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Cardenas JA, Samadikhoshkho Z, Rehman AU, Valle-Pérez AU, de León EHP, Hauser CAE, Feron EM, Ahmad R. A systematic review of robotic efficacy in coral reef monitoring techniques. Mar Pollut Bull 2024; 202:116273. [PMID: 38569302 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Coral reefs are home to a variety of species, and their preservation is a popular study area; however, monitoring them is a significant challenge, for which the use of robots offers a promising answer. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current techniques and tools employed in coral reef monitoring, with a focus on the role of robotics and its potential in transforming this sector. Using a systematic review methodology examining peer-reviewed literature across engineering and earth sciences from the Scopus database focusing on "robotics" and "coral reef" keywords, the article is divided into three sections: coral reef monitoring, robots in coral reef monitoring, and case studies. The initial findings indicated a variety of monitoring strategies, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Case studies have also highlighted the global application of robotics in monitoring, emphasizing the challenges and opportunities unique to each context. Robotic interventions driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning have led to a new era in coral reef monitoring. Such developments not only improve monitoring but also support the conservation and restoration of these vulnerable ecosystems. Further research is required, particularly on robotic systems for monitoring coral nurseries and maximizing coral health in both indoor and open-sea settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Cardenas
- Aquaponics 4.0 Learning Factory (AllFactory), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Zahra Samadikhoshkho
- Aquaponics 4.0 Learning Factory (AllFactory), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Ateeq Ur Rehman
- Aquaponics 4.0 Learning Factory (AllFactory), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Alexander U Valle-Pérez
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Elena Herrera-Ponce de León
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Charlotte A E Hauser
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Jeddah 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eric M Feron
- Laboratory for Nanomedicine, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rafiq Ahmad
- Aquaponics 4.0 Learning Factory (AllFactory), University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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Wicharuck S, Khongdee N, Man A, Syahputra WNH, Yalangkan P, Chaiphak P, Chaichana C. Vertical farming for lettuce production in limited space: a case study in Northern Thailand. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17085. [PMID: 38618565 PMCID: PMC11015828 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Greenhouse vertical farming under natural sunlight is an alternative farming technique that grows crops in a stacking column and extends in a vertical direction. Sunlight availability is one of the crucial factors for crop development in vertical farming. Therefore, this investigation aimed to examine the effect of sunlight availability on lettuce growth and yields at different levels of vertical shelves. Methods Six shelves were constructed with three levels: upper, middle and lower levels. Lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) as 'Baby Cos' and 'Green Oak' at 14 days after sowing were planted on the three levels. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was recorded, and the PPFD values were then converted to the daily light integral (DLI). Plant height and canopy width were measured three times at 14, 21 and 28 days after transplanting. At maturity, fresh weight (FW) was directly monitored after harvest. Results The results showed that the highest PPFD and DLI values were found at the upper level (PPFD 697 μmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 29 mol m-2 d-1) in comparison to the middle (PPFD 391 μmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 16 mol m-2 d-1) and lower (PPFD 322 μmol m-2 s-1 and DLI 13 mol m-2 d-1) levels. The lowest plant height and canopy width values were observed on the upper levels for both lettuce varieties during the three measurement dates. The middle ('Baby Cos' = 123.8 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 190.7 g plant-1) and lower ('Baby Cos' = 92.9 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 203.7 g plant-1) levels had the higher values of FW in comparison to the upper level ('Baby Cos' = 84.5 g plant-1 and 'Green Oak' = 97.3 g plant-1). The values of light use efficiency (LUE) showed an increased trend from the upper to lower levels in both varieties, with values of 'Baby Cos' of 0.10 g mol-1 in the upper level, 0.28 g mol-1 in the middle level and 0.26 g mol-1 in the lower level and 'Green Oak' of 0.12 g mol-1 in the upper level, 0.44 g mol-1 in the middle level and 0.57 g mol-1 in the lower level. The findings of the study indicated the viability of utilizing vertical shelves for lettuce production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suwimon Wicharuck
- Office of Research Administration, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nuttapon Khongdee
- Department of Highland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Ar Man
