Using artificial intelligence (AI) in environmental control systems can reduce energy use in indoor farming by 25%, making it a promising solution for sustainable food production as the global population grows, according to Cornell engineers.
“Integrating AI into large indoor farms with full lighting and climate control can enhance plant growth processes like photosynthesis and respiration,” said Benjamin Decardi-Nelson, a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell. “This approach can significantly cut energy use while boosting efficiency and conserving resources.”
The research, published in Nature Food, highlights the potential of AI to optimize lighting and climate control in plant factories, making indoor farming less vulnerable to climate change and more sustainable. Currently, traditional environmental control systems are not advanced enough, said Fengqi You, a professor at Cornell.
AI tools, such as deep reinforcement learning, were tested on lettuce grown in indoor farms across diverse locations, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Seattle, and Dubai. The AI systems reduced energy usage from 9.5 to 6.42 kilowatt hours per kilogram of lettuce in some areas and showed significant energy savings even in warmer climates.
By optimizing light and ventilation schedules, AI can maintain the right levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen for plant growth, similar to how smart home systems manage comfort while saving energy.
“This smart system helps make indoor food production more sustainable and reduces its carbon footprint,” You explained. “By aligning technology with plant needs, AI can make indoor farming viable even in energy-limited regions.”
Source: phys
