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Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting

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  • Giuseppina Pennisi

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (Distal), Research Centre in Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity (ResCUE-AB), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, DISAFA-VEGMAP, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10097 Grugliasco, Italy
    Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain
    These authors equally contributed to this publication.)

  • Esther Sanyé-Mengual

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (Distal), Research Centre in Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity (ResCUE-AB), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    These authors equally contributed to this publication.)

  • Francesco Orsini

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (Distal), Research Centre in Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity (ResCUE-AB), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    These authors equally contributed to this publication.)

  • Andrea Crepaldi

    (Flytech s.r.l., Via dell’Artigianato, 65, Zona artigianale Paludi, 32010 Belluno, Italy)

  • Silvana Nicola

    (Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, DISAFA-VEGMAP, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10097 Grugliasco, Italy)

  • Jesús Ochoa

    (Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain)

  • Juan A. Fernandez

    (Department of Agricultural Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Paseo Alfonso XIII 48, 30203 Cartagena, Spain)

  • Giorgio Gianquinto

    (Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (Distal), Research Centre in Urban Environment for Agriculture and Biodiversity (ResCUE-AB), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin, 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

Notwithstanding that indoor farming is claimed to reduce the environmental pressures of food systems, electricity needs are elevated and mainly associated with lighting. To date, however, no studies have quantified the environmental and economic profile of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting in indoor farming systems. The goal of this study is to quantify the effect of varying the red (R) and blue (B) LED spectral components (RB ratios of 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4) on the eco-efficiency of indoor production of lettuce, chicory, rocket and sweet basil from a life cycle perspective. The functional unit of the assessment was 1 kg of harvested fresh plant edible product, and the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) method was employed for impact assessment. Even though most of the materials of the LED lamp and electronic elements were imported from long distances (14,400 km), electricity consumption was the largest contributor to the environmental impacts (with the LED lamps being the main electricity consumers, approximately 70%), apart from the resources use indicator, where the materials of the lamps and the mineral nutrients were also relevant. RB0.5 was the most energy-efficient light treatment but had the lowest eco-efficiency scores due to the lower crop yields.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppina Pennisi & Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Francesco Orsini & Andrea Crepaldi & Silvana Nicola & Jesús Ochoa & Juan A. Fernandez & Giorgio Gianquinto, 2019. "Modelling Environmental Burdens of Indoor-Grown Vegetables and Herbs as Affected by Red and Blue LED Lighting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-21, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:15:p:4063-:d:252327
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nadal, Ana & Llorach-Massana, Pere & Cuerva, Eva & López-Capel, Elisa & Montero, Juan Ignacio & Josa, Alejandro & Rieradevall, Joan & Royapoor, Mohammad, 2017. "Building-integrated rooftop greenhouses: An energy and environmental assessment in the mediterranean context," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 338-351.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yueying Chen & Wenbin Wei, 2022. "Alterations of Historic Rural Landscape Based on the Multifunctional Approach: The Case of Coastal Fishing Villages in the Yangtze River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
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    3. Esther Sanyé-Mengual & Kathrin Specht & Jan Vávra & Martina Artmann & Francesco Orsini & Giorgio Gianquinto, 2020. "Ecosystem Services of Urban Agriculture: Perceptions of Project Leaders, Stakeholders and the General Public," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-23, December.

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