Urban Farm DB
Research catalogue
Database research record2024·Global

Beyond Efficiency: The Social and Ecological Costs of Plant Factories in Urban Farming—A Review

László Csambalik, Izóra Gál, Krisztina Madaras, Andrea Tóbiás, Péter Pusztai

Urban Science

Urban Farm DB summary

This review examines soil-based urban agriculture and high-tech plant factories for urban food resilience. It finds that while vertical farms produce high yields, inhabitant involvement is minimal, offering no social advantages. Automated plant factories require few highly qualified personnel and are unlikely to contribute to urban social well-being in the future.