Life cycle assessments suggest that lettuce grown outdoors in Spain and transported to Northern Europe may have a lower carbon footprint than lettuce produced in local vertical farms. The high energy demands of indoor lighting and climate control often outweigh the emissions generated by long distance refrigerated transport. While vertical farming offers advantages in water and land use, its carbon viability depends heavily on the energy grid. Switching to renewable energy sources can significantly reduce the CO2 equivalent of indoor crops, making them more competitive with traditional field agriculture.
