Vanacore, Lucia (2024) Developing innovative, sustainable, and safe short-food chain in urban agricultural context. [Tesi di dottorato]

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Abstract

The global population is projected to exceed 9 billion by 2050 (United Nations, 2022). In 2018, 55% of this population resided in urban areas, while about 43% lived in rural regions (Ritchie and Roser, 2018). This urbanization trend is expected to continue, rising to 68% by 2050 (United Nations, 2018). The increasing rates of urbanization, combined with the loss of natural resources and the effects of climate change, threaten the sustainability of cities. Furthermore, according to Schmitt et al. (2022), approximately 3.3 billion people rely on unsustainable agricultural practices for their food supply, and 79% of all food produced is destined for consumption in cities (FAO, 2022). Therefore, adopting more sustainable and resilient food production systems is pivotal. In this context, Urban Agriculture (UA), defined as “practices that yield food and other outputs from agricultural production and related processes (among others transformation, distribution, marketing, recycling), taking place on land and other spaces within cities and surrounding regions, involving urban and peri-urban actors, communities, methods, places, policies, institutions, systems, ecologies and economies, largely using and regenerating local resources to meet changing needs of local populations while serving multiple goals and functions” (FAO, 2022), due to its multidimensional benefits, emerges as a valid tool to produce and deliver fresh, local food for citizens without the added economic and environmental costs of transportation (Brock, 2008; FAO, 2022; Djan, 2023). Beyond providing fresh and local food, some other benefits of UA include the improvement of food security and nutrition, mitigation of the urban heat island effect, promotion of social inclusion and social cohesion among farmers and citizens, and opportunities for education and employment (Siegner et al., 2018; Qiu et al, 2013; Ilieva et al., 2022). Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is an innovative and advanced form of UA that has been increasingly found in cities worldwide (Wagner et al., 2021). According to Albright (1990), CEA integrates soilless horticultural methodologies (i.e., hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics) and engineering principles to optimize the efficiency and quality of crop production. Specifically, CEA is characterized by the precise management of critical environmental factors such as temperature, light, humidity, water, and nutrients (Goodman and Minner, 2019) creating ideal conditions for plant cultivation irrespective of external environmental fluctuations, within greenhouse structures and indoor vertical farms (Santosh, 2022). Consequently, in CEA, advanced climate control and monitoring systems (e.g., precise light and temperature control mechanisms, humidity management, high-precision sensors, and data loggers) play a pivotal role in maximizing crop yields, ensuring consistent quality, and promoting the overall success of indoor farming projects (Singh et al., 2018; Santosh, 2022). Therefore, considering the limited open space in cities, potential soil contamination, and higher initial setup costs, an integrative assessment of urban agriculture typology based on a multi-criteria analysis can support strategic decision-making to identify suitable urban agriculture types that meet various ecological, social, and economic demands for urban food supply (Artmann and Sartison, 2018). Research questions and objectives This doctoral thesis aims to develop, validate, and apply sustainable and innovative urban food systems through agronomical and technical evaluations, and Life Cycle Assessment analyses. Considering the general objective, this work aims to answer the following research questions: 1. What sustainable agronomic practices can be integrated into urban food systems to optimize productivity and minimize environmental impact? 2. What technological innovations can be implemented in urban food systems to enhance crop efficiency and quality? 3. What are the key factors influencing the sustainability of urban food systems, considering both agronomic and technological aspects? The experimental work presented was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Naples Federico II (Portici, Italy) and the Business Unit Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs of Wageningen University and Research (Bleiswijk, The Netherlands). It is organized into 7 chapters that address the setup and validation of different soilless cultivation techniques. In particular, Chapters 2 and 3 [Growth, eco-physiological response and leaf mineral composition of lettuce and curly endive in hydroponic and aquaponic systems; Hydroponic and Aquaponic Floating Raft Systems Elicit Differential Growth and Quality Responses to Consecutive Cuts of Basil Crop] examine the differential growth and quality responses of leafy vegetables and aromatic crops grown using hydroponic and aquaponic floating raft systems. Chapters 4 and 5 [Supplemental daily light integral by LED light to improve the growth of leafy vegetables in aquaponic system; Nutrient accumulation, growth and quality of leafy vegetables in aquaponic system are modulated by supplemental LED lighting] evaluate the application of supplemental light to improve yield and quality of leafy vegetables in acquaponics. Chapter 6 [Application of LCA Methodology to Recirculating Aquaponics System (RAS) Prototype] seeks to quantify the environmental impact of the Recirculating Aquaponic System (RAS) prototype used to carry out the experimental trials described above. Finally, Chapter 7 [The Added Value of Indoor Products: the Strawberry Case] explores the potential of producing strawberries in fully controlled indoor environments, specifically within vertical farm.

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