Research

Indoor Strawberries

Although there continues to be increasing interest in producing diverse food crops through vertical farming, most indoor vertical farming studies have been performed on leafy vegetables. There are still gaps in knowledge in how the growing conditions of vertical farming can be optimized to elicit desirable results on a range of food crops. We investigate how lighting and nutrient solution management can improve strawberry growth and fruit yield to generate research-based vertical farming information beyond the leafy greens.

Tailoring Hydroponic Factors to Controlled-Environment Production of Emerging Food Crops

Specialty leafy greens and small fruiting crops hold promise for indoor and greenhouse production systems, yet their specific production requirements under hydroponic conditions are not well defined. This work investigates key strategies—such as optimizing nutrient solution temperature, maintaining adequate dissolved oxygen levels, and incorporating biostimulants —to improve crop performance. These management practices aim to enhance resource use efficiency, yield, and product quality, contributing to the sustainable intensification of controlled-environment agriculture. 

Using Food Waste-Based Anaerobic Digestate for Urban Agriculture

Using food waste-derived fertilizers in urban agriculture can address issues like food waste, fertilizer shortages, soil infertility, and unequal access to fresh produce, while promoting a circular food system. However, these fertilizers present challenges due to variable nutrient composition, low levels of available nitrogen, and high salt content. Limited information exists on their characteristics and application methods. Our research aims to improve the effectiveness of food waste-derived fertilizers and facilitate their wider use and market development.