Vertical farming as a resource nexus solution for sustainable agriculture

Abstract Vertical farming (VF) presents a promising solution for sustainable urban food production but faces significant resource trade-offs. This study evaluates VF through the resource nexus (RN) lens, emphasizing the interdependencies between energy, water, land, and materials. While VF offers advantages such as space efficiency, water conservation, and climate resilience, it also entails high energy demands, material dependencies, and economic feasibility challenges. An overview of these synergies and constraints helps identify mitigation strategies such circular water systems and hybrid renewable energy solutions. This paper investigates VF as a promising approach to sustainable agriculture, analyzed through the framework of the RN. The study delves into the intricate relationships between energy, water, land, space, material and food resources, underscoring both the obstacles and prospects that VF offers in tackling resource-related challenges. The paper also explores the role of relevant socioeconomic and governance factors in shaping the viability and scalability of VF systems. The paper aims to provide a holistic perspective to help scholars and practitioners better comprehend the sustainability potential of VF within the context of the RN approach, providing a foundation for informed decision-making.