- Graduate Master’s Degree Program in Energy Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Wahyu Nurkholis Hadi Syahputra
- Agricultural Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Parichat Yalangkan
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Prapaporn Chaiphak
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Chatchawan Chaichana
- Energy Technology for Environment Research Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Wichitwechkarn V, Rohde W, Choudhary R. Design and validation of an open-sourced automation system for vertical farming. HardwareX 2023; 16:e00497. [PMID: 38148973 PMCID: PMC10749908 DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2023.e00497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The Modular Automated Crop Array Online System (MACARONS) is a scalable, customisable and open-sourced platform designed for plant care, monitoring, and transportation. It offers specific dosing for individual plants, automated data logging of temperature, humidity, and images, and custom behaviours programmable in Python. Monitoring and control of the system is achieved through a web-interface. The system was validated by autonomously caring for five lettuce plants over a five-week period. This was done indoors under artificial lighting and uncontrolled ambient conditions. The system is estimated to perform the tasks required 30% faster than a human operator and can handle payloads of up to 5 kg with a maximum footprint of 750 mm × 500 mm. The validated system supports 12 payloads and can be easily scaled to accommodate more. The designs are released and meets the requirements of CERN-OSH-W, which includes step-by-step graphical build instructions and can be built at a cost of GBP 2241.72 (USD 2793.82). The system aims to provide cost-effective automation to reduce labour costs and provide precise control of irrigation and nutrients. The current system is limited by the dosing time and the space-use efficiency. We provided future directions and modifications that can be made to address this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijja Wichitwechkarn
- University of Cambridge, Engineering Dept, Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
| | - William Rohde
- University of Cambridge, Engineering Dept, Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ruchi Choudhary
- University of Cambridge, Engineering Dept, Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
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Weiland M, Weßler CF, Filler T, Glaab J, Lobo Ploch N, Winterwerber U, Wiesner-Reinhold M, Schreiner M, Neugart S. A comparison of consistent UV treatment versus inconsistent UV treatment in horticultural production of lettuce. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2023; 22:1611-1624. [PMID: 36988788 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00402-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
UV radiation is an underrated radiation currently missing in many horticultural production systems of vegetables in protected cultivation. It can be added e.g., in LED light sources. Using lettuce as a model plant, this study determined whether the use of UVB LEDs is suitable (1) for use in consistent systems (indoor farming) or (2) inconsistent systems (greenhouse). Blue and red LEDs were selected as additional artificial lighting to UVB LEDs. Both approaches led to a reproducible increase of desired flavonol glycosides, such as quercetin-3-O-(6''-O-malonyl)-glucoside or quercetin-3-O-glucuronide and the anthocyanin cyanidin-3-O-(6''-O-malonyl)-glucoside in lettuce. The impact of the consistent UVB treatment is higher with up to tenfold changes than that of the inconsistent UVB treatment in the greenhouse. Varying natural light and temperature conditions in greenhouses might affect the efficiency of the artificial UVB treatment. Here, UVB LEDs have been tested and can be recommended for further development of lighting systems in indoor farming and greenhouse approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Weiland
- Institute for Biology, Experimental Biophysics, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 42, 10115, Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops e.v., Plant Quality and Food Security, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Grossbeeren, Germany
| | - Caspar Friedrich Weßler
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops e.v., Plant Quality and Food Security, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Grossbeeren, Germany
- Institute of Horticultural Production Systems, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Herrenhäuser Straße 2, 30419, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Filler
- Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Glaab
- Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Neysha Lobo Ploch
- Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Winterwerber
- Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Melanie Wiesner-Reinhold
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops e.v., Plant Quality and Food Security, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Grossbeeren, Germany
| | - Monika Schreiner
- Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops e.v., Plant Quality and Food Security, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979, Grossbeeren, Germany
| | - Susanne Neugart
- Division Quality and Sensory of Plant Products, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Carl-Sprengel-Weg 1, 37075, Goettingen, Germany.
