We are pleased to announce that an article entitled “Bodenlose Feldheit”  was published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine on October 2, 2025, about the vertical farming research conducted by Prof. Asseng together with his doctoral student Sebastian Eichelsbacher.

Article Summary:

Vertical farming describes the cultivation of crops on multiple levels under completely controlled conditions without natural influences, for example in closed climate chambers, such as those at the Technical University of Munich. There, scientists from the Chair of Digital Agriculture are researching how wheat, for example, can be efficiently cultivated in multiple layers using artificial light, water and nutrient supply. The aim is to enable sustainable, resource-efficient agriculture despite a growing world population and increasing weather extremes. The advantages are high yields, water savings and independence from the climate, but the enormous energy costs have so far made the concept economically unviable. Research is therefore focusing on increasing efficiency, for example through improved light utilisation. Whether vertical farming can ever replace conventional agriculture remains to be seen. However, it is conceivable that it could be a useful addition.