ISSN: 2319-8753International Journa

ISSN: 2319-8753
International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,
Engineering and Technology
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Volume 2, Issue 12, December 2013

VERTICAL FARMING CONCEPTIN
THAILAND: IMPORTANT DECISION
VARIABLES
Kor Kamonpatana1, PongpunAnuntavoranich2
Ph.D. Candidate, Technopreneurship and Innovation Management Program, Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok, Thailand1
Associate professor, Ph.D., Department of Industrial Design, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok,
Thailand 2
Abstract: This study conducts an exploratory study related to a systematic model of decision variables for the vertical
farming concept found in Thailand. Utilizing the model of decision variables found in three paradigms, the different
available sources of data were synthesized to understand the concept as a phenomenon and to find a valid model for a
new construction and product development strategy using the vertical farming concept for Thailand in the future.
Keywords: vertical farming, urban agriculture, soil-less culture, bioclimatic design, decision variables
I. INTRODUCTION
After the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide emissions from industrial production greatly increased, resulting in
climate change and global warming effects that have altered agricultural production in many ways [1]. The rapid
growth in the global population and the reduction of agricultural areas has brought about the world’s food security issue.
Like many countries, Thailand is affected by climate change whereas urban expansion reduces the country’s cultivation
area and quality. Due to the major drought in 2010, many agricultural areas were destroyed. This was again exacerbated
by the worst flooding in 2011. ASEAN Early Warning Information reported that Thailand’s rice production declined by
2% during 2008-2010 [2]. These events display that the effects of climate change and are likely to get worse.
In 2001, Professor Dickson Despommier from the University of Columbia introduced the vertical farming concept as
an alternative to reduce agriculture’s ecological footprint and to produce food and expand the agricultural area in the
city [3]. Urban agriculture improves food sustainability for a country [4] and will affect the formation of urban areas
through its impact on planning, design and construction [5]. However, to adopt the vertical farming concept and
construct urban agriculture is not a straightforward process. There are many variables to consider, for example,
cultivation quantity and quality, design and supporting technology, in order to successfully implement vertical farming
in the city.
Therefore, in order to identify crucial variables related to the development of innovative construction and product
development for vertical farming in Bangkok, Thailand, this study explores the decision variables in three different
paradigms: 1) urban agriculture and vertical farming, 2) science and technology and 3) architecture and design.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Key variables derived from books and research papers related to the vertical farming concept have identified many
specific variables either involved or not involved in the design criteria. Relevant variables were summarized to scope
the frame of this study (conceptual framework), which consisted of three issues: vertical farming and urban agriculture,
science and technology, bioclimatic and vertical garden design.
The variables found in these three paradigms were used as a preliminary structure to further the design study of vertical
farming in Thailand as follows:
1. Variables in Vertical Farming and Urban Agriculture
The variables found in urban agriculture were studied to support food stability in the city. These variables were
Copyright to IJIRSET

