Vertical Farming in the Urban Ecosystem: A Systematic Review of its Multifaceted Impacts on Food Security, Urban Heat Island Mitigation, and Community Well-Being

Background: Rapid urbanization and climate change pose significant challenges to urban food security, environmental sustainability, and public health. Vertical farming (VF), the practice of growing crops in vertically stacked layers within controlled environments, has emerged as a promising innovation to address these issues. However, a comprehensive synthesis of its multifaceted impacts across environmental, social, and economic dimensions is lacking. Objective: This systematic review synthesizes evidence on vertical farming (VF) impacts across food security, urban heat island (UHI) mitigation, and community wellbeing. We updated the methodology to reflect 27 included studies, applied a structured quality assessment, and integrated quantitative synthesis and comparative positioning. Findings indicate strong potential for VF as part of a broader urban agriculture portfolio. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed articles published between 2010-2024. Keywords included "vertical farming," "urban agriculture," "food security," "urban heat island," and related terms. regulatory framework remain significant barriers to widespread adoption. Conclusion: Vertical farming presents a multi-faceted approach for sustainable urban development. To realize its full potential, future efforts must integrate advanced energyefficient technologies, supportive policy measures, and active community engagement. This review provides a holistic framework to guide policymakers, urban planners, and researchers in evaluating and implementing VF projects.