities in vertical farms: Wenqing Jin, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;
13.Spectral manipulations to control growth and quality of lettuce and other leafy greens in vertical farms: Yuxin Tong, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China;
14.Adjusting photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) to improve lettuce nutritional quality and shelf life in vertical farms: Qianxixi Min, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;

Part 5 Spectral manipulations for controlling the growth and quality of ornamentals, fruit vegetables, herbs and head vegetables
15.Effect of far-red light on yield improvement of vertically-farmed tomato plants: Yongran Ji, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands;
16.Nutritional components of herbs, edible flowers and medicinal plants as affected by light and rootzone environments in vertical farms: Na Lu, Chiba University, Japan;
17.Using LED for processing and post-harvest quality control of vertically-farmed head vegetables: Yumiko Amagai, Chiba University, Japan;

Part 6 Business case studies
18.Design and management of globally/locally-networked plant factories and their application in business: Pavlos Kalaitzoglou, Infarm, Germany;
19.Oishii Farm: gaining the leading edge in the plant factory business and looking ahead: Hiroki Koga, Oishii Farm, USA;
20.808 Factory: data-driven operation for a productive and sustainable plant factory: Katashi Kai, 808 Factory, Japan;
21.Design and management of industrial-scale vertical farms: Lawrence Ross, Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS), UK;

Part 7 Conclusions
22.Plant factories: Conclusions: Eri Hayashi, Vice President - Japan Plant Factory Association, Japan;