www.ijirset.com

7851


ISSN: 2319-8753
International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,
Engineering and Technology
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Volume 2, Issue 12, December 2013
identified from research papers and books on the issue of vertical farming as: food security, city self-reliance, urban
agriculture, and food miles in the context of a country. The variables involved in the design decisions are;
Food security
FAO has suggested the concept of food security since 1967-1979 during which period the world experienced a shortage
of grain and food. The definition of food security includes sufficiency, accessibility, utilization and stability [6].
Isvilanonda [7] found that the population in urban and rural areas is food poor, although food is located in rural areas of
the north and northeast, as those farmers who live in the arid zone and out of communication are consider food poor.
Even though they use their land to grow rice, which is a basic and essential food, they still possess insufficient amounts
of rice in their households. Important variables in this subject are the quantity, quality and access to food.
Urban agriculture
Urban agriculture refers to crops or livestock in the city and suburban areas, with study in this area determining
whether the city is self-reliant in food or not [8]. Urban agriculture is different from agriculture in rural areas due to the
mixture of two variables (the economy and ecosystem) with agriculture.
The key variables are city self-reliance and food accessibility.
Food miles
Food miles are defined as the distance which food travels from farm to market to consumer [9]. A weighted average
source distance is calculated from the distance and the amount of food transported [10]. The total transport distance is
calculated beginning at the farmer’s land, then through the food production and trading processes until it reaches the
consumer. The greater the distance the food is transported, the greater are the greenhouse gas emissions. Evaluation of
food miles in Europe is divided into two categories: food miles in the country and international food miles. Food miles
provide an indicator for the environment, society and economy of food production, which affect the sustainable
development of the city [11].
An important variable in this subject is the distance food is transported from producers to consumers.
Concept of Vertical Farming
In 2001, Dickson Despommier, the professor of Environmental Health Science at Columbia University, proposed a
concept to reduce agriculture's ecological footprint by using vertical farming which built agriculture into the city and
expanded it in vertical direction. The concept has been discussed widely and is under continuous study at present [2].
Dickson Despommier discussed problems associated with urban agriculture on a limited land base. To solve this
problem, he proposed the concept of creating crop cultivation in buildings that enables the production of large amounts
of food. The vertical farming concept, if applied to Thailand, can be conducted with greater effectiveness because of
the warm climate when compared to planting in places with a cold climate [12] since there is no need to grow
vegetables in a closed environment, which requires climate control.
Key variables in this concept are: economic feasibility, food security, urban agriculture, architecture, design and
technology.
2. Variables in Science and Soil-less Culture Technology
In the past, Thailand has embraced hydroponics technology and improved the technology to fit the Thai context. The
general principle has been to simplify the technology or to enhance it or to develop new knowledge of the system in the
Thai context.
Due to the fact that the survival of plants relies on water, light and nutrients, the investments in a hydroponics system
or greenhouse [13] were reviewed with the focus on the performance of the components of the greenhouse (such as
cladding), on the method to measure the greenhouse system’s performance and on other factors that affect the
performance and design of the house such as capital and cost-benefit analysis. Soil-less culture technology involves
variables such as capital and planting method and details which depend on the technology used.
Key variables of this subject are plant selection, factors essential to the survival of plants, cost-benefit, capital, and
planting method.
3. Variables in Bioclimatic and Vertical Garden
The variables involved in the design of the plant were identified from existing systems in order to achieve decorative
Copyright to IJIRSET

www.ijirset.com

7852


ISSN: 2319-8753
International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,
Engineering and Technology
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Volume 2, Issue 12, December 2013
aspects or to promote a better environment surrounding building and to reduce the impact of buildings on the
environment.
Bioclimatic theory first described by the Malaysian architect, Ken Yeang, explains how to build the shell of the
building by utilizing the local environment, focusing primarily on ensuring the optimum conditions for a comfortable
living temperature and visibility for the users within the building shell. Second, is the need to rationally manage natural
resources, which is directly related to the effort to preserve the environment [14].
Sunakorn [15] tested the carbon dioxide absorption performance of three types of ivy on screening walls and found that
Blue Trumpet vine (Thunbergiagrandiflora) has the best performance followed by Confederate vine and gourd.
Sunakorn [16] tested the heat reduction performance of shade from tropical vines by selecting the Blue Trumpet vine to
conduct an experiment on the impact on room temperature of using or not using vine shading in a room with ventilation
and an enclosed room. The results showed that the temperature could be reduced by up to 9.93 ° C, with an average of
3.63 ° C during the day.
Variables in this aspect are plant selection, efficiency to reduce heat, and Energy and environmental management.

1.
2.
3.
4.

III. OBJECTIVE
To identify variables related to construction and product development for vertical farming in Thailand.
To

ผลลัพธ์ (ไทย) 1:

