Smart vertical farming takes off in Chengdu

"The growth cycle of lettuce in the vertical plant factory is only 30-to-35 days, half the time required for traditional open-field cultivation," Shi said, adding that the yield per unit area can reach up to 120 times that of conventional farming.

Beyond lettuce, the plant factory can cultivate over 300 varieties of crops, including root and leafy vegetables, melons, fruits and medicinal herbs, she added.