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EVEC Microgreens
An Overview on the Use of Artificial Lighting for Sustainable Lettuce and Microgreens Production in an Indoor Vertical Farming System
With the global population projected to reach 8.6 billion by 2050 and urbanization on the rise, sustainable food production in cities becomes imperative. V
Noémi Budavári, Zoltán Pék, Lájos Helyes, Sándor Takács, Eszter Nemeskéri
Horticulturae · 2024 · https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090938
Abstract
With the global population projected to reach 8.6 billion by 2050 and urbanization on the rise, sustainable food production in cities becomes imperative. Vertical farming presents a promising solution to meet this challenge by utilizing space-efficient, controlled-environment agriculture techniques. In a vertical farming system, high quality, high nutritional value products can be produced with minimum water consumption, using LEDs as energy-efficient light sources. Microgreens are a new market category of vegetables among sprouts and baby leaf greens. The most critical challenge in their cultivation is the choice of growing medium, lighting, and light spectrum, which affect photosynthesis, plant growth, and yield. This review explores various cultivation methods, including hydroponics, within the context of vertical farming. Using current research, it investigates the effect of LED lighting on the physiological properties and growth of microgreens and baby leaf lettuce, but further research is needed to determine the response of the varieties and the optimal light spectrum ratios to meet their needs.
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How to credit this work
Noémi Budavári; Zoltán Pék; Lájos Helyes; Sándor Takács; Eszter Nemeskéri (2024). An Overview on the Use of Artificial Lighting for Sustainable Lettuce and Microgreens Production in an Indoor Vertical Farming System. Horticulturae. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090938 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Hosted by EVEC Athens (microgreens.org.gr). No changes were made to this article. Provided as-is, without warranties. EVEC Athens is not affiliated with, and this copy is not endorsed by, the authors or the publisher.
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