Multifunctional Vertical Farming Systems as a Basis for Transforming Urban Food Systems Amid Climate Change

Anna Zaręba (), Alicja Krzemińska, Mariusz Adynkiewicz-Piragas, Todor Stojanovski, Haifeng Jia, Riccardo Privitera and Dan van der Horst
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Anna Zaręba: Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Wrocław, ul. Cybulskiego 30, 50-205 Wrocław, Poland
Alicja Krzemińska: Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Wrocław, ul. Cybulskiego 30, 50-205 Wrocław, Poland
Mariusz Adynkiewicz-Piragas: Institute of Meteorology and Water Management—National Research Institute, ul. Podlesna 61, 01-673 Warszawa, Poland
Todor Stojanovski: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden
Haifeng Jia: School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Riccardo Privitera: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Dan van der Horst: School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: Vertical farms, associated with mass production and devoid of influence on the shaping of a healthy urban biome, face new possibilities. Policies such as climate change declarations, adopted by many European capitals regarding the transition to “zero emissions”, open potential directions for shaping new multifunctional urban systems. The aim of this article is to indicate how the multifunctional vertical farm system can coexist with existing and planned blue–green urban infrastructure systems of the future. This article draws attention to the possibility of creating innovative food systems for cities while considering closed-loop circulation and the efficient management of key resources such as water and energy. Model solutions are proposed at various spatial planning scales: suburban zone, city, district, and neighborhood.

Keywords: vertical urban farms; multiscale and multifunctionality of urban agriculture; model of vertical farming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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