นอก: 2319-8753สมุดรายวันวิทยาศาสตร์ นวัตกรรมวิจัยนานาชาติวิศวกรรม และเทคโนโลยี(การ ISO 3297:2007 ได้รับการรับรององค์กร)ฉบับที่ 2 ฉบับที่ 12, 2013 ธันวาคมทำฟาร์มแนวตั้ง CONCEPTINประเทศไทย: การตัดสินใจสำคัญตัวแปรกอ Kamonpatana1, PongpunAnuntavoranich2ผู้ สมัครปริญญาเอก Technopreneurship และนวัตกรรมจัดการ โปรแกรม จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย กรุงเทพมหานคร Thailand1รองศาสตราจารย์ ปริญญาเอก ภาควิชาออก แบบอุตสาหกรรม จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย กรุงเทพมหา นครประเทศไทย 2บทคัดย่อ: การศึกษานี้ดำเนินการที่เกี่ยวข้องกับแบบจำลองระบบของตัวแปรตัดสินใจในแนวการศึกษาเชิงบุกเบิกเกษตรแนวคิดที่พบในประเทศไทย ใช้รูปแบบของตัวแปรตัดสินใจพบในสาม paradigms ต่าง ๆมีแหล่งข้อมูลถูกสังเคราะห์ เพื่อให้เข้าใจแนวคิดเป็นปรากฏการณ์ และหาแบบจำลองที่ถูกต้องสำหรับการก่อสร้างและผลิตภัณฑ์พัฒนากลยุทธ์ใหม่โดยใช้แนวคิดการทำฟาร์มแนวตั้งสำหรับประเทศไทยในอนาคตคำสำคัญ: ทำฟาร์มแนวตั้ง เกษตรเมือง วัฒนธรรมดินน้อย ออกแบบ bioclimatic ตัวแปรตัดสินใจI. บทนำหลังจากการปฏิวัติอุตสาหกรรม ปล่อยก๊าซคาร์บอนไดออกไซด์จากการผลิตอุตสาหกรรมมากขึ้น เกิดเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศและผลกระทบโลกร้อนทั่วโลกที่ได้เปลี่ยนแปลงการผลิตทางการเกษตรในหลายวิธี [1] รวดเร็วเจริญเติบโตของประชากรโลกและการลดลงของพื้นที่การเกษตรได้นำเกี่ยวกับปัญหาความปลอดภัยของอาหารของโลกLike many countries, Thailand is affected by climate change whereas urban expansion reduces the country’s cultivationarea and quality. Due to the major drought in 2010, many agricultural areas were destroyed. This was again exacerbatedby the worst flooding in 2011. ASEAN Early Warning Information reported that Thailand’s rice production declined by2% during 2008-2010 [2]. These events display that the effects of climate change and are likely to get worse.In 2001, Professor Dickson Despommier from the University of Columbia introduced the vertical farming concept asan alternative to reduce agriculture’s ecological footprint and to produce food and expand the agricultural area in thecity [3]. Urban agriculture improves food sustainability for a country [4] and will affect the formation of urban areasthrough its impact on planning, design and construction [5]. However, to adopt the vertical farming concept andconstruct urban agriculture is not a straightforward process. There are many variables to consider, for example,cultivation quantity and quality, design and supporting technology, in order to successfully implement vertical farmingin the city.Therefore, in order to identify crucial variables related to the development of innovative construction and productdevelopment for vertical farming in Bangkok, Thailand, this study explores the decision variables in three differentparadigms: 1) urban agriculture and vertical farming, 2) science and technology and 3) architecture and design.II. LITERATURE REVIEWKey variables derived from books and research papers related to the vertical farming concept have identified manyspecific variables either involved or not involved in the design criteria. Relevant variables were summarized to scopethe frame of this study (conceptual framework), which consisted of three issues: vertical farming and urban agriculture,science and technology, bioclimatic and vertical garden design.The variables found in these three paradigms were used as a preliminary structure to further the design study of verticalfarming in Thailand as follows:1. Variables in Vertical Farming and Urban AgricultureThe variables found in urban agriculture were studied to support food stability in the city. These variables wereCopyright to IJIRSETwww.ijirset.com7851 ISSN: 2319-8753International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,Engineering and Technology(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)Volume 2, Issue 12, December 2013identified from research papers and books on the issue of vertical farming as: food security, city self-reliance, urbanagriculture, and food miles in the context of a country. The variables involved in the design decisions are;Food securityFAO has suggested the concept of food security since 1967-1979 during which period the world experienced a shortageof grain and food. The definition of food security includes sufficiency, accessibility, utilization and stability [6].
Isvilanonda [7] found that the population in urban and rural areas is food poor, although food is located in rural areas of
the north and northeast, as those farmers who live in the arid zone and out of communication are consider food poor.
Even though they use their land to grow rice, which is a basic and essential food, they still possess insufficient amounts
of rice in their households. Important variables in this subject are the quantity, quality and access to food.
Urban agriculture
Urban agriculture refers to crops or livestock in the city and suburban areas, with study in this area determining
whether the city is self-reliant in food or not [8]. Urban agriculture is different from agriculture in rural areas due to the
mixture of two variables (the economy and ecosystem) with agriculture.
The key variables are city self-reliance and food accessibility.
Food miles
Food miles are defined as the distance which food travels from farm to market to consumer [9]. A weighted average
source distance is calculated from the distance and the amount of food transported [10]. The total transport distance is
calculated beginning at the farmer’s land, then through the food production and trading processes until it reaches the
consumer. The greater the distance the food is transported, the greater are the greenhouse gas emissions. Evaluation of
food miles in Europe is divided into two categories: food miles in the country and international food miles. Food miles
provide an indicator for the environment, society and economy of food production, which affect the sustainable
development of the city [11].
An important variable in this subject is the distance food is transported from producers to consumers.
Concept of Vertical Farming
In 2001, Dickson Despommier, the professor of Environmental Health Science at Columbia University, proposed a
concept to reduce agriculture's ecological footprint by using vertical farming which built agriculture into the city and
expanded it in vertical direction. The concept has been discussed widely and is under continuous study at present [2].
Dickson Despommier discussed problems associated with urban agriculture on a limited land base. To solve this
problem, he proposed the concept of creating crop cultivation in buildings that enables the production of large amounts
of food. The vertical farming concept, if applied to Thailand, can be conducted with greater effectiveness because of
the warm climate when compared to planting in places with a cold climate [12] since there is no need to grow
vegetables in a closed environment, which requires climate control.
Key variables in this concept are: economic feasibility, food security, urban agriculture, architecture, design and
technology.
2. Variables in Science and Soil-less Culture Technology
In the past, Thailand has embraced hydroponics technology and improved the technology to fit the Thai context. The
general principle has been to simplify the technology or to enhance it or to develop new knowledge of the system in the
Thai context.
Due to the fact that the survival of plants relies on water, light and nutrients, the investments in a hydroponics system
or greenhouse [13] were reviewed with the focus on the performance of the components of the greenhouse (such as
cladding), on the method to measure the greenhouse system’s performance and on other factors that affect the
performance and design of the house such as capital and cost-benefit analysis. Soil-less culture technology involves
variables such as capital and planting method and details which depend on the technology used.
Key variables of this subject are plant selection, factors essential to the survival of plants, cost-benefit, capital, and
planting method.
3. Variables in Bioclimatic and Vertical Garden
The variables involved in the design of the plant were identified from existing systems in order to achieve decorative
Copyright to IJIRSET