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Walter A, Schöbel H. Shed light on photosynthetic organisms: a physical perspective to correct light measurements. Photosynth Res 2023; 156:325-336. [PMID: 36821017 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01001-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The requirements for novel and innovative production systems expedite research on light emitting diode-based illumination in a life science context. In course of these rapid developments, the scientific community is in need of a consensus regarding to the characterization and presentation of the applied lighting conditions. This publication aims to establish a basic understanding of photon physics and propose guidelines for the conclusive usage of light related quantities. To illustrate the challenges in data handling, six different light sources were measured and characterized. Furthermore, a stepwise conversion within and in-between physical systems is presented, and an opportunity to extract information from weak data sets is demonstrated. The proposed calculations indicated flexibility in data handling, but revealed partial inaccuracy for colored light emitting diodes with spectral power distribution maxima far-off 550 nm compared to spectrometer-based measurements and conversions. Furthermore, it could be shown, that when comparing light properties, the determination of photometric quantities is incorrect to describe lighting systems for photosynthetic organism and the usage of luxmeter or similar photometric sensors should be avoided. The presented guidelines shall support scientists in applying a consistent and precise characterization of their illumination regimes, tailored to their requirements to avoid ambiguous communication and the generation of incorrect and thus incomparable data based on wrong quantities and units, such as lumen or lux, in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Walter
- Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, MCI-The Entrepreneurial School, Maximilianstraße 2, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Harald Schöbel
- Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, MCI-The Entrepreneurial School, Maximilianstraße 2, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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Schmidt Rivera X, Rodgers B, Odanye T, Jalil-Vega F, Farmer J. The role of aeroponic container farms in sustainable food systems - The environmental credentials. Sci Total Environ 2023; 860:160420. [PMID: 36435240 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable food production and consumption are key to face the current climate and environmental crisis, hence innovation to produce food with lower impacts are taking more attention. Controlled environment agriculture, also known as vertical farming, is seen as one innovative approach to reduce impacts of producing food while also improving food security. Aeroponic is one of such innovations, which environmental impacts have not been well understood yet. Therefore, this study assesses the environmental impacts of aeroponic farm container system in the UK, including a full set of 19 indicators. The results show that energy requirements drive all the impacts, with climate change estimated at 1.52 kg CO2eq. per 1 kg of microgreens (pea shoots) using 2021 UK grid. Renewable powered systems improve almost all the impacts, with climate change reduced by up to 80 %, making this system competitive with conventional agricultural systems. This study proves that aeroponic farm container could offer lower impact food than equivalent imported to the UK, and that also could improve food security in terms of availability, stability, and access to food. Affordability issues need to be assessed in future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Schmidt Rivera
- Equitable Development and Resilience Research Group (EDR), Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, UB8 3PH Uxbridge, UK.
| | | | | | - Francisca Jalil-Vega
- Electrical Energy Management Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bristol, BS8 1UB Bristol, UK; Center for Energy Transition (CENTRA), Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile; Instituto Sistemas Complejos de Ingeniería (ISCI), Santiago, Chile
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7
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Yuan GN, Marquez GPB, Deng H, Iu A, Fabella M, Salonga RB, Ashardiono F, Cartagena JA. A review on urban agriculture: technology, socio-economy, and policy. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11583. [PMID: 36406682 PMCID: PMC9668687 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been a challenge to support the expansion of urban agriculture (UA) in cities due to its poor economic profitability. However, it is also hard to deny the increasing benefits of UA in improving the socio-environmental dimension of cities. Hence, in this review, different aspects of UA were examined to highlight its value beyond profitability such as social, health and well-being, disaster risk reduction, and environmental perspectives. A case study and relevant policies were analyzed to determine how policy makers can bridge the gap between current and future UA practices and sustainable development. Bridging these policy gaps can help the UA sector to sustainably grow and become successfully integrated in cities. Moreover, advancements in UA technologies and plant biotechnology were presented as potential solutions in increasing the future profitability of commercial UA. Consequently, as new UA-related technologies evolve, the multidisciplinary nature of UA and its changing identity from agriculture to digital technology, similarly require adaptive policies. These policies should maximize the potential of UA in contributing to resiliency and sustainability and incentivize the organic integration of UA in cities, while equally serving social justice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Ning Yuan
