Plant Factories and Soilless Cultivation: The Key to Sustainable Agriculture

In today’s era of highly developed material and spiritual civilisation, humanity faces increasing challenges: the rapid reduction of arable land, growing population, frequent natural disasters, worsening pollution, rising greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and widespread use of chemicals.
Against this background, plant factories and soilless cultivation are increasingly regarded as important technological pathways toward sustainable agriculture.

1. Sharp Reduction in Arable Land

Due to climate impacts and inappropriate human activities, large areas of land have become desertified. Since the 1950s, desertified land has exceeded 1×10⁵ km², equivalent to the area of Jiangsu Province. More than 50,000 villages have been affected by desertification, turning thousands of herdsmen into ecological refugees.

Data shows that over 110 countries worldwide are experiencing or at risk of desertification. Affected areas reach 7×10⁸ hm² in Africa, 1.4×10⁹ hm² in Asia, and 8×10⁹ hm² in North America. In December 2011, Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, stated that 12 million hectares of arable land become too desertified for farming each year.

Large-scale industrialisation and urbanisation have engulfed vast amounts of land, further reducing China’s arable land. The “red line” of 1.2×10⁸ hm² of arable land faces enormous pressure. From 2006 to 2010, national land transfer revenue reached 7 trillion yuan. In 2010 alone, the national real estate land supply quota was 184,479 hm², while the actual supply was 428,200 hm².

While arable land continues to decrease, the population is growing, leading to a corresponding decline in per capita land availability. This structural contradiction has accelerated global exploration of alternative agricultural models, including plant factories.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, the global population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2100, further amplifying the urgency for innovative food production systems such as plant factories.

2. Ecological Hazards of Pesticides

Since the 1970s, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides have been widely used in agriculture, playing a crucial role in increasing yields and controlling pests and diseases. However, their excessive use has caused severe ecological damage and food safety concerns.

Surveys show that China consumes nearly one-third of the world’s fertilisers while owning only one-seventh of global arable land. Although fertilisers contributed significantly to yield growth, they also resulted in massive pollution, water eutrophication, and health risks.

Pesticide pollution is even more alarming. Only 1% of pesticides reach target pests, while 99% enter ecosystems. These substances accumulate in soil, crops, and water systems, threatening both human health and long-term agricultural sustainability.

The limitations of chemical-dependent agriculture have prompted researchers to seek cleaner production systems. In this context, plant factories offer an alternative by enabling pesticide-free and precisely controlled cultivation environments.

3. Agricultural Development Depends on Science and Technology

For a long time, China’s agricultural productivity has lagged behind developed countries. Traditional agriculture is characterised by high input, high energy consumption, low efficiency, and vulnerability to natural disasters.

With labour shortages, rising costs, and rural depopulation, the question “Who will farm in the future?” has become increasingly urgent. International organisations such as FAO and OECD estimate that global agricultural output must increase by 60% in the next 40 years.

Meeting this demand through conventional methods alone is unrealistic. Therefore, advanced agricultural systems based on automation, digitalisation, and environmental control—such as plant factories—are becoming essential components of future agriculture.

4. The Emergence of Plant Factories

Can plants grow without soil, pesticides, fertilisers, or herbicides? Can agriculture be conducted in deserts, islands, urban buildings, or indoor environments? These questions have led to the development of plant factories.

Plant factories integrate modern technologies such as artificial lighting, climate control, nutrient management, and digital monitoring to create optimal growth conditions. Compared with traditional farming, plant factories achieve higher yield, higher efficiency, stable quality, and year-round production.

Under China’s national conditions—limited land resources and high population density—plant factories provide a feasible path toward sustainable, safe, and intensive agricultural production.

In the ongoing transformation of production and lifestyle models, society increasingly looks to technological innovation. Against this backdrop, plant factories are emerging as a key solution for the future of sustainable agriculture.

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