Why LED Lighting for Urban Agriculture

The benefits of using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in urban agriculture are discussed, along with the necessity of introducing information and communication technology (ICT). The incorporation of ICT into urban agriculture is now economically viable because the marginal costs of information processing, storage, and transfer are approaching zero. Electricity generated from renewable resources such as solar energy and biomass is also becoming cost-competitive with that generated from fossil fuel and nuclear power. Internet-connected plant factories lit with LEDs and greenhouses with LED supplemental lighting will serve as key components in urban agriculture. The potential for combined applications of ICT, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things in urban agriculture is described briefly. Finally, the concept of closed plant production system (CPPS) and its application in plant factory with LED lighting are described.