- College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8577 Japan
| | - Gian Powell B Marquez
- College of Global Liberal Arts, Ritsumeikan University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-8570 Japan
| | - Haoran Deng
- College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8577 Japan
| | - Anastasiia Iu
- College of International Relations, Ritsumeikan University, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8577 Japan
| | - Melisa Fabella
- Graduate School of Economics, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577 Japan
| | - Reginald B Salonga
- Institute for Advanced Education and Research, Nagoya City University, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8501 Japan
| | - Fitrio Ashardiono
- College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-8570 Japan
| | - Joyce A Cartagena
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464 -8601 Japan
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8
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Larsen DH, Li H, van de Peppel AC, Nicole CCS, Marcelis LFM, Woltering EJ. High light intensity at End-Of-Production improves the nutritional value of basil but does not affect postharvest chilling tolerance. Food Chem 2022; 369:130913. [PMID: 34481404 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Basil suffers from chilling injury (CI) when stored at temperatures below 10-12 °C which seems related to the imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants. We hypothesized that increased light intensity applied shortly before harvest (EOP, End-Of-Production) increases nutritional value i.e. carbohydrates and antioxidants and could improve the chilling tolerance. Two basil cultivars were grown in a vertical farming set-up at a light intensity of 150 µmol m-2 s-1. During the last 5 days of growth, EOP light treatments ranging from 50 to 600 µmol m-2 s-1 were applied. After harvest the leaves were stored at 4 or 12 °C in darkness. Higher EOP light intensity increased the antioxidant (total ascorbic acid, rosmarinic acid) and carbohydrate contents at harvest. During storage antioxidants decreased more rapidly at 4 than at 12 °C. However, increased EOP light intensity did not alleviate chilling symptoms suggesting a minor role of antioxidants studied against chilling stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorthe H Larsen
- Horticulture and Product Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hua Li
- Horticulture and Product Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Arjen C van de Peppel
- Horticulture and Product Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Leo F M Marcelis
- Horticulture and Product Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ernst J Woltering
- Horticulture and Product Physiology Group, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16 6700AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Food & Biobased Research, P.O. Box 17 6700AA, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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Ares G, Ha B, Jaeger SR. Consumer attitudes to vertical farming (indoor plant factory with artificial lighting) in China, Singapore, UK, and USA: A multi-method study. Food Res Int 2021; 150:110811. [PMID: 34863501 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Major changes are needed both with regard to what we eat and how food is produced. The latter is the focus of the present research, specifically the rise of controlled environment agriculture. In this context, empirical research is presented on consumer attitudes to vertical farming (VF) (i.e., indoor plant factory with artificial lighting), conducted in four countries (USA, UK, Singapore, and China) using online surveys (637-683 participants per country with matched gender and age group distributions). A multi-method research approach was used, including a novel methodology of text highlighting, which requires that participants read a descriptive text about VF with mentions of pros and cons and use highlighter functions to select aspects of the text that they 'like' and 'dislike'. Based on the information provided in the text, attitudes towards VF were largely positive in the four countries. The characteristics of VF that aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were identified as key drivers of positive attitudes (i.e., higher yield, reduction of carbon emissions, and securing access to food). On the other hand, high energy use and premium prices contributed to negative attitudes about VF. Although the majority of participants responded to the text with an overall positive attitude towards VF, there were smaller groups of participants in every country who expressed a negative or neutral/ambivalent attitude. These between-segment differences were larger than cross-cultural differences, although the latter did exist, particularly for selected aspects of VF. For example, Chinese participants tended to be the least negative about the use of robots to help planting and harvesting. Future research is needed to understand consumer responses to aspects VF not covered in the text (e.g., powering VF with renewable energy, product range), and consumer insights about VF should be sought in other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gastón Ares
- Sensometrics & Consumer Science, Instituto Polo Tecnológico de Pando, Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República. By Pass de Rutas 8 y 101 s/n, CP 91000 Pando, Canelones, Uruguay
| | - Birgit Ha
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road, Private Bag 92169, Victoria Street West, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sara R Jaeger
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, 120 Mt Albert Road, Private Bag 92169, Victoria Street West, Auckland, New Zealand.
