Vertical farming through the SDG lens: promises, limitations and real-world performance

This thesis evaluates the sustainability performance of vertical farming (VF) by reassessing early theoretical claims through the framework of selected United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15). A narrative literature review (2018–2025) is combined with observational insights from a two-month internship at AlmaVFarm, an enclosed, LED-lit vertical farm at the University of Bologna. The review maps how VF was initially expected to address food insecurity, water use, climate impacts, land degradation and urban employment, and compares these expectations with recent evidence and practical outcomes. Findings show that VF reliably produces high-quality, pesticide-free crops and offers strong water-saving performance and near-complete nutrient containment, supporting SDGs 2, 6 and 14. However, high energy demand, capital intensity and a narrow crop range limit its ability to contribute to affordable staple foods or large-scale poverty reduction. Carbon footprint results are strongly dependent on the energy mix, and land-sparing benefits are constrained by upstream energy requirements. While commercial VF ventures face economic and labour challenges, community-oriented and educational farms demonstrate clear social value. Overall, VF emerges as a context-dependent, complementary strategy capable of advancing specific SDGs when aligned with appropriate energy, design and governance conditions.