Vertical farming with an emphasis in microgreens: A review

With the world's population increasing and a large percentage of this population living in urban areas, the need for efficient and low-consumption agricultural methods is becoming more and more necessary. Vertical farming as a solution to the challenges of food security and environmental change, using vertical spaces and controlled environments, by reducing the consumption of various resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution of traditional agriculture, while helping the environment, enables the production of agricultural products. Microgreens, which have high amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant compounds, can be used as a new generation of healthy foods and an ideal option for cultivation in vertical systems. Several factors, including the selection of appropriate species, control of the light spectrum (especially blue and red spectra), temperature, humidity, seed density and type of growing medium, affect the growth and quality of microgreens. Along with its advantages, vertical farming faces challenges such as high initial cost, high energy consumption, limited crop yield, gaining consumer trust, and competition with traditional crops. However, technological advancements and further research will help reduce these challenges and expand vertical farming. This article examines the vertical farming system, especially its potential for producing microgreens.