Research Square (Research Square),
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 7, 2025
Abstract
Vertical
farming
(VF)
could
play
a
role
in
addressing
some
global
food
challenges,
yet
it
requires
higher
crop
yields
and
lower
costs
to
become
viable
at
large
scales.
While
reductions
capital
intensity
are
required,
the
need
for
new
cultivars
has
been
largely
overlooked.
This
is
partially
result
of
common
dynamic
models:
Energy
Cascade
Models
(ECMs).
ECMs
derive
yield
estimates
based
on
assimilate
production
from
incoming
energy
only,
neglecting
plant’s
limitations
storing
transporting
assimilates.
However,
VF
crops
often
experience
sink-limited
as
opposed
source-limited
conditions.
Here,
we
adapt
ECM
into
Plant
Balance
Model
(PBM)
that
includes
conditions
show
current
lettuce
tomato
already
close
Further
improvements
literature
(700
kg
m⁻²
yr⁻¹)
would
require
an
unprecedented
51%
decrease
cycle
time
(6.8
days).
We
estimate
potential
330
369
yr⁻¹,
respectively.
improving
beyond
230
145
respectively,
temperatures
genetics
do
not
tolerate.
By
assessing
nature
using
PBM,
reveal
proactive
breeding
programs
essential
without
them,
may
stagnate
very
soon
limit
future
scalability.