www.ijirset.com

7852


ISSN: 2319-8753
International Journal of Innovative Research in Science,
Engineering and Technology
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Volume 2, Issue 12, December 2013
aspects or to promote a better environment surrounding building and to reduce the impact of buildings on the
environment.
Bioclimatic theory first described by the Malaysian architect, Ken Yeang, explains how to build the shell of the
building by utilizing the local environment, focusing primarily on ensuring the optimum conditions for a comfortable
living temperature and visibility for the users within the building shell. Second, is the need to rationally manage natural
resources, which is directly related to the effort to preserve the environment [14].
Sunakorn [15] tested the carbon dioxide absorption performance of three types of ivy on screening walls and found that
Blue Trumpet vine (Thunbergiagrandiflora) has the best performance followed by Confederate vine and gourd.
Sunakorn [16] tested the heat reduction performance of shade from tropical vines by selecting the Blue Trumpet vine to
conduct an experiment on the impact on room temperature of using or not using vine shading in a room with ventilation
and an enclosed room. The results showed that the temperature could be reduced by up to 9.93 ° C, with an average of
3.63 ° C during the day.
Variables in this aspect are plant selection, efficiency to reduce heat, and Energy and environmental management.

1.
2.
3.
4.

III. OBJECTIVE
To identify variables related to construction and product development for vertical farming in Thailand.
To

ผลลัพธ์ (ไทย) 3:

ชื่อ : 2319-8753
วารสารวิจัยนวัตกรรมในสาขาวิทยาศาสตร์เทคโนโลยีและวิศวกรรม

( ISO ถ่ายโอน : 2007 ได้รับการรับรององค์กร )

เล่ม 2 ออก 12 ธันวาคม 2013

ฟาร์มแนวตั้ง conceptin
ประเทศไทย :

ขอ kamonpatana1 ตัวแปรสำคัญในการตัดสินใจ pongpunanuntavoranich2
, Ph.D . candidate , สหสาขาวิชาธุรกิจเทคโนโลยีและการจัดการนวัตกรรม จุฬาลงกรณ์
มหาวิทยาลัย กรุงเทพฯthailand1
รองศาสตราจารย์ ปริญญาเอก ภาควิชาการออกแบบอุตสาหกรรม จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย , กรุงเทพ , ประเทศไทย 2

