Dynamic Vertical Farming: Energy Savings, Yield Optimization & Smart Climate Control
1. Introduction
Vertical farming systems (VFS) are advanced indoor agriculture setups where crops are cultivated in multiple stacked layers under fully controlled environmental conditions, typically with 100% artificial lighting. The article “Vertical farming goes dynamic: optimizing resource use efficiency, product quality, and energy costs” explores how dynamic environmental control—adjusting parameters like light intensity and spectrum, temperature, humidity, and CO₂ on an hourly or even sub-hourly basis—can:
- Enhance resource efficiency (water, nutrients, CO₂, electricity),
- Improve crop yield and product quality (sensory and nutritional properties),
- Reduce energy costs and increase cost-effectiveness.
While traditional VFS offer year-round high yields with stable environmental conditions, they usually operate with constant climate settings. The article argues that real-time dynamic adjustments can better align with plant diurnal physiology and volatile electricity prices.
Through experiments, modeling, and case examples, the authors show that dynamic climate strategies can maintain or improve crop performance while reducing operational costs. For example, by adapting light intensity hourly based on electricity prices while maintaining the same daily light integral (DLI), growers achieved up to 12% savings in lighting costs. In the Netherlands, day-ahead electricity prices in 2022 ranged from –222.36 €/MWh to +871 €/MWh, underscoring the importance of smart energy use.
2. Objectives
The article presents five key objectives that highlight the benefits of dynamic VFS control:
2.1. Optimize Resource Efficiency
- Reduce water use via targeted humidity, airflow, and electrical conductivity (EC) control.
- Provide CO₂ only during peak photosynthesis to prevent waste.
- Treat plants as biological batteries, optimizing carbohydrate storage and remobilization using the photothermal ratio (light vs. temperature).
2.2. Improve Product Quality
- Boost antioxidant and vitamin content, reduce physiological disorders (e.g., tipburn, blackheart).
- Apply end-of-production (EOP) treatments to enhance shelf life and taste.
- Decrease nitrate content by ~60% in spinach using ~35 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ night lighting for 8 hours.
2.3. Reduce Energy Costs
- Shift lighting to off-peak hours using demand-side management.
- Use optimization algorithms that maintain yield but reduce electricity cost by 10–20%.
2.4. Integrate Smart Sensors and Digital Twins
- Implement sensors like RGB, hyperspectral, thermal, and CO₂ monitors.
- Develop digital twins that use real-time sensor data for automated climate control.
2.5. Enable Targeted Crop Breeding
- Breed genotypes for dynamic VFS conditions (e.g., fast stomatal response, FR light sensitivity).
- Example: End-of-day far-red pulses (50–100 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ for 10–15 min) increased tomato fruit partitioning by 10–20%.
3. Controversies and Challenges
Despite promising outcomes, the article identifies several unresolved issues:
- EC Dynamics: Day/night EC changes help tomatoes but may harm leafy greens.
- Far-red Light: Beneficial for tomatoes, but causes 20–25% fruit abortion in peppers.
- Yield vs. Energy Input: High cereal yields (10–60×) are energy-intensive and viable only with low-carbon electricity.
- Fluctuating Light: Leafy greens tolerate high variability (50–500 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), but fruit crops may be sensitive.
- Night Lighting: Improves quality but risks circadian disruption and up to 10% biomass loss.
- Photoperiod Control: Short-day crops (e.g., cannabis) need strict light schedules for flowering.
4. Physiological and Agronomic Effects
4.1. Photosynthesis and Transpiration
- Syncing light and temperature with plant metabolism increases carbon gain by 10–40%.
- Pulsed lighting strategies—rapid on/off cycles within seconds—have shown mixed results. While pulsed light can reduce electricity costs, the article notes that excessive high-frequency pulsing may actually reduce net photosynthesis, especially in fruiting crops such as tomato or pepper.
- Photothermal ratios align growth phases with environmental input.
4.2. Growth and Morphology
- Specific leaf area increased by 5–10% under dynamic light.
- Positive DIF (day > night temp) promotes elongation; negative DIF creates compact forms.
- Sudden EC or humidity changes alter turgor and expansion rates.
4.3. Reproductive Development
- Tomatoes respond positively to FR; peppers do not.
- Short-day species like cannabis need <12–14 h of light for flowering.
4.4. Product Quality
- Tipburn incidence reduced via night EC/humidity control.
