Sustainability assessment for novel approaches in the agri-food industry: The example of vertical farming

Innovative agricultural methods such as vertical farming systems are gaining increasing attention in research and practice as a potential solution for transforming agri-food systems through more efficient use of space and resources. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 92 studies that assess the sustainability of vertical farming. The findings reveal a predominant focus on environmental indicators, largely through life cycle assessments, with limited attention to social and economic factors. Additionally, the interconnections and tradeoffs between these dimensions are insufficiently explored. This study analyses the indicators used in the selected papers and compares them with recommendations from the literature, identifying key gaps that need to be addressed. To improve the sustainability assessment of vertical farming, the study proposes to extend current assessments with spatial (regional climate, land availability, resource availability, local food availability) and temporal (plant life cycle, long-term economic viability, and climate trends and variations) factors. Based on these insights, the authors develop a novel perspective for the sustainability assessment of vertical farming that extends the economic, social, and environmental pillars by incorporating spatial and temporal dimensions. Directions for future research encompassing research questions aimed at addressing the identified gaps and offering guidance to scholars and practitioners seeking a more holistic approach to the sustainability assessment of vertical farming are proposed. This paper contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of tailored sustainability assessment methods, ultimately enhancing the sustainability of vertical farming practices.