Modular indoor farms, smart nutrition and new food sources for sustainable food systems

The global challenges posed by climate change, resource scarcity and the growth of urban areas are presenting our food system with unprecedented challenges. The food4future research project is developing visionary approaches to ensure a healthy, sustainable diet for everyone, even under extreme conditions such as water scarcity and a lack of arable land.

Global challenges for the food system

Climate change, water scarcity and the decline in agricultural land are threatening the global food supply. At the same time, the demand for sustainable, healthy and locally produced food is growing - especially in urban areas. This is precisely where food4future comes in and develops concepts that enable safe nutrition even under extreme conditions. At the heart of the food4future vision is the question: How can food succeed in a world where fresh water and agricultural land are scarce? The answer: by tapping into new, previously underutilized food sources and developing urban, sustainable production systems that operate within planetary boundaries. For example, disused subway tunnels or former industrial plants are being converted into innovative food production sites. Value chains are becoming shorter and production is moving closer to consumers.

Pioneering technologies for urban nutrition

The long-term goal of this consortium is to ensure healthy nutrition adapted to individual needs for an overall resilient society. food4future specifically combines various key technologies in order to establish alternative indoor production systems. The focus is on four model organisms: macroalgae, salt-tolerant plants (halophytes), jellyfish and house crickets. These organisms are cultivated in modular, multifunctional “urban biorooms” - state-of-the-art bioreactors made from innovative, sustainable materials and equipped with (UV) LED technology. The aim is to specifically optimize the nutrient composition of the organisms and exploit synergies through co-cultivation.

The concept of “smart nutrition” is also being pursued: With the help of non-invasive sensors and a specially developed health app, individual nutritional data is recorded and translated into personalized nutritional recommendations using artificial intelligence. In this way, each person can be provided with nutrients according to their needs.

Research fields and social integration

The project is inter- and intradisciplinary and comprises four fields of research:

• Organisms: Development of closed, saline rearing and production systems for the four model organisms, initially individually, then in resource-saving co-cultivation.
• Urban biorooms: Development of flexible bioreactors that can be used in urban contexts without competing with living space.
• Smart Nutrition & Sensor Technology: Collection of health and nutritional parameters, development of a health app for individual nutritional recommendations.
• Social science analysis: Investigation of the effects of extreme scenarios (“no land”, “no trade”) on society, institutions and consumer behavior.