Authored by Raja Kumar, Munish Kaundal, and Asma Fayaz from the Chardigarh Group of Colleges and published in December 2023, this report explores vertical farming as an innovative approach to controlled-environment agriculture, designed to tackle challenges like population growth, water scarcity, climate change, and urbanization. The integration of vertical farming into smart buildings promotes efficient land use, reduces dependency on climate conditions, and contributes to the development of green, clean, and healthy urban environments, aligning with the goals of smart city initiatives. This method requires less land and skilled labor, utilizing vertical space to cultivate plants in climate-controlled settings. By 2050, with the world population projected to reach 9.7 billion, vertical farming offers a potential solution to food insecurity by producing higher yields with organic and healthy food. Integrated into urban areas, vertical farming supports sustainable agriculture by using technologies like hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics.

Keywords: Vertical farming, hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, crop choice