The future of industries

: how indoor vertical farming will disrupt the agriculture supply chain

Abstract

The world faces challenges in terms of population growth, climate change, and changing eating habits. To guarantee food production, the sustainability of its operations is essential.Over time, the agricultural industry has evolved, and the last crossed frontier corresponds to the development of vertical farming in a controlled environment.This dissertation intends to evaluate the disruptive effect of vertical farming in a controlled environment in the agricultural supply chain. To answer this question, a qualitative analysis was carried out in the form of expert interviews and analysis of secondary literature.Results indicate that vertical farming can contribute with integrated solutions to the improvement of the agriculture landscape and the global food crisis. Vertical farming can contribute to food security as well as to sustainable food production with less environmental impact. However, to spread the technology on the market, vertical farming needs to prove its concept and profitability. To achieve both profitability and cost efficiency, government intervention becomes crucial. Governments could assume a primary role in providing educational and financial investments, as well as supporting the creation of legislation and regulations that favor vertical farming implementation in the market.

Date of Award	5 Feb 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Peter Rajsingh (Supervisor)