Evaluating vertical farming: A critical narrative review of resource efficiency, economic viability and commodity crop limits

Abstract

Background : Vertical farming (VF) has been proposed as a partial response to the combined pressures of population growth, climate change, resource scarcity, and land degradation. Methods : This critical narrative review evaluates the technological, environmental, economic, nutritional, and social dimensions of VF by examining key literature published between 2014 and 2025. Results : The reviewed literature indicates that VF can improve water-use efficiency, land-use efficiency, and year-round production, particularly for high-value leafy greens and herbs. However, the evidence is heterogeneous. Life-cycle assessments report substantially higher carbon footprints for vertically farmed produce than for open-field agriculture in some settings, whereas other studies suggest that net environmental benefits may be achieved when renewable electricity is used. A consistent gap across the literature is the near-exclusive emphasis on leafy greens and herbs. Evidence addressing staple and commodity crops such as maize, rice, soybean, and cotton is sparse and largely limited to proof-of-concept or laboratory-scale studies. Conclusions : VF appears promising for selected crops, but it is not yet a validated strategy for staple-crop food security at commercial scale. Its agronomic, energy-efficiency, and economic feasibility for staple-crop production remains unresolved, and further independent life-cycle and techno-economic analyses are needed before such claims can be substantiated.