As the world population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations, researchers highlight the need for improvements in food production systems, particularly as climate change and urbanization put added pressure on existing methods.
Indoor farming, such as plant factories with artificial lighting, offers a promising solution since these systems are less impacted by changing climates. However, they are energy-intensive and require efficient resource management to remain sustainable.
"Existing environmental control systems are not smart enough," explained Fengqi You, professor of energy systems engineering at Cornell University.
To address this, the researchers used AI techniques such as deep reinforcement learning and computational optimization. They applied these methods to analyze indoor farming operations growing lettuce across various locations, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Seattle, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Fargo, Ithaca, Reykjavik, and Dubai.
The findings showed that AI optimization cut energy usage to 6.42 kilowatt hours per kilogram of lettuce, compared to 9.5 kilowatt hours for non-AI systems. In warmer regions like Dubai and parts of the southern U.S., AI reduced energy consumption to 7.26 kilowatt hours, down from 10.5 kilowatt hours per kilogram.
Low ventilation during light periods (16 hours of simulated sunlight) and high ventilation during dark periods (eight hours simulating night) were key to maintaining energy-efficient conditions for photosynthesis and plant growth.
"This is a very similar concept to smart homes," You added. "We want to be comfortable at home while reducing energy use; so do crops. This work focuses on a smart system to make food production optimal, sustainable, and lower the carbon footprint. That's what AI does very well. We can save quite a bit if we use AI to optimize the artificial lighting and other energy systems carefully."
The research underscores the potential for AI to play a critical role in improving the sustainability and efficiency of indoor farming systems as the world grapples with increasing food demands.
Research Report:Artificial intelligence can regulate light and climate systems to reduce energy use in plant factories and support sustainable food production
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