Environmental crises; Food security; Strategic planning; Sustainable agriculture; Humans; Farms; Iran; Feasibility Studies; Ecosystem; Agriculture/methods; Agricultural productions; Biological capacity; Ecological footprint; Environmental crisis; Good governances; matrix; Per unit; Production methods; Agriculture; Environmental Engineering; Waste Management and Disposal; Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Abstract :
[en] Agricultural production in vertical farms (VF) will play a prominent role in preventing environmental crises, its good governance and maintaining food security for everyone in the world. The ecological footprint in Guilan province significantly exceeds its biological capacity, indicating considerable pressure on its natural resources and ecosystems. This problem, which is mostly due to the use of traditional production methods in the agricultural sector, requires a change in lifestyle and production methods. The purpose of the current research is the feasibility of VF in Guilan province with the help of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) model and Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM). After identifying internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) affecting production in VF, the necessary strategies were determined and then prioritized using the QSPM matrix. Necessary information through written scientific sources and survey studies based on key questions between two groups of professors of geography and rural planning, water resources engineering, soil, architecture and experts from the plant production department and the head of the environment department, Jihad Agricultural Organization of Guilan province and the organization Food hygiene was achieved. The statistical population participating in the survey was 30 people. The results of the research showed that 7 strategies were formulated based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and were prioritized based on the importance of four strategies in the QSPM table. The first priority for ensuring food security in Guilan province is to focus on increasing agricultural productivity per unit area. This strategy is crucial considering the challenges of low ownership and limited land availability in the region. Thus, enhancing productivity per unit area should be given utmost priority to meet the food demands of the population. The appropriate strategy for VF production in Guilan province is a competitive-aggressive strategy and being in this position requires attracting the necessary funds. This study fills research gaps by providing a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of vertical farming in Guilan province. The emphasis on methodology, strategic planning, and addressing food security and environmental challenges contributes to the existing body of knowledge. By highlighting the transferability and adaptability of the research findings, other researchers can utilize the methods and adapt the strategies to their own regions, promoting further research and advancement in the field of sustainable agriculture.
Disciplines :
Agriculture & agronomy
Author, co-author :
Akbari, Zahra; Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Yari Hesar, Arasto; Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Siamian, Narges; Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
Fürst, Christine; Department of Sustainable Landscape Development, Institute for Geosciences and Geography, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
Värnik, Rando; Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Chair of Rural Economics, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
Azadi, Hossein ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Modélisation et développement
Language :
English
Title :
Feasibility of using vertical farming in northern Iran: A multiple necessity.
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