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Nadal A, Pons O, Cuerva E, Rieradevall J, Josa A. Rooftop greenhouses in educational centers: A sustainability assessment of urban agriculture in compact cities. Sci Total Environ 2018; 626:1319-1331. [PMID: 29898539 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Today, urban agriculture is one of the most widely used sustainability strategies to improve the metabolism of a city. Schools can play an important role in the implementation of sustainability master plans, due their socio-educational activities and their cohesive links with families; all key elements in the development of urban agriculture. Thus, the main objective of this research is to develop a procedure, in compact cities, to assess the potential installation of rooftop greenhouses (RTGs) in schools. The generation of a dynamic assessment tool capable of identifying and prioritizing schools with a high potential for RTGs and their eventual implementation would also represent a significant factor in the environmental, social, and nutritional education of younger generations. The methodology has four-stages (Pre-selection criteria; Selection of necessities; Sustainability analysis; and Sensitivity analysis and selection of the best alternative) in which economic, environmental, social and governance aspects all are considered. It makes use of Multi-Attribute Utility Theory and Multi-Criteria Decision Making, through the Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessments and the participation of two panels of multidisciplinary specialists, for the preparation of a unified sustainability index that guarantees the objectivity of the selection process. This methodology has been applied and validated in a case study of 11 schools in Barcelona (Spain). The social perspective of the proposed methodology favored the school in the case-study with the most staff and the largest parent-teacher association (social and governance indicators) that obtained the highest sustainability index (S11); at a considerable distance (45%) from the worst case (S3) with fewer school staff and parental support. Finally, objective decisions may be taken with the assistance of this appropriate, adaptable, and reliable Multi-Criteria Decision-Making tool on the vertical integration and implementation of urban agriculture in schools, in support of the goals of sustainable development and the circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Nadal
- Sostenipra Research Group (ICTA-IRTA-Inèdit; 2014 SGR 1412), Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA; Unidad de excelencia "María de Maeztu" (MDM-2015-0552)), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Oriol Pons
- Department of Architectural Technology (TA), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), School of Architecture of Barcelona (ETSAB), Av. Diagonal 649, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
| | - Eva Cuerva
- Department of Projects and Construction Engineering (DEPC), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), Diagonal 647, Ed. H, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Joan Rieradevall
- Sostenipra Research Group (ICTA-IRTA-Inèdit; 2014 SGR 1412), Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA; Unidad de excelencia "María de Maeztu" (MDM-2015-0552)), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alejandro Josa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), Campus Nord, C/Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), Campus Nord, C/Jordi Girona 31, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Nadal A, Alamús R, Pipia L, Ruiz A, Corbera J, Cuerva E, Rieradevall J, Josa A. Urban planning and agriculture. Methodology for assessing rooftop greenhouse potential of non-residential areas using airborne sensors. Sci Total Environ 2017; 601-602:493-507. [PMID: 28575828 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The integration of rooftop greenhouses (RTGs) in urban buildings is a practice that is becoming increasingly important in the world for their contribution to food security and sustainable development. However, the supply of tools and procedures to facilitate their implementation at the city scale is limited and laborious. This work aims to develop a specific and automated methodology for identifying the feasibility of implementation of rooftop greenhouses in non-residential urban areas, using airborne sensors. The use of Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) data and the Leica ALS50-II and TASI-600 sensors allow for the identification of some building roof parameters (area, slope, materials, and solar radiation) to determine the potential for constructing a RTG. This development represents an improvement in time and accuracy with respect to previous methodology, where all the relevant information must be acquired manually. The methodology has been applied and validated in a case study corresponding to a non-residential urban area in the industrial municipality of Rubí, Barcelona (Spain). Based on this practical application, an area of 36,312m2 out of a total area of 1,243,540m2 of roofs with ideal characteristics for the construction of RTGs was identified. This area can produce approximately 600tons of tomatoes per year, which represents the average yearly consumption for about 50% of Rubí total population. The use of this methodology also facilitates the decision making process in urban agriculture, allowing a quick identification of optimal surfaces for the future implementation of urban agriculture in housing. It also opens new avenues for the use of airborne technology in environmental topics in cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Nadal
- Sostenipra Research Group (ICTA-IRTA-Inèdit; 2014 SGR 1412), Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA; Unidad de excelencia "María de Maeztu" (MDM-2015-0552)), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Ramón Alamús
- Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, Parc de Montjuïc, 08038, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Luca Pipia
- Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, Parc de Montjuïc, 08038, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Antonio Ruiz
- Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, Parc de Montjuïc, 08038, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jordi Corbera
- Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, Parc de Montjuïc, 08038, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Eva Cuerva
- Department of Projects and Construction Engineering (DEPC), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaTech. Diagonal 647, Ed. H, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Joan Rieradevall
- Sostenipra Research Group (ICTA-IRTA-Inèdit; 2014 SGR 1412), Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (ICTA; Unidad de excelencia "María de Maeztu" (MDM-2015-0552)), Z Building, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Alejandro Josa
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), Campus Nord, C/Jordi Girona 1-3, 08034, Barcelona, Spain; Institute for Sustainability Science and Technology (IS.UPC), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC-BarcelonaTech), Campus Nord, C/Jordi Girona 31, 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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