Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards Synergies
Closed plant production systems are generally considered sustainable. Such systems are capable of minimizing externalities due to resource recycling. There are two systems, apparently diverging, recently considered as the counterparts of today’s conventional agricultural practice: organic farming (O...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-08-01
|
| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/8/895 |
| _version_ | 1797584587908448256 |
|---|---|
| author | László Csambalik Anna Divéky-Ertsey Izóra Gál Krisztina Madaras László Sipos Géza Székely Péter Pusztai |
| author_facet | László Csambalik Anna Divéky-Ertsey Izóra Gál Krisztina Madaras László Sipos Géza Székely Péter Pusztai |
| author_sort | László Csambalik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Closed plant production systems are generally considered sustainable. Such systems are capable of minimizing externalities due to resource recycling. There are two systems, apparently diverging, recently considered as the counterparts of today’s conventional agricultural practice: organic farming (OF) and plant factories (PFs). With a strong regulatory background, OF integrates plant production into natural ecosystems by minimizing agrochemical use, while PFs create an artificial environment where all factors can be fine-tuned according to the needs of the crop. In this study, both systems are investigated based on their similarities and constraints; for this, three pillars of production were selected as indicators and reviewed for sustainability based on literature data: I. regulatory background, II. growing media use, III. species use, along with certain socio-economic factors. The reasons for co-existence were highlighted in every aspect. Alternatives for sustainable growing media use are introduced. PF-targeted species selection and variety breeding are necessary to maximize facility utilization. The main barriers to system interoperability are identified in growing media use and regulatory restrictions. The present global processes envisage the trends of the future, such as threats of living ecosystems, plant species allocation, urbanization impacts, agricultural intensification, economics of PFs, local supply chains, education about OF and PFs, consumer acceptance of OF and PF products, and discrepancies in global regulations. These aspects will certainly trigger further research in the scientific community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:53:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d74753a0786f4f2a86fabd76be8b261a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2311-7524 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:53:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Horticulturae |
| spelling | doaj.art-d74753a0786f4f2a86fabd76be8b261a2023-11-19T01:21:21ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242023-08-019889510.3390/horticulturae9080895Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards SynergiesLászló Csambalik0Anna Divéky-Ertsey1Izóra Gál2Krisztina Madaras3László Sipos4Géza Székely5Péter Pusztai6Department of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Institute of Rural Development and Sustainable Economy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 29-43 Villányi út, 1118 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Institute of Rural Development and Sustainable Economy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 29-43 Villányi út, 1118 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Institute of Rural Development and Sustainable Economy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 29-43 Villányi út, 1118 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Institute of Rural Development and Sustainable Economy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 29-43 Villányi út, 1118 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Postharvest, Commercial and Sensory Science, Institute of Food Science and Technology, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 29-43 Villányi út, 1118 Budapest, HungarySzent István University, 29-43 Villányi út, 1118 Budapest, HungaryDepartment of Agroecology and Organic Farming, Institute of Rural Development and Sustainable Economy, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 29-43 Villányi út, 1118 Budapest, HungaryClosed plant production systems are generally considered sustainable. Such systems are capable of minimizing externalities due to resource recycling. There are two systems, apparently diverging, recently considered as the counterparts of today’s conventional agricultural practice: organic farming (OF) and plant factories (PFs). With a strong regulatory background, OF integrates plant production into natural ecosystems by minimizing agrochemical use, while PFs create an artificial environment where all factors can be fine-tuned according to the needs of the crop. In this study, both systems are investigated based on their similarities and constraints; for this, three pillars of production were selected as indicators and reviewed for sustainability based on literature data: I. regulatory background, II. growing media use, III. species use, along with certain socio-economic factors. The reasons for co-existence were highlighted in every aspect. Alternatives for sustainable growing media use are introduced. PF-targeted species selection and variety breeding are necessary to maximize facility utilization. The main barriers to system interoperability are identified in growing media use and regulatory restrictions. The present global processes envisage the trends of the future, such as threats of living ecosystems, plant species allocation, urbanization impacts, agricultural intensification, economics of PFs, local supply chains, education about OF and PFs, consumer acceptance of OF and PF products, and discrepancies in global regulations. These aspects will certainly trigger further research in the scientific community.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/8/895plant factorygrowing mediaspecies uselocalityconsumer acceptanceeconomic comparison |
| spellingShingle | László Csambalik Anna Divéky-Ertsey Izóra Gál Krisztina Madaras László Sipos Géza Székely Péter Pusztai Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards Synergies Horticulturae plant factory growing media species use locality consumer acceptance economic comparison |
| title | Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards Synergies |
| title_full | Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards Synergies |
| title_fullStr | Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards Synergies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards Synergies |
| title_short | Sustainability Perspectives of Organic Farming and Plant Factory Systems—From Divergences towards Synergies |
| title_sort | sustainability perspectives of organic farming and plant factory systems from divergences towards synergies |
| topic | plant factory growing media species use locality consumer acceptance economic comparison |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/8/895 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laszlocsambalik sustainabilityperspectivesoforganicfarmingandplantfactorysystemsfromdivergencestowardssynergies AT annadivekyertsey sustainabilityperspectivesoforganicfarmingandplantfactorysystemsfromdivergencestowardssynergies AT izoragal sustainabilityperspectivesoforganicfarmingandplantfactorysystemsfromdivergencestowardssynergies AT krisztinamadaras sustainabilityperspectivesoforganicfarmingandplantfactorysystemsfromdivergencestowardssynergies AT laszlosipos sustainabilityperspectivesoforganicfarmingandplantfactorysystemsfromdivergencestowardssynergies AT gezaszekely sustainabilityperspectivesoforganicfarmingandplantfactorysystemsfromdivergencestowardssynergies AT peterpusztai sustainabilityperspectivesoforganicfarmingandplantfactorysystemsfromdivergencestowardssynergies |