City Research Online

Abstract

Urban vertical farming has emerged as a potential solution to improve food security and safety for urban populations, as well as to transform wider food systems (FS) to ensure greater sustainability. Existing literature has highlighted both direct and indirect benefits from vertical farming (VF) to individuals and communities through novel technology alongside social entrepreneurial innovation. These include the creation of green jobs, greater access to fresh, healthy food produced locally, as well as community development programmes and avenues for civic participation. We explore relevant literature to critically examine the socio-economic impact of VF, drawing out key issues of debate, while identifying areas of future research and recommendations for practice. We draw attention to critical accounts which have highlighted a need to consider the role of technology within social and political processes. Studies have noted key challenges to VF in achieving social and economic benefits to urban populations, as well as in contributing to food security. Examining VF as an intervention within a wider political economy enables a more rigorous exploration of social impact. A research, policy and practice focus beyond production and business model design is needed to situate VF within broader efforts to transform FS.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025 The Authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the originalauthor and source are credited.
Publisher Keywords:	controlled environment agriculture; food systems; vertical farming; urban agriculture
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Global, Public & Population Health & Policy School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Global, Public & Population Health & Policy > Food Policy
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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