Amidst the escalating challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and urban expansion, conventional agricultural methods exhibit limitations. Vertical farming is a form of agriculture that offers solutions to grow food in urban settings while saving land and water. On the other hand, the environmental footprint of the energy consumption and additional equipment must be considered. Growing food in cities on, at, or in buildings as well as in vertical setups, such as hydroponic towers, could support the idea of a circular city, with a resilient local food production that strives towards sustainability by implementing a nexus approach to food production.
In VerFarming Dresden, we identify stakeholders and conduct in-depth interviews to understand drivers and barriers to implementing vertical farming in cities, focusing on Dresden in Germany. Our findings will help increase understanding on how vertical farming can be integrated in cities and potentially support the transformation of our food systems.