- Night lighting reduces spinach nitrate by ~60%.
- EOP lighting boosts vitamin C, phenolics, and shelf life (1–3 extra days).
4.5. Yield Response
- Leafy crops maintain yield under fluctuating light when DLI ~12.96 mol m⁻² d⁻¹.
- Tomato yield improves with spectral tuning; pepper shows a neutral or negative response.
5. Strategic Outcomes
- Energy Efficiency: Smart lighting can reduce daily electricity costs by 10–20%.
- Quality Enhancement: Targeted lighting and humidity improve antioxidant levels, taste, and shelf life.
- Yield Stability: Dynamic light maintains or enhances yield in leafy crops.
- Digital Integration: Digital twins and sensor networks guide real-time decisions.
- Breeding Innovation: Cultivars optimized for dynamic environments will shape future VFS profitability.
6. Investment Priorities and Cost Estimates
6.1. Infrastructure
- Multi-tier systems: €2,000–€5,000/m².
6.2. Lighting
- Dynamic LEDs: €400–€800/m², about 10–20% more than static arrays.
6.3. Sensor Systems
- Thermal/hyperspectral cameras: €3,000–€30,000 each.
- Sensor network: 5–10% of capital expenditure.
6.4. Software & AI
- Dynamic control software: ~1–2% of annual budget.
- Essential for managing variable electricity markets.
6.5. Labor
- Initial cost: 5–10% of OPEX for training and skilled data analysis.
- Declines with automation.
6.6. Breeding R&D
- Long-term budget: 2–5% for developing suitable genotypes.
6.7. Return on Investment
- ROI expected in 5–10 years, driven by premium pricing, energy savings, and reduced waste.
References and Further Reading
For those interested in deeper insights into the technologies and strategies discussed in this report, the following academic sources provide excellent background and support:
- Dynamic Vertical Farming Strategies – For the original source article:
- Pulsed Lighting for Energy Efficiency:
- Far-red Lighting Effects in Tomato Cultivation:
- Sensor Technologies in Vertical Farming:
Dynamic environmental control is a transformative approach for vertical farming. It combines data-driven automation, crop-specific breeding, and precise environmental tuning to:
- Improve energy and resource efficiency,
- Elevate product quality,
- Ensure consistent or improved yields,
- Respond in real time to energy market fluctuations.
Future-ready VFS will function as cyber-physical ecosystems, integrating sensors, AI, and biological insights. These systems hold immense potential for sustainable urban food production and offer scalable solutions for global food security challenges.
What is dynamic vertical farming?
Dynamic vertical farming is an advanced indoor agriculture technique in which environmental parameters—such as light intensity, spectrum, temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration—are adjusted dynamically, often on an hourly basis. This approach improves plant growth, resource efficiency, and energy savings by aligning environmental conditions with real-time plant needs and electricity market fluctuations.
How does dynamic lighting reduce energy costs in vertical farms?
Dynamic lighting systems use algorithms to adapt light intensity and scheduling based on electricity pricing and plant photosynthetic activity. By shifting most lighting to off-peak hours, growers can reduce daily energy costs by 10–20%, while maintaining the same Daily Light Integral (DLI) and overall crop productivity.
Why is far-red (FR) light used in vertical farming?
Far-red light enhances yield and dry matter partitioning in fruit crops like tomatoes, especially when used in short pulses at the end of the photoperiod. However, prolonged FR exposure can cause undesirable effects such as 20–25% fruit abortion in crops like sweet peppers and may reduce disease resistance in some species.
Can dynamic climate control improve crop quality?
Yes. Dynamic environmental control can significantly improve crop quality by reducing physiological disorders (e.g., tipburn, blossom-end rot), lowering nitrate levels (up to 60% reduction in spinach), enhancing antioxidant content (e.g., vitamin C and phenolics), and extending shelf life by 1–3 days.
What technologies are essential for dynamic vertical farming?
A fully functional dynamic vertical farming system typically includes:
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Dimmable LED lighting with controllable spectra,
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Environmental sensors (CO₂, temperature, humidity, EC),
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Hyperspectral or thermal imaging systems,
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AI-based automation and control software,
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A digital twin model to simulate and optimize plant-environment interactions in real time.
The Frontiers in Science webinar on vertical farming brought together leading researchers, technologists, and policy experts to discuss the groundbreaking lead article: “Vertical Farming Goes Dynamic: Optimizing Resource Use Efficiency, Product Quality, and Energy Costs.”
