Italy Indoor Farming Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Growing System (Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Aquaponics, Soil-based, Hybrid), By Component (Hardware, Software And Services), By Facility Type (Glass Or Poly Greenhouse, Indoor Vertical Farm, Container Farm, Indoor DWC System), And By Crop Type (Fruits And Vegetables, Herbs And Microgreens, Flowers And Ornamentals, Others) - Forecasts From 2023 To 2028

Indoor framing can be defined as the practice of growing plants in soilless environments, using technologies such as aquaponics, hydroponics, and aeroponics, or it can refer to controlled-environment agriculture, which focuses on maximizing plant growth. An indoor farm commonly consists of shallow trays piled inside a structure and illuminated by LED lights on each level. These farms have to provide everything, including water, fertilizers, sunlight, and perhaps pollinators and pest control as well. Others may be constructed in enormous greenhouses to maximize the Sun's heat and light while also managing other inputs like fertilizer and water.

The scarcity of resources such as land and water will spur growth.  

Indoor farming approaches have arisen in recent years to meet the confluence of difficulties such as food production, community sustainability, and resource efficiency. Indoor farming allows for the production of nutrient-rich food near home while conserving resources. Such creative agricultural approaches that produce what we need where we need it might help to address some of Italy’s food production, storage, distribution, and loss concerns. Food production challenges due to land scarcity, a growing population, pressing food security problems, and climate change are boosting indoor farming approaches as governments in this country encourage farmers to grow more while using fewer resources to enhance food output. The country's market is predicted to increase rapidly throughout the projection period because of the requirement for better output with fewer resources and land. World Bank figures indicate that Italy has 59.1 million people in 2021.  Italy's agricultural land area in 2020 was 129,990 square kilometres. Italy's agricultural land area decreased considerably over time, going from 176,490 sq km in 1971 to 129,990 sq km in 2020. This means that the ability to use space as effectively as possible is critical for the country's progress and self-sufficiency. Meanwhile, climate change is having an impact on agricultural productivity by raising temperatures and making rain more erratic. Simultaneously, significant soil erosion, acidification, pollution by chemicals and heavy metals, and extensive pesticide usage have all lowered soil quality during the previous 50 years. As a result, the country is embracing indoor agricultural methods.

In order to increase crop productivity, improved technologies like artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and data analytics are being used more frequently in indoor farming. Several businesses in Italy are investing in R&D to integrate technology with food systems to increase efficiency and sustainability. For instance, in 2021, Through a partnership with Siemens, which contributed its technology breakthroughs to promote digital transformation throughout the whole production chain, Planet Farms was able to address the route towards industrialization and automation of agricultural activities in the Cavenago Brianza indoor farm.

However, the high cost associated with indoor farming techniques, lack of knowledge, and skilled manpower are some of the factors that will hinder the growth of the indoor farming market in Italy.

Market Key Developments

• In June 2019, On the outskirts of Milan, a project called Planet Farms began using cutting-edge technologies to assist indoor agriculture. In a 9,000 square-meter warehouse in Cavenago, it constructed the largest vertical farming experiment in Europe, exceeding the Taastrup facility in Copenhagen. The most obvious benefit is the resource optimization, or anti-waste function, with water savings of up to 90%, while the soil is not consumed and plant development parameters are managed technologically, without the usage of pesticides.
• In November 2022, The well-known creator of the IV series and entrepreneur Giuseppe Battagliola from Brescian, Italy, started a new vertical farming venture. Giuseppe, the creator of "La Linea Verde" and a renowned businessman in the fruit and vegetable industry, is now in charge of Kilometro Verde, a cutting-edge start-up in the vertical farming industry.
• In October 2022, The Cerea brothers, who operate Da Vittoria di Brusaporto, have teamed up with the Italian vertical farm startup Planet Farms to experiment and produce vegetables within their eatery. The business is getting ready to "conquer the rest of Europe" in the interim. Inside the restaurant is a farm where many varieties of basil are grown, including red basil and limoncello basil.

Italy Indoor Farming Market Scope:

Segmentation:

• By Growing System
  • Hydroponics
  • Aeroponics
  • Aquaponics
  • Soil- based
  • Hybrid
• By Component
  • Hardware
  • Software
  • Services
• By Facility Type
  • Grass or Poly Greenhouse
  • Indoor Vertical farms
  • Container Farms
  • Indoor DWC System
• By Crop Type
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Herbs and Microgreens
  • Flowers and Ornamentals
  • Others