China unveils 'world's first' AI-powered vertical farm with 20-floors

China has unveiled its first domestically developed unmanned vertical plant factory in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Developed by the Institute of Urban Agriculture under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the 20-storied vertical farm is a first of its kind.

Vertical farming is often considered a promising and innovative approach to address certain challenges in agriculture. Allowing for the cultivation of crops in stacked layers, maximizes the use of vertical space.

This is particularly beneficial in urban areas where land is limited. It offers the potential to produce more food per square meter compared to traditional horizontal farming.

But in comparison to horizontal farming, there is the issue of plants getting an adequate amount of sunlight and water when crops are grown vertically. The team that developed this 20-storied art of specimen found a solution.

Supporting urban horticulture

The team at the Institute of Urban Agriculture (IUA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) deployed robots that can grow and harvest a crop of lettuce in just 35 days, claim the researchers in a report.

This is possible due to an artificial intelligence-based control system. This control system utilizes advanced technologies and algorithms to monitor, analyze, and adjust key environmental variables within the vertical farming facility.

The facility utilizes advanced plant light formulas to improve light efficiency, overcoming challenges related to low light efficiency and high energy consumption. 

"We can combine different amounts of red, blue, yellow, near-ultraviolet and near-infrared lights during different stages of the plant's lifecycle," said Wang Sen, a researcher at the IUA. "We have built a database of 1,300 combinations for 72 types of crops."

The farm showcases high-efficiency

The vertical farming system enables year-round, continuous production of green food in multi-story structures, addressing issues like stable local food supply in urban areas and expanding cultivation in challenging environments. 

With the ability to produce more than 10 harvests of green vegetables annually, the system enhances land utilization efficiency and conserves resources, providing a sustainable solution for future agriculture.

The research team led by Wang has found no significant difference between lab-grown plants and those from traditional farms. Indoor farms, with the ability to produce vegetables faster, are considered ideal for urban areas, wastelands, and deserts. 

It also serves as a breeding accelerator, reducing the breed time of wheat, cotton, and soybean plants by at least 50 percent. The researchers are discussing with companies like Foshan NationStar Optoelectronics to commercialize their innovative vertical farming technology.