วัตถุประสงค์สัมภาษณ์สำรวจ ศึกษามีความสัมพันธ์กับรูปแบบการตัดสินใจอย่างเป็นระบบของตัวแปรสำหรับแนวตั้ง
ฟาร์มแนวคิดที่พบในประเทศไทย การใช้รูปแบบของตัวแปรตัดสินใจพบในกระบวนทัศน์แตกต่างกัน
3 ,แหล่งที่มาของข้อมูลได้เข้าใจแนวคิดเป็นปรากฏการณ์และหารูปแบบใช้ได้สำหรับการก่อสร้างใหม่และการพัฒนาผลิตภัณฑ์กลยุทธ์
โดยใช้แนวคิดฟาร์มแนวตั้งสำหรับประเทศไทยในอนาคต
คำสำคัญ : แนวตั้ง การเพาะปลูก การเกษตรในเขตเมือง ดินน้อยวัฒนธรรม , การออกแบบ bioclimatic ตัวแปรการตัดสินใจผมแนะนำ

หลังจากการปฏิวัติ อุตสาหกรรมการปล่อยก๊าซคาร์บอนไดออกไซด์จากการผลิตภาคอุตสาหกรรมเพิ่มขึ้นอย่างมาก เป็นผลในการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศและภาวะโลกร้อน
ผลที่ได้เปลี่ยนแปลงไป การผลิตทางการเกษตรในหลาย ๆ [ 1 ] รวดเร็ว
การเจริญเติบโตในประชากรทั่วโลก และการลดลงของพื้นที่เกษตรกรรม ได้นำเกี่ยวกับปัญหาความมั่นคงทางอาหารของโลก
เหมือนหลายประเทศประเทศไทยจะได้รับผลกระทบจากการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศและการขยายเขตเมือง ลดพื้นที่การเพาะปลูก
ของประเทศและมีคุณภาพ เนื่องจากภัยแล้งที่สำคัญในปี 2010 พื้นที่เกษตรกรรมมากมายถูกทำลาย นี้คืออีก exacerbated
โดยน้ำท่วมที่เลวร้ายที่สุดใน 2011 เตือนภัยอาเซียนข้อมูล รายงานว่า การผลิตข้าวของไทยลดลง 2 % ในช่วงปี 2551-2553 โดย
[ 2 ]เหตุการณ์เหล่านี้แสดงให้เห็นว่าผลกระทบของการเปลี่ยนแปลงสภาพภูมิอากาศ และมีแนวโน้มที่จะได้รับที่เลวร้ายยิ่ง
ในปี 2544 ศาสตราจารย์ Dickson despommier จากมหาวิทยาลัยโคลัมเบียแนะนำแนวคิดเกษตรกรรมแนวตั้ง
ทางเลือกเพื่อลดรอยเท้าของระบบนิเวศเกษตรและการผลิตอาหารและขยายพื้นที่เกษตรในเมือง
[ 3 ]การเกษตรในเขตเมืองเพิ่มความยั่งยืนของอาหารสำหรับประเทศ [ 4 ] และจะมีผลต่อการก่อตัวของพื้นที่
ผ่านผลกระทบต่อผังเมือง การออกแบบและการก่อสร้าง [ 5 ] อย่างไรก็ตาม การใช้แนวคิดฟาร์มแนวตั้งและ
สร้างการเกษตรในเขตเมืองไม่ได้เป็นกระบวนการที่ตรงไปตรงมา มีตัวแปรมากมายที่จะพิจารณาตัวอย่างเช่น
ปริมาณการเพาะปลูก และคุณภาพออกแบบและสนับสนุนเทคโนโลยี เพื่อที่จะประสบความสำเร็จในการใช้แนวตั้ง

ในเมือง ดังนั้นเพื่อระบุตัวแปรที่สำคัญที่เกี่ยวข้องกับการพัฒนาของการสร้างนวัตกรรมและพัฒนาผลิตภัณฑ์
สำหรับแนวตั้งทำนาในกรุงเทพ ประเทศไทย การศึกษานี้เป็นการศึกษาตัวแปรในการตัดสินใจ 3 กระบวนทัศน์แตกต่างกัน
: 1 ) การเกษตรเมืองและเกษตรกรรมแนวตั้ง ,