This comprehensive session explored how dynamic environmental control, sensor-driven feedback systems, and strategic crop breeding can transform vertical farming from high-cost novelty into a profitable, sustainable food production model.
Key Concept: From Static to Dynamic Vertical Farming
Traditional vertical farms maintain constant environmental conditions. The lead article proposes a bold shift: use real-time data and dynamic control to adjust lighting, temperature, and CO2 levels in response to:
- Plant growth stage
- Daily and seasonal energy price fluctuations
- Target product quality (e.g. flavor, color, nutrients)
“Just because we can control everything, doesn’t mean we should keep it constant. Dynamic control is the real opportunity.” – Prof. Leo Marcelis
Environmental Benefits & System Efficiency
Vertical farms already offer significant advantages over traditional agriculture:
- Use of up to 95% less water
- No pesticide requirement due to sealed, hygienic environments
- Minimal land footprint – enabling urban food production
- Year-round, climate-independent harvests
However, energy consumption—especially for lighting—remains a major challenge. Dynamic control systems aim to:
- Reduce electricity costs (by up to 12%)
- Improve overall energy-use efficiency
- Optimize crop quality by adjusting parameters near harvest time
Intelligent Lighting: Key to Efficiency & Quality
Dynamic lighting adjusts intensity and spectrum throughout the day or growth cycle. Key findings include:
- Light can be lowered during high energy-price periods without biomass loss
- Increasing blue or red light near harvest enhances anthocyanins (color) and vitamin C
- Strategic lighting improves postharvest shelf life
Simulations using actual energy price data from the Netherlands showed how carbon gain could be maintained while cutting energy costs. By modifying the lighting pattern to match hourly price signals, growers could save money while maintaining yields.
Experimental Evidence: Fluctuating Light Works
Lead author Dr. Elias Kaiser presented a multi-species experiment comparing constant vs. dynamic light:
- Tested 4 leafy vegetables under 3 light patterns
- All treatments received the same total light (DLI)
- No significant reduction in fresh weight under dynamic light
- Specific Leaf Area (SLA) increased in 2 crops — thinner, possibly more efficient leaves
These results are consistent with previous studies and point to a broader physiological trend: crops can thrive under fluctuating lighting if baseline intensity is maintained.
Model-Driven Crop Control & Feedback Loops
Dr. Silvere Shabaan introduced a model that predicts daily photosynthesis and energy cost based on:
- Dynamic light intensity patterns
- Plant’s photosynthetic capacity, circadian rhythm, and stomatal conductance
- Energy prices (updated every 15–60 minutes)
This system sets daily light strategies that balance:
- Cost savings (12%+)
- Carbon gain consistency
- Potential transpiration reductions (less dehumidification required)
The next frontier: integrating real-time sensor data to adapt models dynamically and account for plant acclimation over time.
Promising Sensing Technologies
Panelists discussed the most promising tools for real-time crop feedback:
- Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging – measures photosynthetic performance
- Thermal imaging – tracks transpiration and stomatal behavior
- Plant wearables – next-gen sensors that track leaf-level metrics cheaply
These technologies work at the time scale of minutes, making them well-suited for responsive environmental control.
Continuous Integration: Breeding Meets Environment
A major theme of the discussion: crop genetics must align with controlled environments. Traits for vertical farming include:
- Compact, high-density growth
- Short life cycles
- High harvest index (more edible biomass)
- Tailored nutritional and sensory profiles
The feedback loop looks like this:
- Choose or breed a crop with desirable traits
- Monitor and model crop behavior under dynamic control
- Adjust environmental parameters to optimize growth
- Feed results back into the next breeding cycle
Policy, Scalability & Global Potential
Key enablers for real-world impact:
- Government recognition & regulatory frameworks
- Public-private R&D funding for breeding, tech integration, and training
- Support for low-cost systems in developing regions
- Interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists, engineers, and growers
“We have to prove the model works—not just in labs, but in commercial farms.” – Christine Zimmermann-Loessl, AVF Chair
Final Messages from the Panel
- Kevin Folta: Environment and genetics are a partnership. Let’s find the right plants for the right conditions.
- Christine Zimmermann-Loessl: Science is inspiring, but we must translate it into real farms that feed people.
- Leo Marcelis: The best control is dynamic control, and integration is key.
