For now, commercialization of such a facility is economically viable only in densely populated cities with high consumption levels and low vegetable self-sufficiency.

Using the core technology of the vertical plant factory, the institute has supported its partners in growing vegetables in converted shipping containers abandoned in the desert around the deep-water port of Doha in Qatar. During the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, 70 to 90 percent of the vegetables supplied to athletes were grown in those containers.

"Multiple companies in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have reached out to us in recent years to explore cooperation in this field," Wang said.

Domestically, a partnership was signed at the end of last year with a company in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to establish a vertical farm. Set to begin operations in the second half of 2026, it will produce vegetables and conduct agricultural study tour programs.

Beyond vegetables, vertical farming technology is being applied to higher-value crops to achieve commercial viability.

In Wenjiang district of Chengdu, a 2,300-square-meter vertical strawberry farm with 11 layers began operations in July and yielded its first harvest in September. Its annual output can reach 73 tons, which is 30 to 40 times that of conventional open-field strawberry farming.

"Traditionally, strawberries are only grown from winter to spring in Chengdu, but this factory enables year-round production of high-quality strawberries," said Peng Jie, chairman of Sichuan Zhongnong Yixiang Agricultural Technology Co, which operates the farm.

Although the growth cycle is shortened to about 30 days, the strawberries boast superior taste, thanks to artificial intelligence enabled precise regulation of light and temperature, which accelerates sugar accumulation, Peng said.